It’s probably a dead horse by this point, but the Japanese con experience couldn’t be any different from the American.
For those used to the chaotic socializing of the West, experiencing something like the bi-annual war that is Comiket can be an alienating experience where introverted nerds rarely exchange eye contact, let alone words. Let’s not even get started on the corporate shell that is Tokyo Anime Fair. Combine this with the sweltering heat on top of the mass of humanity around me and the prospect of visiting Wonder Festival 2010 was looking as inviting as a wasp’s nest.
Sometimes it pays to take your medicine. For the uninitiated, Wonder Festival, or Wonfest for short, is figure-making’s day to shine in Makuhari Messe the weeks before the doujinshi of Comiket swoop into Odaiba and take everyone’s attention. However, unlike Comiket, where flagrant copyright infringement is given a blind eye in the name of good PR, Wonfest operates under a veneer of legitimacy thanks to the “one-day, limited license system.” This permits amateur makers to sell their statues of ladies in swimwear with the full blessing of The Powers That Be.
This also creates a surprisingly relaxed photo policy. Whereas pointing a camera in the wrong direction at Comiket will result in a flurry of crossed arms and panicked expressions, I can’t recall a single photo being denied at Wonfest. The wonders that can be wrought when one removes the threat of being sued to the wall.
Perhaps less surprising was the span of fandoms covered. While gobs of Key Anime and vocaloid figures are to be expected, Japanese fans tend to have longer-term memories. Thanks to this, we can experience tear-inducing works of joy such as a dead-on accurate statue of Fabulous Fitzgeraldo from Giant Robo The Animation (if you haven’t watched it, go do so… now). Also wonderful finds were a not quite Figma of Nei from Sega’s Phantasy Star II—none of this half-baked Online or Universe stuff. Not limited to humanoids, many sculptors showed off lovingly molded ships from everything from Macross to old-time shooters like R-Type.
Given that the creators fully expect to be compensated for their hard toil and labor to bring our collective childish dreams into the third dimension, it should go without saying that a prospective shopper can expect to spend no less than 4000 yen (~$45) at the low end and well in excess of 50,000 yen (~$550) for the pleasure of having these toys in your home. No wonder all too many were content with just a photograph.
Of course, no collection of miniatures would be complete without a healthy guest appearance of tokusatsu, and that king of toku beasts, Godzilla! Everywhere the eye can see the Big G had a sizable presence, whether it be humble stenciling on a beer mug, or a full-blown bust-puppet that breathes actual nuclear breath! Couple this with a Mothra with flappable wings, and the only thing keeping the air from being clogged with bills were the astronomical price points. Also showing up full and ready were Ultraman and even the more obscure Spectraman!
It isn’t all about adapting other people’s work. A fair amount of original knick-knackery is to be found, such as a wonderful set of Chubu Mechatronics—a line of practical-use mecha from 1957 in an alternate-universe Japan. Another clever concept were the almost Miyazaki-esque Ie-nekos, which, in a play on words on “Housecat,” consist of cats with houses for heads. I wouldn’t be surprised to see those popping up elsewhere in the near future.
Of course, the big toy companies like Kaiyodo and GoodSmile Company were in full display, too. Seriously though, Nendaroids and flavor of the month titles versus Godzilla and retro-futuristic farming mechs? How much was that life-size replica again?
