The Best of Anime ( BOA) 2013 Highlights

2nd Floor , Function Hall F- SMX Convention Center, Pasay City -Philippines

entrance to the Best of Anime 2013 convention

Prime Trade Asia president Ms. Irene Lloren , together with Mr. Joe Inoue and Japan Foundation representatives

Sewashi Nobi and Doraemon

 Doraemon was awarded the  Japan Cartoonists Association award  for excellence in 1973. Doraemon was awarded the first  Shogakukan Manga Award for children’s manga in 1982  and the first Osamu Tezuka Culture award in 1997 . In March 2008 Japan’s Foreign Ministry , appointed Doraemon as the nation’s first “anime ambassador.”The Foreign Ministry action confirms that Doraemon has come to be considered a Japanese cultural icon.

Doraemon postage stamps issued by Japan Post

Doraemon is a popular character that , the Japan Post ( Anime Heroes) issued several postage stamps.  The latest set was released on June 4th, 2013. A sheet of ten 80 yen stamps is  Y800 yen ($8 USD).

Doremon notebooks

In 2002, the anime character was acclaimed as an “Asian Hero” in a special feature survey conducted by Time Asia Magazine.

Mr. Ace Irenea -first in line

Anime lovers, collectors, cosplayers, pop culture lovers among others troop to the convention center .

crowd

Throngs of crowd began their arrival at the convention center hours before its opening.

group picture

The Best of Anime(BOA) 2013  feature popular Japanese acts  the pop group STARMARIE and singer-songwriter Mr. Joe Inoue  to delight cosplay fans. Performing on Sept. 14 is STARMARIE, composed of Takamori Shino, Kishita Nozo- mi and Aoki Shior. The group is famous for intense dance tune lyrics with fairy tale and fantasy themes. Fans of the Lolita pop group are lovingly called Marists. STARMARIE recently released its second album, Fantasy World 2. Joe, who rose to fame with the song Closer, performs on Sept. 15. Growing up in a musi- cal environment has helped Joe establish his basics in music and with that, he started to create his own materials on a multi-track recorder. He is also a member of J-MELO, a television program by NHK that is being aired in 180 countries. Joe started his new project called TENGUBOY.

Fuji film cameras on display

Fuji Film and YKL group of company is a proud sponsor of the event.

camera mascots

There were two camera mascots walking around the convention center providing photo opportunities to the visitors and guests .

Fuji Film / YKL Photo Company

Eiwa Manga Booth

Eiwa Manga is  online store based in Manila with two people at the helm:  Ms. Jo, in Manila, takes care of having orders delivered and doing meet-ups (in Manila, of course); and Rizza, based in Zamboanga, handles most of responding to inquiries and maintaining the site .

The store focuses more in online selling rather than having a physical store .  Most of the items are sourced from Japan, USA and Taiwan.

Contact information: 0927-366-4349 (GLOBE) 0932-878-0991 (SUN)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eiwa-Manga-Store/171528632412

hodge podge booth

Ms. Gel Rodriguez ( 0917-525-2435)

The Hodge Podge booth  had a discount sale Everything’s 20%  at the Best of Anime convention.  Bottle cap accessories and it gives you the freedom to choose how you want your accessories to be. All supplies are imported from the US to assure our customers good quality in each Hodge Podge item . Bottle cap collectors is now enjoying a re-birth .

different kinds of bottle caps, they are used for bracelets, necklaces,mobile phone accessories , book marks, key chain holders, ID holders, pins

Established on March 2012, Hodge Podge is founded by two individuals who share the same passion for unique and kawaii goodies. They also accepts customized finish and bulk orders.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyhodgepodge

Japan Foundation booth

Japan Foundation gave interesting advertisement postcards, FREE calligraphy inscriptions and brochure. The booth also serves as a mini-library of books for those who want to read anime and Japanese magazines.

Makati Office: 12/F Pacific Star Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City 1226

Japan Foundation: http://www.jfmo.org.ph/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfmanila

Visit Japan Booth

Pocky

This booth is selling their Pocky at BUY 1 Take 1 promo with different kinds of flavors from chocolate, strawberry, banana -chocolate , milk chocolate

Pocky is a kind of biscuit .  It’s a stick-shaped biscuit, traditionally covered in chocolate. But these days there are many different kinds of Pocky. It is quite popular in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong , Korea and many Asian countries.

