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Over 1,000 Huddle in Near-Freezing Temperatures for Comiket 95

The Comiket experience is defined as a special kind of Hell. Thousands upon thousands race through the train stations to secure a spot in line for their coveted dojinshi and limited edition merchandise. Some even show up early and spend the night outside, even though the practice is technically not allowed. During the summer event, attendees are at risk for heat stroke while standing outside for long periods and for winter it means huddling together in near freezing temperatures.

This is the view outside Tokyo Big Sight this year where the temperatures hovered just one or two degrees above freezing just before sunrise on December 29, the first day of Comiket 95. Lines formed early the evening prior and stayed through the night.

Fans trying to reach the venue hit another hurdle. A railway line transporting people to Tokyo Big Sight shut down for approximately one hour due to a suspicious odor on a train. Riders that boarded the Rinkai! line at Oimachi Station reported a smell similar to kerosene. The Rinkai! line trains were shut down for inspection at 11:03 p.m. Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (TWR) announced service resumed at 12:37 a.m. on Saturday.

Source: ok_kou_it Twitter account via Otakomu, NHK News Web via Otakomu