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Comic Market (Comiket) 81

Session Date :
                  2011/12/29 (Thursday)~
                  2011/12/31 (Saturday) 
Next Session Date : 
                  2012/8/10 (Friday)~
                  2012/8/12 (Sunday)
					

Location & Hours of Operation

>Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo
 International Exhibition
 Center)
 For information regarding access
 to the Tokyo Big Site, visit:
 http://www.bigsight.jp/english/

>Dojinshi Area :
All East Halls, West Halls 1&2
10:00am to 4:00pm each day.

>Dressing Rooms :
 Women: 6th Floor of the
        Conference Tower
 Men: Atrium area on 1st Floor
      of West Hall
 10:00am to 4:30pm each day
 (Costume Play Registration:
 10:00am to 3:30pm, 2:30pm
 on last day)
 
>Costume Play Public Square:
  Gardens near Restaurant Ave.
  on 1st Floor of Conference
  Tower, etc. (Check map on pg.
  25 for details.)
  10:00am to 4:00pm (only to
  3:00pm on last day; location
  may change depending on
  weather)

>Corporate Dealer Area: 
            West Halls 3 & 4
 10:00am to 5:00pm, 4:00pm
on last day

					


Entrance Fees

Entrance to Comiket is free.
However, purchasing the
Comiket Catalog (available in
both print and DVD-ROM ver-
sions) is highly recommended.
Only dojinshi publishers (circle
members) are given entry passes
to allow early entry to set up
their booths. All others must get
in line for entry.

How to use this Catalog

This catalog is divided into the
following major parts: Basic
information regarding Comiket,
listings of all dojinshi circles in
attendance, a listing of all vendors
in the corporate booth area,
procedures on costuming, and
other various articles. Most of
the catalog is in Japanese. The
section you are reading is a
barebone guide written in foreign
languages for attendee from
overseas.
Please note this section is not
a complete translation of all
the information in this catalog.
Some information has been
abbreviated. If you have any
questions, we recommend you
ask a Japanese friend to
review the Comiket Catalog or
contact the International Desk
for more information. (See
below regarding International
Desk location.)
>Overall Comiket map = pg. 4
>Dojinshi circle listings:
 Thursday's listings = pg. 41
 Friday's listings = pg.421
 Saturday's listings = pg. 801
>Costume play information =
 pg. 20 (Japanese)
 See "Cosplay Activities and
 Photography" below for more
 information.
>Corporate booth listings =
 pg. 1171
 A color guide of the all the
 vendors operating at the corporate
 booths is separately
 available during Comiket.
>Information for first time
 visitors to Comiket = See
 "Navigating Comiket".

					


What is the Comic Market?

>The Comic Market (Comiket)
 is a marketplace where individuals
 can offer their own
 self-produced creations to a
 community that appreciates
 and supports such creative
 personal activities. Comiket
 primarily focuses on acting as
 a communal exchange place
 for self-published books,
 known as dojinshi. Japanese
 dictionaries define dojinshi as
 self-published material aimed
 toward likeminded individuals
 and the Comic Market invites
 any publication (books, music,
 films, software, etc.) published
 by individuals that are not available
 through standard commercial
 outlets. Applications
 for booths are processed prior
 to the event. You cannot
 apply for a booth at Comiket
 itself.

>One goal of the Comic Market is
 aiding creative efforts conducted
 outside the established commercial
 realms, and thereby encourage
 innovation and interaction
 within the overall community
 revolving around manga, anime
 and games. Comiket places
 emphasis on community building
 that empowers individual
 creativity, initiative, freedom,
 and to that end we strive our
 best to accommodate a large
 and diverse collection of dojinshi
 publishing groups, known as circles,
 to offer their dojinshi (noncorporate,
 limited distribution
 publications). Comiket places
 great priority on artistic freedom,
 subject to certain conditions
 necessary to ensure
 smooth operation of the Comic
 Market and retain compliance to
 Japanese laws.

