As the name suggests, the event is an anime and manga expo. Living abroad, I’m constantly struck by how popular Japanese anime is. Some people seem to almost equate Japan with anime, and be more passionate about it than they are about Japanese food. Since this was the first time the event was held in Sydney, there was a huge amount of hype. Tickets sold out in advance, and it was an incredible success.
The place was packed with passionate anime and manga fans during the event. And because it was an expo specifically dedicated to anime rather than a general Japanese culture festival, most of the booths featured creators and designers selling original posters, stickers, keychains, tags, magnets, and assorted other goods.
There I was as the lone calligraphy exhibit—an art that traditionally uses very little color. But I did display sample works featuring the names of popular anime characters and memorable quotes, along with some merchandise using those motifs, so that people could have fun picking them up and interacting with them.
Still, it was the live calligraphy performances that drew the most attention, where I would create pieces on the spot. Whether I was writing people’s names in kanji or improvising lettering on original name tags, almost everyone would stop to watch while I completed my work. They seemed to really treasure having their name written in calligraphic script, and I was delighted to find that Japanese brushwork (kanji characters) was popular in Australia just like anime is (on a totally different scale—but still :)!
Anime songs were performed live on a stage inside the venue, bringing everyone together in a wave of excitement. Visitors also brought an incredible amount of passion and skill to their cosplay, demonstrating a level of originality and flair that far outstripped a Halloween event. Seeing people freely interact with one another and take pictures together in character really made the event special. The only unfortunate thing was that my booth was so busy that I didn’t get to walk around and see everything.
The Animaga Expo made me realize once again how passionate people are about Japanese culture and how many have an interest in calligraphy. It was an honor to be present in those moments when words and script brought people together and put them deeply in touch with culture. Hosting an event booth is a ton of work—preparing special pieces, setting up the day before, and cleanup… but getting to talk to all the people that stopped by was so much fun. Everyone who came to see me was just as wonderful as the people back in Japan!
I’m now considering exhibiting at Sydney’s largest anime event, which is scheduled for July.
