*Tokyo Anime Center will be closed from 11th January 2011 due to renovation.

It is the new landmark in Akihabara, a holy site of animation that is also popular among foreign tourists.　It is a place where you can get the latest information on commercial animation. It is included in Akihabaras new discovery tour and/or various sightseeing tours for foreign tourists organized by companies as JTB, Hato Bus and HIS, so many foreign pop-culture lovers, love to visit this place. Among its 34,000 annual visitors, about 10 % are foreign tourists, reflecting the high popularity of Japanese animation abroad. In addition to its regular and special exhibition corner, large size versions of promotion images of works by production companies such as “Toei Animation” and “Studio Pierrot” are shown on the screen in the annex of the center. There is also a variety of character goods, including world popular animations such as “NARUTO” and “BREACH” available. Also, as a unique experience available in this special site, you can try the postrecording of animation work. This experience takes place in a studio which is used by the voice-over actors, producing the Animation Centre’s internet radio.　This postrecording experience completed with the help of several staff, is a valuable attraction that you can not experience in other places. You will do the voice-over while watching the animation on TV. Provided with the script, you may find that it takes a lot of doing. The length of the script is about 90 sec. to 150 sec. but you may need about one hour for a briefing, 2-3 rehearsals and actual postrecording.　Yet, it is said that only a very few people can do well on the first take. There are 5 microphones in the studio; therefore a maximum of 5 people can be dubbed at the same time. However, only one microphone is used for professional jobs. It is surprising that several voice-over actors share the microphone changing their standing positions during the act.

• Address: Akihabara UDX 4F, 4-14-1, Sotokanda, Chiyodaku (2 minutes walk from JR Akihabara station)
• Tel.:　03-5298-1188
• Opening hours:　11:00-19:00
• Closing date: Monday (except Summer holiday season)
• Entrance Fee　Free of charge

Post recording trial experience

Basically available on Sat., Sun., and holidays. Application is accepted at first-come and first-served basis on that day (start at 11:45) Experience only 1000 yen, experience with a commemorative DVD that contains scenes of your postrecording session and the finished animation work with your voice-over, 1800 yen

Photo by : Nozomi Takahashi

The shop has the best range of character goods in Akihabara. While many stores connect to the eaves, it has a cheerful and open atmosphere. Even for Akiba beginners, it is easy and comfortable to enter the shop, thus many foreign tourists and students on school trips visit the shop.

• Address:　Akihabara Radio Kaikan 1F & 2F, 1-15-16,Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo（1 minute walk from Denkigai exit of JR Akihabara station）
• Tel.:　03-5298-6300
• Open hours:　10:00-20:00
• Closing day　None
• http://www.kotobukiya.co.jp/kotobukiya/index.shtml

Ghibli and Shonen Jump-related goods

Variety of Ghibli and Shonen Jump-related goods which are popular among foreign people.

Food

There are foods in “Moekei” packages only available at the store.

Rice

Environment preservation rice of “Sengoku BASARA” produced through collaboration with Miyagi prefecture. This topic was also reported in the news.

USB-related goods

USB joke-goods with no memory function. Unexpectedly popular with many people is a dog which has swaying hips and a chameleon which has spinning eyes.

A shop in 2nd floor

Get fully-fledged authentic figures here, too!

The figures and plastic models, specialized corner is on the 2nd floor and is just like a museum. It exhibits various pre-sale sample products as well as in-line products. It is great for silently and closely looking at the special world of models.

The fair is a world-class animation festival, and a lot of animation-related companies will participate in the Fair. The number of visitors has been constantly increasing; more than 130,000 people from all over the world visited the 8th TAF held last year. During the last fair, various activities including active business deals and award- giving ceremonies, events from popular TV animation programs and a live concert of animation songs was held.

During the fair period, the first half is for business visitors , each exhibitor develops business contacts globally whilst the last half is for general visitors who can enjoy various events and exhibitions in the event site. Last year, events such as “Dragon Ball” and “Sengoku BASARA” as well as an “Ani-song live” were popular among visitors. An award presentation ceremony of “Tokyo Anime Award” and screenings of animation works also took place.