>Comiket is a large scale, privately
 run exposition and marketplace.
 Comiket is neither a
 commercial enterprise, nor a
 governmental operation. The
 operation of the Comic Market
 is made possible by a volunteer
 based organization, the
 Comic Market (Comiket)
 Committee.
 
 				

History of the
Comic Market

 Comiket was established out of
 frustrations regarding existing
 manga fan events and disappointment
 at the lack of diversity
 in commercial publications in
 the mid 1970's. Many venues
 where manga fans could converge
 tended to be narrow-minded
 and outlets for experimental
 young manga authors were limited
 in the commercial sphere,
 thus a manga critique group
 Meikyu ("Labyrinth") not only
 started publishing a manga
 review dojinshi, but also established
 an event where manga
 authors and creators of other
 mediums could share their publications.
 The small startup event
 only featured 32 circles and
 approximately 700 people attending,
 taking place in a relatively
 small conference space, and yet
 the basic constructs of the
 Comic Market were already in
 place. Namely, an event focused
 on individual's personal creations,
 regular attendees supporting
 and encouraging such
 creative efforts, a volunteer
 group managing the operation
 of the event, and all parties
 involved doing their best to help
 each other.
 This cooperative emphasis continues
 to be part of the operation
 of the Comic Market. Comiket is
 an event of the fans, by the fans,
 for the fans of manga in general
 and other mediums of self
 expression. All operations of
 Comiket are designed to provide
 the maximum degree of freedom
 allowable while at the same time
 maintaining order and safety so
 that Comiket can continue to be
 held year after year.
 
 					
 
 In recent years, the Comic
 Market has grown to become an
 event with over 35 years of history,
 boasting 35,000 dojinshi
 circles and 500,000 general
 attendees at each session, usually
 held twice a year. Dojinshi
 authors and fans from all over
 Japan, and some from overseas,
 converge upon Comiket to
 directly intermingle among their
 peers, with whom they share a
 common devotion toward a
 diverse and unique range of creative
 works, made possible by
 independence, imagination and
 self-expression.
 In addition to dojinshi booths,
 Comiket houses a corporate
 dealers' area, attended by corporations
 who understand and
 support the ideals of the Comic
 Market. Numerous attendees
 wear costumes at Comiket, an
 activity known as cosplay. Other
 events, such as symposiums,
 exhibits, talk shows, etc. may
 also take place.
 For most dojinshi circles, earning
 profits is not the goal for
 their activities, but instead they
 aim to interact with their fellow
 participants through their own
 creations. Communication
 encourages creation through
 inspiration, and thereby lays the
 ground work for even greater
 works to come into being. This
 is the paramount goal of the
 Comic Market.


Important Comiket
Policies

All attendees must follow all
rules and policies established by
the Comiket Committee without
exception. Attendees must obey
all instructions issued by police,
firefighters, Comiket staff, security
guards, and employees of the
Tokyo Big Sight. Below is a list
of specific policies and rules of
the Comic Market.

					

>Anyone attending the Comic
 Market must obey Japanese
 laws and Tokyo Metropolitan
 Government ordinances.
>All Comiket attendees must
 follow disaster prevention and
 public safety rules established
 below:
#Do not run or push people.
 It is very easy for a trampling
 incident or a crowd collapse to
 occur with so many people
 packed together. Always
 remain calm and don't rush.
 Comiket also prohibits people
 walking on moving escalators
 for safety reasons.
#Do not sit down or place luggage,
 sort books, etc. near
 fire fighting gear or emergency
 exits. These areas are
 marked by red tape on the
 floor. Furthermore, do not
 leave baggage unattended
 anywhere within the premises.
 If you come across a suspicious
 object, please inform
 Comiket staff or a security
 guard immediately.
#Do not smoke anywhere except
 at designated smoking areas.
#Do not start any open flames,
 bring in pyrotechnic devices,
 or any easily flammable items
 within Tokyo Big Sight.
>Attendees must not bring in
 any items whose possession or
 use is either prohibited or
 restricted by Japanese law.
 Notably, all weapons and
 weapon-like items must be in
 compliance with the Firearms
 and Swords Control Law
 and no one is to be in possession
 of items that would
 deemed to be a violation of
 Penal Code 175 (obscenity
 restrictions) or the Child
 Pornography Law.

