- News & Announcements
- Theme 1: Pop Culture - Anime and Manga
- Theme 2: Pop Culture - Experience History
- Event Information
- Did you know? Fun Facts About Tokyo
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Declaration of Safe Travel to Japan JR East Pass Special (Sept. 1, 2009 to Dec. 1, 2009) Hotel Ryumeikan Open (at Tokyo station) Sun Route Ariake Hotel Renewed and Open Ome Art Jam 2009
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Manga is the ubiquitous Japanese comic book, covering a wide range of characters and stories in a flurry of color and action. Anime are the frenetic, occasionally hyperactive, renderings of manga on screen. Both art forms have recently been attracting a swelling international audience. Tokyo has often served as the source of inspiration for the stories, visuals and backgrounds and Anime and manga fans can enjoy seeing the actual sites and cityscapes that global audiences find so compelling. And no anime / manga inspired tour of Tokyo should begin without first heading to the hub of Japanese pop culture: Akihabara. Amongst the throngs decked out in costumes of their favourite characters, visitors can find a wide variety of shops selling new, used and rare collectibles, films and books, as well as those aforementioned costumes. There are even themed cafes and restaurants around too. We recommend checking out Akihabara’s Tokyo Anime Center. Visitors are welcomed free of charge. Keep up to date on the latest events at their website. Below you will find some other must see locations for Anime fans! Tokyo Character Street Nakano’s Broadway Suginami Animation Museum TOEI Animation Gallery Pokémon Center Tokyo (Pocket Monster) An important part of the spread of manga and anime has been through the endeavor of its most talented artists and producers. "Comiket", or "Comic Market", is the world's largest handmade comic book fair, held twice a year in Tokyo. As you can see, anime and manga fans taking a pop-culture tour of Tokyo will find the city to be a paradise of shops, souvenirs and sightseeing! More information:
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Anime and Manga trace their origins back to the Japanese art of ukiyo-e or “floating world” woodblock prints. Scenes were depicted with a sharp realism and were the manga of their time, as artist and publisher alike sold ukiyo-e throughout Japan. Works such as 100 Famous Views of Edo (by Hiroshige), 36 Views of Mt. Fuji (by Hokusai, which included The Great Wave) or The Kabuki Actor (by Sharaku) would go on to have a profound influence on painters such as Van Gogh, Monet and Degas. Meanwhile, of particular interest to managa fans will be the Hokusai Manga series. These volumes have been a major source of inspiration for generations of animation and manga artists. The series was comprised of thousands of simple 3 tone sketches drawn from everyday life and the natural world. Though simple in appearance, modern manga artists even today strive to capture a similar impact in a single picture or frame. Visitors can find ukiyo-e exhibitions at museums throughout Tokyo including: Edo Tokyo Museum Ota Kinen museum The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints Ukiyo e Musuem in Toyosu Visitors can also explore this list of bookstores and galleries where ukiyo-e prints and books are available: http://www.mita-arts.com/default.php?language=en
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Tokyo Marathon (Feb. 28, 2010) Takao-san Hiwatari (Mar. 14, 2010) Tokyo International Anime Fair 2010 (Mar. 25 to 28, 2010) And More!
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Mention white, sandy beaches to a resident of Japan and almost inevitably they will mention Okinawa. Yet, one of Tokyo’s best- kept secrets has to be the pristine white beaches of Ogasawara, Shikine,and Niijima. Surfers, water-sports enthusiasts and campers may want to look towards the Izu Island Chain and Niijima Island. A short ferry or flight takes the visitor to some of Tokyo’s most spectacular scenery. |
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To access the previous edition of e-Tokyo Today and our printed newsletter, Tokyo Today, Issued by: Tourism Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government |