It is called the biggest Anime and Japan Expo from Germany, the eleventh edition of DoKomi is almost around the corner, taking place on 8th and 9th of June in Düsseldorf. The convention expects to welcome over 45.000 visitors and is filled with everything that is related to Anime, video games, cosplay and Japan. The theme for this year is Retro. What events does DoKomi offer this year? Just check out this list of 10 things to do to get inspired.
1. J-Rave
A mixture of a club atmosphere and the finest of Japanese electronic sounds can be expected during the J-Rave, that will take place at the Black Stage on Saturday 8 June. The DJs will provide a wide spectrum of Japanese club music (including but not limited to, Electropop, House, Electro and Happy Hardcore). The DJs who will attend the J-Rave at DoKomi 2019 are Yasutaka Nakata, DjKnuX, Dj BrainShit, D-YAMA and Taku Inoue. For the J-Rave you need a separate ticket, if you spontaneous decide to join the party, it is possible to buy a ticket at the box office of the convention. The rave starts at 21.00, but you are able to come in at 20.30.
Yasutaka Nakata
What do the famous artists Kyaru Pamyu Pamyu, Perfume, CAPSULE, Kizuna Ai or DAOKO have in common? They all have either been produced by or collaborated with Yasutaka Nakata, one of the most known music producers of Japan. He is a major name in the Japanese electro scene, but also the founder of Kawaii electronic music. A short while ago he collaborated with the famous virtual idol Kizuna Ai for the song AIAIAI. His live performance will be accompanied by Momo Mashiro, a brand new artist from Asobi Systems.
Taku Inoue
Taku Inoue is a Japanese composer and DJ and is mainly active with composing music for video games such as Ridge Racer, THE iDOLM@STER and Tekken series. He started to work with DAOKO and Manami Numakura. DoKomi started to work with Club MOGRA from this year to support the Rave at the convention and Taku Inoue is the resident DJ of this club.
D-YAMA
D-YAMA is the key person behind the unique mix of Club-Sound and Akiba-Pop, found in his Club MOGRA which he founded 2009 when he was just 21 years old. Going around the world with famous DJs like DJ WILDPARTY, he expanded the freedom and possibilities of Japanese DJs. He also was the back-DJ for Mami Kawada (Shakugan no Shana, To Aru Majutsu no Index, Yormungand), establishing the Club Style for Anime singers. He has accompanied her for tours around the country as well as over the world. This also influenced the style of live performances in the scene.
The DJs will have a couple of signing sessions. On Saturday from 17.00 and Sunday from 14.00. Momo Mashiro will have signing sessions on Saturday from 14.00 and Sunday from 15.00.
2. Indoor 3D photography locations
For those who love to have a snapshot of their cosplay outfit at a Japan-related room, it is possible to go to the indoor photography locations at DoKomi. DoKomi offers three locations, a Japanese classroom, complete with a blackboard, desks and chairs, a comfortable room with a cosy ambience for elegant photos and a colourful ball pit. 75.000 colourfull balls await you to jump inside and let the inner child go wild.
3. MeseMoa.
MeseMoa. performed last year at DoKomi and decided to come back to the stage in Germany. The odorite idol group started out in 2012 under the name Musumen, with cover songs from Morning Musume. Odorite are dancers who upload their dance videos on Nico Nico Douga and post them under the category Odottemita which literally means ‘tried to dance’. Nowadays the group, consisting of 9 members, performs their own songs. The performance will take place on Saturday on the Black Stage from 14.45. MeseMoa. will also have signing sessions at 18.00 on Saturday and at 11.00 on Sunday.
4. Meet-THE-people
Meet-THE-people is an anonymous message exchange that our visitors may use to get in contact with other people. Leave other people a message even if you are too shy to talk to the person directly. Or leave a nice compliment to brighten up someone’s day! The system itself is quite easy: Every participant gets a number written on a colourful sign which needs to be attached to a visible place. If you want to write a message, keep the person’s number in mind and write the message. Leave it at our information desk, where it will be stored and given out whenever the person with this number asks for messages left.
5. Danny Choo
J-Culture Blogger, Japan Expert and entrepreneur Danny Choo joined DoKomi before and will come to the 2019 edition of the convention. His first big hit and the foundation of his path is his popular blog Culture Japan, where he has shown his view on Japan for many years. He also introduced his mascot Mirai Suenaga there, which is now part of the official Japanese tourism marketing strategy. During DoKomi you can find him at his booth where he will present his most recent collection of Smart Dolls, his new startup. Furthermore, he will give a lecture about his startup on Saturday from 17.00. Ah day later, he will join the Cool Japan-Summit at the Live Stage with Rayun from 11.30.
6. The Kurotoshiro Project 黒 と 白
This is a special project that was exclusively founded for this convention with the main focus on cyberpunk, sci-fi, adult anime and manga. The team consists of professional models, designers and artists who have been anime and manga fans since childhood. Immerse yourself in the world of cyber and sci-fi anime within our 14 square meter interactive 3D photo backgrounds. You can use the three photo points in the scenery like the tactical station, bio-scan interface and weapon storage. The main theme for the project this year is adult anime.
7. Screening Magical Mirai Tokyo 2018
For all fans of Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin & Len & Co DoKomi present in cooperation with Crypton Future Media the Magical Mirai 2018 show at the convention. It is a recording of the concert that took place in Tokyo in 2018 that will be screened during DoKomi. The organisation is working on some more surprises that are related to Hatsune Miku and Co. The screening will take place on Saturday from 18.00 at the AMV Area.
8. Germany’s largest Artist Alley
Interested in doujinshi, posters or drawings? One of the hearts of DoKomi is the Artist Alley, which is the largest one in Germany. Every year the number of artist tables rises and talented people show their work to the general public. Everything is presented here, from beginners to professionals, from shoujo to horror, from manga to comic. You can walk around for hours because there are more than 700 artists joining this edition. No longer just regional artists make their way to Düsseldorf, they also come from other European countries, such as Spain, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands, as well as Japan and North America.
9. DoKomi Gaming Festival
Since the theme of this year’s DoKomi is Retro, the convention will present the best of the best of over 30 years of video game history, 34 lovingly designed arcade machines with games from the 80s and 90s. But there is more, because there will various exhibitors from the games industry presenting games, including independent developers in the Indie Area. Furthermore, there are gaming tournaments in the E-Sport Area and Community Tournament Area.
10. fhána
Last but not least, from the honorary guests this year at DoKomi, is quartet fhána one of it. This band bridges the gap between the familiar Japanese pop, rock and anisong. The band consists of three sound producers (Junichi Sato on the keyboard, Yuxuki Waga on the guitar and Kevin Mitsunaga on the PC/sampler) and vocalist towana. They came together in 2012 and made their major debut in August 2013 with the single Que Sera, Sera. They only gained momentum from there, releasing more numbers doubling as themes for anime, such as Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Haruchika, Gingitsune, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, Sora no Method, Witch Craft Works, Comet Lucifer, Tales of Zestiria the X, Knights & Magic, Uchoten Kazoku and many more! At the end of 2018, the band came with a best of album, titled STORIES, with a collection of their most known singles. fhána will perform on Saturday at the Black Stage from 18.30. They will have a signing session at 16.00 on Saturday and 13.00 on Sunday.
There is so much more to do at DoKomi, but this list is there for inspiration if you decide to go to the convention in Germany. Online, but also at the door, it is possible to buy tickets for DoKomi 2019.
Source: DoKomi
