Subscribe on Youtube!!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Suginami Animation Museum


Excellent spot to learn about Japanese animation...for FREE!







This past week I visited the Suginami Animation Museum, located in Kamiogi, Suginami-ku near Nishiogikubo station. It was a wonderful 3 floored museum that all ages can go and enjoy.

The museum often features an exhibition of different artists works periodically. I attended this time to check out the Kon Satoshi exhibit, the artist famous for producing animated works like Paprika, Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and more. Kon Satoshi passed away about 5 years ago, but many of his amazing works still shine.

When you walk in and take the elevator to the 3rd floor, the entry level is a general floor introducing you to the history of animation. I'll get to more of this floor in a bit. The upper two floors were for showcasing the current special exhibit. The second floor had a gallery of Kon Satoshi's art works from early as his days as an art student to the works he made his debut with. The second floor also features a Anime theater where they show different animated movies and TV shows. There I was able to watch the first episode of the series Paranoia Agent.

The third floor also had a gallery, this area featured Kon Satoshi's more famous works from the aforementioned movies and TV shows. There was also a workshop space, a room probably used for different activities which was being used to show a documentary interview of Kon Satoshi.

Come try out the different Animation activities!





While the current exhibit takes most of the spotlight, the first floor of the animation museum was very interesting as well. As with most museum exhibits photography of Kon Satoshi's works were not allowed, but the first floor for general animation history was. 

The first thing to catch your eye when entering is probably the mural cylinder in the center with many signatures and illustrations by famous artists. The second thing is the giant timeline wall showing the history of Japanese anime. 

As you go further into the first floor, there were three machines showing very old animation techiniques such as a phenakistoscope, a zoetrope, and a praxinoscope.
What are those strange words I just used? Better go to the museum to find out!

There was also a very interesting booth- the anime afureko booth. "Afureko" is short for "After-recording." When anime is created, they make the animation first and then dub the voices over the animation. In this booth they let YOU voice Tetsuwan Atom or Astro boy in a short clip from that series. The script of course is all in Japanese, but you can experience how afureko works in real-time.

The first floor also provides a digital workshop, where you can try out drawing anime yourself on tracing light boards or even coloring anime cells on the computer.

If you're not much of a creative type, the second floor features an anime library where you can read books or watch DVD's about anime and animation. I sure know I want to go back and spend some time in that library!

The Suginami Animation Museum is a goldmine of interesting information for all kinds of people but especially for anime enthusiasts like me. If you are in the area this is definitely an amazing place to visit, not to mention that it's free admission again.

Official Home Page of Suginami Animation Museum:
http://www.sam.or.jp/

Location: 3-9-25 Kamiogi Suginami-ku Tokyo, Suginami Kaikan 3F
Open 10am-6pm, closed on Mondays and Holidays.


I also make video content on youtube, please subscribe to Subtokyo on Youtube for regular updates on Tokyo Subculture!
https://www.youtube.com/subtokyo





Thursday, January 15, 2015

Pokemon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire! Subtokyo 194





Official Pokemon ORAS Cafe Site: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2014/12/141219_e04.html?f001=news

Location: The Guest Cafe&diner in Shibuya Parco PART 1 7F

Pokemon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire Cafe is open from January 9th to February 28th. Check it out if you are in the Shibuya area!

Thanks for watching! Enjoy the video? You can help support Subtokyo here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NWACM83HPLYBA

http://subtokyo.blogspot.com/
http://www.kxela.com/
http://twitter.com/subtokyovlog
http://www.facebook.com/Subtokyovlog
http://gplus.to/subtokyovlog
http://subtokyo.spreadshirt.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/5lrhkk

Welcome to Subtokyo: Japanese Subculture Vlog!
Look forward to more videos soon!
Thanks again!

Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to Subtokyo!!

New Opening theme Credits to Sun of the Dawn, used with direct permission.
ED theme credits to www.SoundJay.com



Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Ultraman on a Horse: Arima Kinen Event! Subtokyo T34





Arima Kinen Horse Racing Anniversary Event spotted in Akihabara with couple of fun activities. Oh and, Ultraman on a horse.

http://subtokyo.blogspot.com/
http://www.kxela.com/
http://twitter.com/subtokyovlog
http://www.facebook.com/Subtokyovlog
http://gplus.to/subtokyovlog
http://subtokyo.spreadshirt.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/5lrhkk

Welcome to Subtokyo: Japanese Subculture Vlog!

Look forward to more videos soon!
Thanks again!
Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to Subtokyo!!

New Opening theme Credits to Sun of the Dawn, used with direct permission.
ED theme credits to www.SoundJay.com

The New Radio Kaikan! Subtokyo 193




http://subtokyo.blogspot.com/
http://www.kxela.com/
http://twitter.com/subtokyovlog
http://www.facebook.com/Subtokyovlog
http://gplus.to/subtokyovlog
http://subtokyo.spreadshirt.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/5lrhkk

Welcome to Subtokyo: Japanese Subculture Vlog!

