Handshaking Souls and Mountains of Treasure! A Beginner’s Guide to COMITIA 131

It’s time once again for the indie manga convention, COMITIA! COMITIA 131 is happening this weekend, on the 9th of February. Manga Planet prepared a Beginner’s Guide to COMITIA to help you look for the doujinshi that you need!

What is COMITIA?

COMITIA is a convention where professionals and amateurs can sell self-published books and creative works. You can check our previous article on COMITIA to learn more about the event.

Where is it?

COMITIA is held at Tokyo Big Sight in the West Halls 1-4.  The staff recommends coming by public transportation due to overcrowding of the parking lots, so be sure to double-check your travel route before you go.

Tokyo Big Sight can be found at a 7-minute walk from the Kokusai-Tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line or at a 3-minute walk from the Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome Line. 

How do I get in?

The venue itself opens to the general public at 11 am, and your entry ticket is a copy of Tia’s Magazine, the official COMITIA catalog, which is available for pre-order in selected bookstores for ¥1,300 or on-site for ¥1,000.  However, if you plan to buy your copy on-site, be warned that the lines can get pretty crazy!

That being said, the event’s official site states explicit instructions not to line up too early and that camping out is not allowed, so be careful with how you plan your arrival time.

Why should I go?

If you have an interest in up-and-coming indie manga or in getting an idea of what the professional manga industry looks like, COMITIA has a lot of cool things to offer.  You can meet new creators, buy original goods, and even learn about the manga editing industry from professional editors. There’s a little something for everyone!

Some Helpful Vocabs

So you have your Tia’s Magazine, you’ve made it into the venue, and you’re ready to go!  But where do you start?

Luckily, the map has very detailed descriptions of each of the tables and where to find what.  We have prepared a handy little guide for you here.  

A note: The map also mentions that after 11 am and before the free entry time begins, the only way to get between the 1st and 4th floors is to take the Atrium escalator and the (outdoor) ramp.

* Doujin Japan 2020 New Book Cards are presents provided by printing companies participating  in the Doujin Japan 2020 New Book Cards Project. By printing their doujinshi with one of these companies,the circles will receive one New Book Card for each printing of new editions. This campaign supports the printing of new editions by awarding a variety of “privileges” and “preferential treatment” to circles participating in doujinshi (self-published works) events, companies, organizations, etc. according to the number of Cards the circles collected. 

You can download the vocabulary list here: A Beginner’s Guide to COMITIA 131: Vocabulary (PDF)

Things to keep in mind:

1. Cosplay is NOT allowed at this event.
2. When taking photos, please make sure to get permission from the artists.  Video recording (streaming or otherwise) is not permitted.
3. No smoking or drinking (alcohol) on the premises.
4. Be responsible with your trash.  (Separating trash is very important!)
5. Be careful not to block too much traffic, if possible.
6. Most importantly, have fun!

COMITIA 131

About Manga Planet: Read manga, support artists

In 2012, Manga Planet started as a joint project between Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. and FANTASISTA, INC. to research and explore the ways manga is read throughout the world. With the goal of bringing new manga to fans from all over the world and support artists and the industry, Manga Planet pushes for affordability and access to manga through a subscription-based service.

Readers who subscribe to Manga Planet and pay a flat monthly fee of $6.99 will have access to our expanding library of English-language manga. To subscribe, please go to read.mangaplanet.com and create an account. More information is in our guide.