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Tokyo Comic Con 2018

December 3, 2018

Originating in the United States in 1970, Comic-Con, an annual pop culture event that gathers up to 130,000 movie, comic, anime, and game fans in San Diego every July, has expanded globally to include countries like France, the UK, and Taiwan.

In 2016, the first Tokyo Comic Con was launched in Japan, bringing a refreshing American-style openness to the already diverse landscape of anime and game events in the country. The inaugural edition was a great success, and now, for the third consecutive year, Tokyo Comic Con 2018 took place at Makuhari Messe from November 30 to December 2, attracting over 50,000 fans.

The opening ceremony was a star-studded affair, with the newly-formed “Comic League” featuring comedians who love American comics (2-D Pistols, Shuji Kawatani, Takeshi Nadagi, Buffalo Goro Takewaka, and Omeshin Omoshiro Sato), serving as the opening act.
The ceremony began with the heartfelt words of honor from Shoko Yamato, Honorary Chairperson of the Executive Committee since the first edition, Executive Committee Chairman Komyo Munakumi, and Honorary Special Adviser Shintaro Ito.

A touching tribute video to Stan Lee, the iconic figure known as the “father of pop culture” and honorary goodwill ambassador of Tokyo Comic Con, followed their speeches.

The message at the end of the video, “Stan Lee will return,” resonated as a testament to his enduring presence among fans who cherish pop culture.

Special guests then graced the stage to elevate the excitement of Tokyo Comic Con 2018.
Daniel Logan, who portrayed the young Boba Fett in “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” appeared with a child in his arms, warming hearts and engaging the audience.
The line-up continued with Rana Daggubati, known for his role as the tyrant Bhallaladeva in the Indian film “Baahubali,” the Phelps brothers, who played Fred and George Weasley in the “Harry Potter” series, Peter Weller, the original RoboCop, Ezra Miller, Flash in “Justice League” and Credence in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” and the popular Tom Hiddleston, renowned for his portrayal of Loki in “Thor” and “The Avengers.”

Legendary manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, known for “Galaxy Express 999” and “Captain Harlock,” also made a special appearance, entertaining comic fans with anecdotes about his debut, interactions with Osamu Tezuka and Shotaro Ishinomori, and other valuable insights.

2018 ambassador Shoko Nakagawa, who voices the heroine in the Japanese version of “Venom” and is a Marvel movie enthusiast, expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to meet the guests. She was especially delighted in the presence of Tom Hiddleston, exclaiming, “Tom Hi-sama smells incredibly good! Good smell! I love you!” during a photo session, amusing Hiddleston.