Look forward to more videos soon!
Thanks again!
Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to Subtokyo!!

New Opening theme Credits to Sun of the Dawn, used with direct permission.
ED theme credits to www.SoundJay.com

Shirobako Gallery! Subtokyo T33




http://subtokyo.blogspot.com/
http://www.kxela.com/
http://twitter.com/subtokyovlog
http://www.facebook.com/Subtokyovlog
http://gplus.to/subtokyovlog
http://subtokyo.spreadshirt.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/5lrhkk

Welcome to Subtokyo: Japanese Subculture Vlog!

Look forward to more videos soon!
Thanks again!
Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to Subtokyo!!

New Opening theme Credits to Sun of the Dawn, used with direct permission.
ED theme credits to www.SoundJay.com





Pepper the Robot!? Subtokyo T32





What is this strange new phon...Robot?

http://www.aldebaran.com/en/a-robots/who-is-pepper


http://subtokyo.blogspot.com/
http://www.kxela.com/
http://twitter.com/subtokyovlog
http://www.facebook.com/Subtokyovlog
http://gplus.to/subtokyovlog
http://subtokyo.spreadshirt.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/5lrhkk

Welcome to Subtokyo: Japanese Subculture Vlog!

Look forward to more videos soon!
Thanks again!
Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to Subtokyo!!

New Opening theme Credits to Sun of the Dawn, used with direct permission.

ED theme credits to www.SoundJay.com

2.5 Jigen Kamimatsuri! Subtokyo 192




http://subtokyo.blogspot.com/
http://www.kxela.com/
http://twitter.com/subtokyovlog
http://www.facebook.com/Subtokyovlog
http://gplus.to/subtokyovlog
http://subtokyo.spreadshirt.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/5lrhkk

Welcome to Subtokyo: Japanese Subculture Vlog!

Look forward to more videos soon!
Thanks again!
Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe to Subtokyo!!

New Opening theme Credits to Sun of the Dawn, used with direct permission.
ED theme credits to www.SoundJay.com

Event and stage filmed with Press Permissions granted by Kanagawa Prefecture.








I've been to many Anime or Subculture related events during my past 5 years in Japan and even before that when I was back in America. While the most exciting of events usually happen at giant convention centers like Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe in Chiba, a big turn off for them is usually the impossible crowds of people attending and the strictly business view people have when attending them.
2.5 Jigen Kamimatsuri was a smaller yet very exciting local event in the heart of Yokohama, near Nihon-Oodori Station. The center of the excitement was a trailer stage with many people performing from dancers of YouTube and Nico Nico Douga, to idol groups and celebrities. The turn out was nice, many people came but it was not an overwhelming turn out. After many performances people were able to interact with their favorite internet performers and entertainers. The interaction among the people was warm and had a very homely feel, very similar to many anime conventions that I've attended in the U.S.






A Small Event Packed with Exciting Activities

Along with the performances there were many other attractions like cosplayers, anime decorated itasha cars, a creators market which was very similar to an artists alley, and a live real time detective game played in teams to solve the mystery.
A big focus of this event was to promote Kanagawa as an attractive prefecture for Anime and Subculture. Along the halls were information boards with different anime set in Kanagawa. If you follow these maps, you can go to the very location your favorite anime took place in! Tsuritama fans head to Enoshima! Evangelion fans go to Hakone!!
Back to the stage shows, it really was an interesting variety of performances. The morning started with Youtube and Nico Nico Douga dancers, followed by some smaller idol groups. In the afternoon there was a free dance session where people and children of all ages danced to music of their choice from anime songs to hip hop. The biggest and best spotlight must have been the giant collaboration between the Yurukyara, the dancers, celebrities, and the giant audience dancing to the Yokai Watch dance in unison. It definitely drew the largest crowd, and despite doing 2 practice sessions, all three dances had everyone dancing perfectly in sync! It was truely the most exciting moment of the day.\



Let's do it again!

This was the first 2.5 Jigen Matsuri I've attended, I don't know if its an annual event or not. All I know is I thoroughly enjoyed the event and it was very nice to have a Subculture event like this very close to my local area.
If I had to compare this to another event I've been to, it would be Nico Nico Chokaigi, a Subculture/Video Creators event very similar to this event held annually in Makuhari Messe, Chiba. That even is gigantic and attracts a huge amount of people, but it is like a bigger version of this event.


That event of course is all the way out in Chiba and costs a normal fee to get in. 2.5 Jigen Kamiatsuri was a free close knit event enjoyable to a wide range of audiences and definitely should be held again next year. Great work Kanagawa!

-This article was orginally published on Deep Japan:
http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3774