 Glico: http://www.glico.co.jp/en/corp/confectioneries.html

Mogu-mogu drink

Packed with beautifying nutrients, it’s a refreshing way to stay young and fit, even when you’re on the go!

Mogu Mogu Juice Drink with Nata De Coco Bits  ( coconut jelly) is manufactured by Sapanan a company based in Bangkok, Thailand. It is perhaps their most exported product since it also sold in the rest of Asia, Middle East, Europe and US. Mogu Mogu was first produced in 2003 but in the Philippines, it was launched in 2010.

The company had a sample of their latest product during the event. It seems that almost everybody likes the Mogu-Mogu drinks. My first encounter with this drink was way back in 2011 . When we bought them in a grocery store .

Website: http://mogumogumanila.com/

Mount Fuji Rice

The event is partnered by Primetime Asia,  Japan Information and Culture Center, Japan Foundation, Anime Alliance and Game Developers Association of the Philippines, sponsored by De La Salle — College of St. Benilde

Doujin No Mise booth

Friendster.ph, Wheatgrass C.A.N International, Cherry Credits, Bankee Trading, Inc., Ti- mezone, Sugarfree & Blue, YKL Fujifilm, Animation International (Doraemon), Mogu Mogu Manila, Mt. Fuji Rice, Voiceiyuu and The Brain Audio-Visual.

Prime Trade Asia: http://www.primetradeasia.com/

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PhilaNippon 2011 – Anime and Manga characters on stamp

Phila Nippon 2011 is one of the biggest stamp exhibition in this side of Asia and the Pacific .

In Japan, World Stamp Expo has been held every ten years since 1971: PhilaNippon 2011 is to be held in Yokohama from July 28 to August 2 , 2011 .

Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall

The organizers expect 100,000 people to visit the Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall – but philately is still big business. And this year, with the focus on anime and manga stamps from around the world, it may be even bigger.

A special commemorative stamp was issued by Japan Post last January 21, 2011.

Japan Post issues commemorative sets and new products regularly, covering every aspect of Japanese culture: little squares of soft power, traveling all over the world. Anime and manga have been featured on more and more stamps as their role in Japan’s popular culture – and its cultural diplomacy has expanded.

Technical features:
Japan World Stamp Exhibition 2011 Issue – First Day January 21, 2011 , Value 80 yen x 10 Designs C2090a,f – Mighty Atom C2090b,g – Doraemon C2090c,h – Pokemon C2090d,i – Hello Kitty C2090e,j – Choju-jinbutsu-giga (detail) Designer Morita Motoharu (stamp designer) Printing Offset in 8 colors Size a-e : 28.05 x 47.8mm, vertical f-i : 25.05 x 29.0mm, vertical j : 28.05 x 32.0mm, vertical Sheet 10 stamps

Among Asian countries, one of the most sought after stamp issues comes from Japan, Among Filipinos, the easiest way to acquire stamps from this country is from stamp exchanges and from Filipino overseases contract workers working in Japan.

For PhilaNippon 2011 two commemorative sets are being issued. One shows famous woodblock prints. The other has Astro Boy, Doraemon, Hello Kitty and Pikachu beaming at the stamp collectors of the world in vivid, joyous colour. (To English-speaking fans Doraemon might seem out of place alongside his better-known cohorts, but he’s been a beloved figure of childhood throughout Asia for over thirty years, and the Asian market for anime and manga is far longer-established than its US counterpart.

The Philippines thru Philippine Philatelic Federation will be sending representative to compete and exhibit in the said event.

Collecticon 2010

 

Event: Collecticon 2010
Date: October 2-3, 2010
Venue :Robinsons Midtown Mall, Ermita , Manila
Time: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Admission is FREE

Activities:

Collectors Display & Exhibit
Life Size Display
Toy Auctions
Customizers Clinic & Workshop
New Statues Unveiling
Trivia Contests – lots of prizes from our sponors
Photo Contest – Prizes and Trophy for the winners
Meet, Greet and Photo Ops
K-Pop Dancing Contest – Cash Prizes for the top 3 groups
Costripper of The Day – we are giving away 2 Nokia Cellphones

“ My Toys” Photo Contest Rules

a) Entries must be printed. Please do not submit images on CD or via email.
b) Enter up to ( 5 per category ) 8×10 or 8×12 enlargements.
c) Your name, address and daytime, contact number should be written clearly at the back of the photo.
d) Submission of entries. You can drop off your entries in a brown envelope at the event proper:
on Saturday Oct. 3, cut off time is 12 noon Sunday
e) The judges will choose the winning picture based on the following qualities: impact,(25%) lighting (25%), composition(25%), creativity (25%) total of 100 points..
f) 2 categories. Edited and non edited. Please mark your submitted entries at the back.
g) Subject any form of toys, figures, cars, statues and robots.

