Visited Kyoto! (Pt 2) International Manga Museum

On our second day of experiencing manga-anime culture in Kyoto, we were brought through a guided tour in the Kyoto International Manga Museum. I really liked this place. In fact I think I might have enjoyed it a bit more than Kyomaf haha.

At first I was like "pfffft another gaijin attraction. I want to go to a real manga place that real Japanese people go to..." But the amount of effort they put into introducing how manga is in Japan really shows, and it not just fun but also very impressive. And actually probably like 80% of the visitors there were Japanese lol.

What's cool about this place is that it actually used to be a Japanese elementary school. So the staffroom has been converted into a ごろごろ space where people can just lay around inside, chill and read manga. The hallways were decorated with drawings from 100 different mangaka's of how they pictured a "maiko" (geisha-in-training). And the field where children used to run about is now also a big open place for people to just enjoy reading manga.

From the name of this place you'd think this was some old and dusty place with moth eaten manga or something, but it wasn't anything like that! Kyoto's  houses more than 300,000 manga and comics from all over the world and 50,000 of that is shelved all over the museum so you could just pick one off the shelf any time! The rest of the 250,000 manga are actually archived for research.

Researching manga. How cool does that get. That was like my childhood dream haha.
 There were also hands on exhibits and displays about the manga industry, from the process of creating a manga to how manga is sold overseas. (A newbie mangaka earns as little as only about like 1000USD a month for all that hard work!) And then the bit I enjoyed most -- students who graudated from the manga academy conducted daily workshops on how to ink the draft of a manga for printing, and also did manga illustrations for only 1000y!

Look at that whole set of copic markers *q*

...Guess which one all rushed to HAHAHA. We're a self loving bunch! XD (Except Iman, who went for the manga-inking workshop at first... and then went back again at night to get a portrait hehe XD)

Pictures of us with our mini protraits. They only took about 15minutes each!

Group picture with Alodia! :D

There was also a small cafe that served some simple food with illustrated walls! 

The manga museum was a really enjoyable place and I think anyone who loved reading manga at any point of their lives would love this place as well. Wish they would let us take more pictures inside so I could show you how cool it was though. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Kyoto!

Visited Kyoto! (Pt 1) Manga Anime Festival!

Okay I am guilty. I haven't written a single thing for 3 months I think! hahaha. But CoFesta events are now on full throttle and I've already been to a couple of super fun events I really had to post these! So first up is this overdue post about my trip to Kyoto for KyoMAF! Kyoto Manga Anime Festival.

I have to confess that I haven't been reading or watching any anime/manga in ages so I was afraid I wouldn't be able to enjoy the event. But it was so fun just being at such a huge event and seeing all the booths and really dedicated cosplayers.

Kyomaf stands for Kyoto Manga Anime Festival. Manga and anime in one of the most culturally rich cities of Japan. Doesn't get more Japanese than that!!

We got up at like 6 am to get to onto the Shinkansen by about 8.

By the way, this trips' members consisted of Edgar (Mexico), Iman (Malaysia), Olfa (France), Pochen (Taiwan), Anitha (USA), Gift (Thailand queen of selfies), Vin Sen (Indonesia), Moha (Egypt), Anna (Poland), Alina (USA) and Me! 11 Super 元気  CoFesta Ambassadors off to Kyoto!!

But after a while...

Zzzzzz on the shinkansen lolol.

And then we finally arrive...

At Kyoto!! It was really kind of surreal. 

Kyoto!!! First thing I did was stuff myself with a meat bun from 551. yumz. And then off we went to Miyako Messe where Kyomaf was being held!

When we arrived at about 1 there was a super long queue outside. But thanks to METI giving us a special guest pass, we went straight pass the queue hehe.

どや。

The highlight of Kyomaf for me was definitely CLAMP's exhibit of original illustrations! I didn't get to see it on the first day but when I finally did on the second day it was so... amaizing... ;o; Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside. There were also workshops and things like that but we didn't sign up beforehand so we couldn't attend thouse.. oh well!

But it was still a super cool event. I also got to help translate for Alodia who is a professional cosplayer from the Philippines and actually also working in Japan now, and also really sweet -- so amazing lah. 

Hehe got a picture with her before we went to tour the place! Omg need to diet.

Alodia was cosplaying as Madoka from Madomagi (gosh I wish I knew more anime) on the first day! And that's the mascot of Kyoto City with her. But as soon as she stopped to take one photo....

-surrounded-

But I must say, Japanese people are really very well mannered. Something I think people really need to learn from. Everytime someone wanted to take a photo, they would ask so politely! And when she agreed to they would be like "Thank you!!" and then quietly snap a few photos... though that's before they form a circle around her haha.

Okay, on to more pics! There were all kinds of booths selling goods, and anime-related exhibits, and I was so busy looking I didn't take many photos... so here are some I stole from edgar and friends XD

Attack on Titans... by Edgar? haha

A Japanese cosplayer came up and had a picture with Alodia too :) omg pretties overload. There were a lot of displays and booths selling goods. But they were goods/things that you could see if you visited shops and I kinda wished there were more event-only things, besides workshops that only a number of people can participate.

Outside, there was a red carpet area for events in the open. Very interesting visually because it was right in front of a Temple (Shrine? Can't remember the name of it ><) and it was such a cool contrast between traditional and pop culture. The weather was kind of overcast on the first day though...

(gundam pics from Olfa!)

Huge gundam being lifted up! Everytime they did so they would sound the alarm like in the anime! So cool haha.

Moha photobombing my Tori-i selfie D:

And then there were also performances by Japanese cosplayers.

Kuroshitsuji musical performance

Edgar picking a fight with Naruto hahaha.

Kakashi!! ♥

Super cute yurukyara!! Someone please tell me the name of this character... I can never know who is what lol.

And then our Japanese Salaryman Representative Yone decided to join in the fun! XD

He and Edgar got their pictures taken a few times too lolol.

After we messed around on the red carpet for a while, the real performance began! There was a yosakoi performance and they had such beautiful costumes and dance.

 There was a total of like 3 costume changes and they were all so synchronized and quick I don't even o_o

At the end of everything, we were invited to a dinner reception where we got to meet and talk to the president of Tezuka Productions (Astro boy!!) and the mayor of Kyoto City (who is so friendly and cute (with all due respect) )

And so that was the end of day one. We all went back to the ryokan super tired but still ended up playing Werewolf and random games anyway hahaha. But this is not the end! And I will continue with Day 2 where we becamse manga characters. I promise!!! :D