• Venue: Tokyo Big Site（7 minutes walk from Rinkai Line Kokusai Tenjijo station, 5 minutes walk from Yurikamome Kokusai Tenjijo Seimon station）
• Period: Thursday, March 25 – Friday, March 26, 2010 (Business Day) Saturday, March 27 – Sunday March 28, 2010 (Public Day)　10:00-18:00
• Entrance fee　Adult 1000 yen（800 yen）Junior and Senior high school student 500 yen（400）yen
  ※（advance ticket）
• http://www.tokyoanime.jp

The museum displays interesting exhibits even non-animation fans can enjoy the duplication of work desks of leading Japanese animation creators including Mr. Yoshiyuki Tomino, director of “Mobile Suit Gundam” as well as an explanation of the history and fundamental rules of animation. It also has facilities for post recording and a digital workshop. Its anime library houses a variety of information and materials such as related books, DVD and interviews with creators. Also, in its special exhibition site, which is permanent, the exhibition’s theme related animation and other works are screened in its theatre. No charge is required for either admission or inspection.

• Address:　Suginami Kaikan 3F, 3-29-3, Kamiogi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo (Bus from JR and Tokyo Metro Ogikubo station, or Seibu Shinjuku Line Kami-igusa station)
• Tel.:　03-3396-1510
• Opening hours:　10:00-18:00
• Closing date: Monday, Year-end and new-year holidays
• Admission: Free of Charge
• http://www.sam.or.jp

Japanese figures are considered as something that represents a sub-culture, but when you look into the works, you may be highly impressed by their morbidezza, craftsmanship and artistry. A figure prototype model creator is a person who creates a prototype model of a commercially available completed figure and/or garage kit. Shunji and Kaoru are a married couple, but at the same time, they are rivals and cenacles, both of them are independent figure prototype creators.

We found a figure on Kaoru’s desk that she was working on. When I asked her if she is going to exhibit that work in a large-scale garage kits event which will be held this summer, she answered “I am not going to make it, and I’m not going to push myself to meet the deadline. When you set a deadline, you can only create so-so, but not the best. Sometimes it takes 5 months to develop one prototype. I break my back, trying to meet the quality of what I am aiming at. I want to spend time creating something that I poured my whole energy into. Forget about tactics to create something that can be sold or to make other people happy. I want to create something that makes me want to put it neatly in my room, something that satisfied my particular taste. That is the highest hurdle. Since, I can not compromise myself.”
Looking at girls created by Kaoru, people feel that they have an inner fortitude which never flatters nor is stained by any color. Thus people can’t seem to keep their eyes off the strong presence of the figures. The truly appealing aura that her works have would be an impression of strong peculiarity towards creation.

Many one-off product samples, which must be valuable works, are on a steel shelf arranged chaotically. For Shunji, the most important thing would be the creating process rather than the finished product, the result. Embodying a 2-D character exquisitely is a daunting task that requires patience, but I get the impression that he really enjoys that working process itself.
“In my childhood, we made bows, target and slingshots from whittling wood. Now, people do not have so much experience to “create something you want by yourself”. So I want to create work that makes people, who do not know the pleasure of craft or creation, want to “make it” “
His starting point was the desire to make a palm-sized robot of “EVANGELION” which he was fascinated by. As for Shunji, the job of making prototype figures is the condense joy of modelling.

Shunji and Kaoru work on creation as independent creators. The partnership of two people, who have different personalities and stance toward their work, thus the atmosphere they create is very interesting.

Shunji Hagii: Born in 1971. Actively creates both original works and prototypes for commercial production. He belongs to “Studio Saru Bunshitu Kasetsujo. “ Recent works include “Tengen Toppa Gurren-lagann” Yoko real image ver, (by Max Factory)

Kaoru Hagii: Born in 1973. She has been releasing original works with unique character. Her artist name is “Kaoru,” and dealer name is “Klondike”. Recent works include “egoista（original ）” and others.

photo:Nozomi Takahashi