Collecticon 2009 tales

This was one of the conventions in which toy, anime, comics, cd’s, coke and other stuffs would not totally missed.

a toy dealer

However, compared to the 8th Toy Convention held last June 13 to 14, 2009  in SM Megamall, There were fewer freebies and (toy collection) exhibits.

cosplayer

There was only one vintage curio trader within the vicinity. According to some people who visited the event, This was just a smaller version of the convention. Cosplay players were all over the place!!!! They serve as a mascot for the event. Some even went to the 3^rd and fourth level of the mall.

crowd at the Collecticon 2009

There was no entrance fee, which means more people and collectors alike can go to the event. Compared to the Toy Convention, There were far more tourists like Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Iranian, Americans, Indians , Brazilians and Europeans were seen buying toys and curio stuffs.   The place is accessible to commuters and near university belt area (meaning, even more students can go!!!)

comics on sale!!!!

Despite of the 2 storms that hit the country and the on going recession, the traders were having a brisk sale!!!!

toy auction

There is also a live auction. Unlike regular auction, starting bid may start as low as 1 peso and some toys may reach a few hundreds or even a few thousand.

spot the bomb contest

There was a promotional booth were people were given a piece of paper in order to” spot the bomb”. They had to spot the 10 bombs in the drawing and if they spotted them correctly they are given instant gifts and a stub for a chance to win some toys.

an array of coca-cola merchandises (  license  and private issues)

One stall (perhaps the only one) that caught my fancy sells a lot of curio and vintage stuffs. coca-cola bottles both opened and unopened, old car plates from the United States, plaques, reproduction photos, coins, pins and other stuffs. The owner is a member of the Bayanihan, Bank Note Society of the Philippines and had a regular commercial outlet in Tomas Morato, Bulacan and Cubao.

anime  and cartoon dvd

There is also a trader which sells anime cd’s, basketball cards, baseball cards, movie cards, phone cards, celebrity cards among others.

The basketball trading cards were very popular in the 1970’s to mid-1990’s.

Philippines provincial coca-cola bottles limited edition

Colorful hair dyeing colors are the must buy for the day.  The free hair styling and dyeing sessions was an –in thing for the kids!!!!  The owner told me that even cosplay players and television celebrities bought a lot of the hair colors.

Kewpie dolls

There is also a store that sells the popular Kewpie dolls.  The Kewpie dolls first appeared in a Ladies Home Journal in 1909. Rose O’Neill had become America’s highest paid female illustrator.

In 1911, a sculptor named Joseph Kallus was chosen for the job, He was a young art student from Pratt Art Institute . Mr. Kallus was the one who have the talent to turn Ms. Rosie O’ Neil illustrations into a doll.  Kallus sculpted the very first Kewpie Doll model in bisque, soon followed by celluloid dolls, Ms. O’Neill took a voyage to Germany to contract with a doll manufacturer to begin producing Kewpie Dolls for the public.

The fat, roly-poly babies were meant to depict the alter ego of the Roman myth of cupid. According to O’Neill, cupid is guilty of getting people into trouble. Kewpie, by contrast, exists to help people get out of trouble! From a modern psychological viewpoint, one can certainly conjecture that Rose O’Neill had good reason to long for a friendly little being with the power to heal a troubled heart.

The toys became an instant hit among the American people, the trend of collecting the dolls soon spread across Europe and other parts of the world.

The toys reach the peak of popularity in the mid 1960’s and 1970’s. Some Kewpie dolls were made of porcelain and command higher prices.

For bargain hunters like second hand matchboxes toys- there is a stall that sell them at a bargain prices – price ranges from Php 20 pesos and above. People from all walks of life were swarming around the booth just to buy some toy cars. Who said Ukay-ukay is just confined to clothes and home furniture???

crowd buying second hand die cast toys

Serious toy collectors wanted toys to be in pristine condition (mint) that included the original boxes and their contents unopened.

I hope that more vintage collectors, sponsors and media tie-ups would be given a chance to participate in the event. Whether just a lecture series or a commercial booth.

Until the next collecticon 2010.