Interest

Biannual Running of the Otaku Returns to Comic Market 94

Throwing safety concerns aside, otaku sprint out of Tokyo's Kokusai-Tenjijō Station twice yearly after arriving on the first train of the day to Tokyo Big Sight. As anime and manga enthusiasts aim to be first in line at Comic Market (Comiket, Comike, Comi), the Biannual Running of the Otaku (not an official name) has become a spectacle outside the convention center's nearby train station. Amateur videographers again posted videos of the latest otaku stampede on Twitter on Friday, the first day of Comic Market 94.

The video below even shows one person getting bowled over in the chaos. Thankfully, that person seems to be OK.

Here's the view as all the otaku exited out the station's doors:

And here's the view from outside:

Although the Running of the Otaku starts off the first day of Comiket, another impressive scene unfolds the night before the event. Comic Market staff have made it clear that lining up and camping out the night before the event starts is not allowed. Nevertheless, fans that aren't afraid to break a few rules line up in the thousands the night before every Comiket.

This year, one Twitter user reported that more than 6,500 people lined up during the night of August 9-10.

Hopefully all the early birds got enough rest before heading to Tokyo Big Sight because they still have full days of sardine-packed shoving ahead inside the convention center itself. Comic Market 94 runs until August 12.

Tokyo Big Sight convention attendees will soon have a slightly different experience when visiting for all the major events held there. The also nearby Kokusai-tenjijō-seimon Station is changing its name next March to make it easier for visitors to know where to get off.

[Via Hachima Kikō, Yaraon!]