 				

>Other restricted items include:
 Electrical generators, large
 batteries, people-carrying vehicles
 (i.e. bicycles, unicycles,
 skateboards, roller-skates, etc.),
 any balloons that may float up,
 and any other items deemed
 dangerous by police, firefighters,
 Comiket staff, security
 guards, and employees of the
 Tokyo Big Sight.
>Attendees must follow commonsense
 rules for public
 behavior, respect others in
 personal interaction, and avoid
 causing crowd control issues
 or being a public nuisance.
#Do not loiter inside or near
 the Tokyo Big Sight during
 late night hours.
#Do not swing around, throw
 or kick objects about.
#Do not tamper with Tokyo
 Big Sight property.
#Do not use Tokyo Big Sight
 electrical outlets without permission.
#Do not park cars on streets
 near the Tokyo Big Sight.
#Do not generate loud sounds
 or music.
#Do not change clothing except
 at designated dressing rooms.
 Changing clothing in toilets is
 specifically prohibited. Do not
 come or leave the Comiket
 wearing your costume.
#No drinking alcohol while at
 the Comic Market.
#Service animals (e.g. guide
 dogs) are the only type of animals
 allowed.
#Flyers and free samples cannot
 be distributed in the hallways.
 Flyer distributors must
 be pre-registered and are lim-
 ited to handing out material to
 circles prior to beginning of
 the each day's session. Circles
 may distribute flyers from
 their own booths.
					
#Other activities may be prohibited
 or restricted dependent
 on the decisions of police,
 firefighters, Comiket staff,
 security guards, and employees
 of the Tokyo Big Sight.

Cosplay Activities
and Photography

Comic Market welcomes those
who would like to wear costumes,
but they must come to
Comiket in plainclothes and register
to use the dressing room
provided. (See "Location and
Hours of Operation" above for
locations and hours.) Registration
will cost 800 yen for each day.
Note that all specific policies and
rules regarding costume play are
provided in a booklet when you
register to use the dressing room.
>Below are broad Comiket
 guidelines regarding cosplay:
#Do not wear something that is
 risque. Exposing too much
 skin may cause legal problems,
 so if you do wear clothing that
 is very revealing, wear tights
 or something that matches
 your skin color to avoid accidental
 excessive exposure.
#Do not wear something that
 may physically harm others
 and/or stain property or clothing.
 Sharp objects and pointed
 tips may hurt others by simply
 walking in a crowd. A
 good idea is to make pointed
 parts detachable so that you
 can wear your costume safely
 depending where you are. No
 wet paint or substances that
 can rub off easily are permitted.
 					
#Do not wear costumes that
 may complicate or interfere
 with operations of the Comic
 Market. Specifically, there are
 restrictions on uniforms that
 may cause others to mistake
 you to be police officers, firefighters,
 security guards,
 Comiket staff, and other officials
 on duty.
 The Comiket staff at the
 dressing room will be happy
 to answer any questions
 regarding regulations on costume
 attire and items.
>Anyone who wishes to photograph
 or film someone else at
 Comiket must get permission
 from the person. This rule also
 applies to those in costume.
 Comiket features a costume
 play public square for the specific
 purpose of facilitating
 interaction and photography,
 but you still must get someone's
 permission before photographing
 them. Please do
 not block passageways or
 stand on objects while photographing,
 and do not use
 equipment that may interfere
 with the flow of traffic. All
 photographers must obey
 posted signs and directions
 issued by Comiket staff or
 other officials on duty at
 Comiket.

Press Coverage
and Interviews

If you are attending the Comic
Market as part of any type of
fieldwork for a public or commercial
news media service or
entertainment provider, you
must register at the Comic
Market general headquarters
located in East Hall 1 and follow
instructions issued at that time.
Japanese laws regarding privacy
restricts the unsolicited photo -
graphy of private individuals even
in public spaces. Please refrain
from any interviewing or filming
inside or near the premises of
Comiket prior to registration.



