Tokyo Comic Con 2024 delivered an unforgettable celebration of pop culture, running from December 6th to December 8th at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. With a record-breaking lineup of 11 Hollywood stalwarts, the event captivated over 70,000 attendees across three thrilling days.

Star Lineup

The event marked a decade of Comic-Con in Japan, featuring a stellar roster of global stars. Benedict Cumberbatch, affectionately called “Benedict-sama” by Japanese fans, opened the festivities with a warm greeting to the local fans. Sharing the spotlight were Mads Mikkelsen, Jude Law, Jason Momoa, and Christopher Lloyd, among others. Highlights included:

  • Benedict Cumberbatch: A fan-favorite.
  • Mads Mikkelsen and Jude Law: The “Fantastic Beasts” stars reunited.
  • Ansel Elgort: The star of “Tokyo Vice” impressed attendees with his fluent Japanese
  • Hugh Dancy: The “Hannibal” star made his first visit to Japan
  • Christopher Lloyd: The iconic “Doc” has become a regular at Tokyo Comic Con

Opening Ceremony

The event kicked off with a traditional Japanese kagami-biraki ceremony, symbolically breaking open a sake barrel. Hollywood stars, including Jason Momoa, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mads Mikkelsen, participated alongside Japanese ambassadors Takumi Saito and Moe Iori. The ceremony’s vibrant energy was heightened by the actors enthusiastically chanting “Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!”

Takumi Saito shared heartfelt remarks: “This isn’t work—it feels like a personal moment. Let’s enjoy this together!” Fans were further treated to warm greetings from the stars, who sprinkled their speeches with Japanese phrases like “konnichiwa” and “arigato.”

A Surprise Moment with Christopher Lloyd

Following the ceremony Christopher Lloyd stayed on stage for a special segment. Comedian Yuriyan Retriever, who is set to embark on a U.S. career, made a surprise appearance wielding a bamboo sword. Lloyd gifted her a signed mini-poster and offered inspiring advice:

“I believe many opportunities will come your way. Work hard to seize them.”

Exclusive Fan Interactions

A hallmark of Tokyo Comic-Con is its fan-focused experiences, including photo ops and autograph sessions. Ticket prices ranged from ¥20,000 (≈ $135) for individual photos to ¥60,000 (≈ $405) for group shots. Combos like Mads Mikkelsen with Jude Law or Benedict Cumberbatch with Hugh Dancy sold out rapidly. Fans described these moments as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, with many splurging on multiple sessions over the weekend.

Showcasing Pop Culture

The event featured a dazzling exhibit of iconic movie props, including:

  • Batman’s costume and gear.
  • The DeLorean from Back to the Future.
  • Darth Vader’s mask from Star Wars.
  • The T-1000 costume from Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

A booth for Captain America: Brave New World, set for a February 14, 2025, release, was a major draw. Fans posed with Captain America’s shield and admired a life-sized statue of the superhero.

Artist Alley

Artists gathered from both locally and overseas to provide fans with  meet-and-greets and the opportunity to purchase one of a kind pieces of art.

Cosplay

No Comic Con would be complete without fans dressing up as their favorite movie and comic book characters and this year was no different. Deadpools were a plenty.

Jason Momoa’s Surprise Farewell

In an unscheduled appearance, Jason Momoa bid an emotional farewell before departing early due to flight constraints. His booming “Aloha! I love you, Tokyo!” was met with thunderous applause as he high-fived fans and toured the venue one last time.

A Heartwarming Grand Finale

The closing ceremony brought all the stars back to the stage, where Jude Law received an early birthday cake from beloved Japanese mascots Gachapin and Mukku. The audience joined in singing “Happy Birthday” as Law fed cake to Gachapin, creating a delightful and memorable moment.

Exciting Announcements for 2025

Organizers thrilled attendees with news of Osaka Comic-Con 2025, scheduled for May 2nd–4th, and Tokyo Comic-Con 2025, returning from December 5th–7th. Hollywood stars promised, “We’ll be back in Japan!” as the event concluded with a celebratory cheer.

Reflecting on a Decade of Tokyo Comic-Con

Since its debut in 2016 as a sister event to Silicon Valley Comic-Con, Tokyo Comic-Con has become a cornerstone of global pop culture. Co-founded by the late Stan Lee and Apple’s Steve Wozniak, the event continues to unite fans and creators, blending Hollywood with Japanese tradition.

https://tokyocomiccon.jp/

 

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Alain Planta
I am the Senior Editor here at SPOT-Report and a photo journalist whose stories cover various trends on the streets of Tokyo and various sporting events. I'm also a sneakerhead who is up to date with all the latest news on sneaker drops. Who doesn't admire nice fashion... I am also very well versed in the Fashion Week scene over the last 10+ years of covering Tokyo Fashion Week every season. To showcase my work, I publish my articles here for the expat community here in Japan to keep up with.

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