Let’s Get Indie! A BL Fan’s Guide to COMITIA 131
As the cold winter weather starts to warm and the plum blossoms start to bud, our thoughts turn to the sunny days and bright times to come. And what better way to warm the cockles of our thawing winter hearts than with some good old-fashioned indie BL? COMITIA 131 is here! futekiya prepared this BL Fan’s Guide to COMITIA to help you find your way to all the BL doujinshi!
What is COMITIA?
COMITIA is a convention where professionals and amateurs can sell self-published books and creative works. COMITIA is being held for the 131st time this 9th of February, 2020.
The History
Starting in November 1984 with around one hundred total participating circles, COMITIA is now host to, on average between four and five thousand participants per main event! It also has several affiliates in Osaka, Nagoya, Niigata, Hokkaido, Fukushima, and Fukuoka, giving otaku around the country access to all kinds of indie manga goodness.
The Where
Just like another popular convention, Comiket, COMITIA is being held at the famous Tokyo Big Sight. The event staff recommends against coming by car or by bicycle, due to crowded parking lots, and instead, they request that attendees come via public transportation.
Tokyo Big Sight is close to two stations, the Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome Line (3-minute walk), and the Kokusai-Tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line (7-minute walk). Both stations have their pros and cons, so be sure to check in advance which one is best for you!
The How
COMITIA’s entry system is based on purchasing one of their official catalogs, Tia’s Magazine. The magazine is available for pre-order in bookstores (¥1,300) or for direct purchase on the day (¥1,000), but prepare yourself for some long lines if you want to buy one in person.
The catalog includes a venue map and BL fans should head straight for the JUNE・BL area located in West Hall 1 (西ホール/Nishi ho-ru 1) on the first floor of Big Sight, tables 8-48 of the ち (chi) group and tables 1-24 of the つ(tsu) group.
Don’t forget to drop by the booths of BL mangaka in futekiya!
Fujitobi: つ (tsu) 17-b
2月9日コミティア131お品書き pic.twitter.com/KthUdLsf8n
— ふじの (@Fujinotobi) February 5, 2020
Tachibana: ち (chi) 42-a
コミティア131新刊&お品書き再投稿しました～よろしくお願いいたします #pixiv https://t.co/8kEfhOyhks pic.twitter.com/bD70ZXL0IA
— タチバナ@コミティア131「ち42a」 (@_maippe_) February 6, 2020
The When
COMITIA 131 is happening on the 9th of February, 2020 (Sunday). The venue’s doors open to the public at 11 am, but because the event discourages arriving too early, make sure to adjust your travel times accordingly.
The Rundown
A few things to keep in mind for COMITIA:
- Unlike many other conventions, cosplay is NOT allowed at this event.
- When taking photos, please make sure to get permission from the artists. Video recording (streaming or otherwise) is not permitted.
- There is no smoking or drinking (alcohol) allowed on the premises.
- Be responsible with your trash. (Separating trash is very important!)
- When possible, be careful not to block too much traffic.
- Most importantly, have fun!
The Words
Finally, here’s a list of genres of self-published works (and more!) that will be at COMITIA!
アダルト (adult)
動物 (doubutsu) = animals
アート • デザイン (art • design)
音楽 • 映像 (ongaku • eizou) = audio • visual
JUNE•BL = boys love
評論•情報 (hyouron • jouhou) = critique • information
DJ２０２０新刊カード引換＆全国コミティアスタンプラリー (DJ2020 shinkan card hikikae & zenkoku COMITIA stamp rally) = DJ 2020 new book card exchange & National COMITA Stamp Rally booth*
チラシ置場 (chirashi okiba) = flyers
ギャグ (gyagu) = gag
百合•GL (yuri • GL) = girls love
グッズ (goods)
歴史 (rekishi) = history
本部 (honbu) HQ
イラスト (irasuto) = illustrations
文芸 (bungei) = literature
出張マンガ編集部 (shucchou manga henshuubu) = manga editing branch office
その他 (sono ta) = miscellaneous
見本誌コーナー (mihonshi corner) = sample magazine corner
学校•学漫 (gakkou • gakuman) = school • school comics
SF•ファンタジー (SF • fantasy) = science fiction • fantasy
青年まんが (seinen manga)
少女まんが (shojo manga)
少年まんが (shonen manga)
ティアズマガジン販売 (Tia’s Magazine hanbai) = Tia’s Magazine selling booth
旅行記 (ryokouki) = travel journal
自販機 (jihanki) = vending machines
ゲーム•ソフト (game • soft) = video games • software
* Doujin Japan 2020 New Book Cards are presents provided by printing companies participating in the Doujin Japan 2020 New Book Cards Project. By printing their doujinshi with one of these companies, circles will receive one New Book Card for each printing of new editions. This campaign supports the printing of new editions by awarding a variety of “privileges” and “preferential treatment” to circles participating doujinshi (self-published works) events, companies, organizations, etc. according to the number of Cards the circles collected.
COMITIA 131
| Date | February 9, 2020 (Sunday) 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Venue | Tokyo Big Sight West Halls 1-4 (Access Map) |
| Entrance fee | Purchase Tia’s Magazine (in bookstores for ¥1,300 or on-site for ¥1,000) |
| Official Website | https://www.comitia.co.jp/html/131.html (Japanese) |
Have you been to COMITIA before? We’d love to hear about your experience on our Twitter account!
About futekiya: BL manga subscription
In 2018, futekiya began as a Boys’ Love manga news and culture website operated by FANTASISTA, INC., a CG/VR production studio based in Tokyo, Japan. futekiya transformed into a budding global distributor of officially licensed BL manga in 2019.
futekiya launched as an online subscription service for officially licensed BL manga on July 8, 2019. Determined to connect fans around the world with English-translated BL legally and conveniently, futekiya empowers readers to support creators and the manga industry.
Readers who subscribe to futekiya and pay a flat monthly fee of $6.99 will have access to our expanding library of English-language manga. To subscribe, please go to read.futekiya.com and create an account. More information is in our guide.