 				


					

Navigating
Comiket - A
Beginner's Guide

>Comiket is no ordinary event.
 It is very crowded and massive.
 We recommend first time
 visitors to come past 12 noon
 to avoid long lines. You should
 be in good health when visiting
 Comiket and make sure to
 dress accordingly. It can get
 very hot and humid in summer
 while very cold winds can
 be felt in winter.
 >While the Comic Market does
 have first aid stations staffed
 by volunteering medical professionals,
 they can only provide
 rudimentary medical care
 typical of a school's nurse's
 office. If you have a pre-existing
 condition that may hamper
 your ability to safely navigate
 Comiket and its intense
 crowds, we strongly recommend
 you seek advice from
 your doctor.
>Make sure to use public transportation.
 Visit the Tokyo Big
 Sight web page listed above
 for access information.
>Do not leave your personal
 belongings, especially when
 you are in line to get into
 Comiket. It is very easy to lose
 track of your place in line.
 Make sure to keep money,
 passports, travel tickets, and
 other important items with
 you at all times just in case. If
 you lose or drop something
 important, contact Comiket
 staff for assistance.
>Cell phone service and/or
 Internet access may become
 unreliable due to heavy traffic.
 Do not rely on cell phones or
 Internet access as the sole
 means of contacting others
 accompanying you or who you
 plan to meet. You cannot use
 Comiket's public address system
 to attempt to find someone.
 This service is reserved for official
 notices and emergencies.
					
>It is very easy for someone to
 get lost or separated at
 Comiket. Make sure to designate
 at least two places where
 you can find each other at specific
 times in case you get separated.
 (i.e. Near spot X at the
 top of every hour or at spot Y
 at the end of the day before
 leaving.) We highly recommend
 you bring a note written
 in Japanese, that indicates
 where you are staying and
 how to get back in cases you
 need return back alone.
>Comiket is harsh enough for
 regular adults. All parents
 should place the highest priority
 on your children's welfare
 if they are attending
 Comiket. In addition to making
 sure to keeping an eye on
 your child, please monitor
 your children's condition at all
 times. Comiket does not have
 childcare services nor medication
 designed for children. If
 your child is too young to be
 able to return home alone,
 make sure to give them an ID
 badge, bracelet or card. The
 ID should contain your child's
 name, address and emergency
 contact information (i.e. cell
 phone, the circle you are
 working at, hotel, etc.) Contact
 Comiket Staff if your child has
 gotten lost.
>Publishers at the Comic
 Market can range anywhere
 between amateur manga hobbyists
 to professional manga
 authors, but most share a
 common devotion toward
 dojinshi and Comiket, a place
 where one can experience first
 hand the diverse as well as
 unique creativity made possible
 by the medium of dojinshis.
 Comiket thrives on diversity,
 and while you may not
 
					


 approve of certain creations,
 please do not openly criticize
 their works in a way that is
 disrespectful. While many circles
 are happy to offer their creations
 to you, some may disapprove
 at the prospects of outsiders
 who don't know much
 about Comiket or dojinshi in
 general from purchasing their
 personal creations. Please respect
 the individual dojinshi circles'
 decisions on what they create
 and to whom they offer them.
###

Comic Market
International Desk

Each section of the Comiket
Staff are handed out information
on how to respond to common
questions that may arise from
attendees from overseas, but for
more involved topics, Comiket
has an International Desk section
ready to assist you.
The Comic Market International
Desk is here to provide overseas
attendees with information and
answer any questions that might
arise. Please feel free to come
and ask for our help. We welcome
everyone who shares our
enthusiasm and interest in the
dojinshi culture.
All of us on the Comiket staff
hope you will enjoy your visit to
the Comic Market.

=======================================
The International Desk is here.
=======================================

					

This contents are content for comic market 81. It is described to the comic market catalog.
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