Tokyo Alley
| Tokyo Alley (convention) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Venue | Curtin Stadium |
| Location(s) | Perth, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Established | 2016 |
| Website | tokyoalleyperth.com |
Tokyo Alley is an annual Japanese pop culture convention held in Perth, Western Australia. The convention is hosted by a non-profit charity organisation, also named Tokyo Alley, which works towards promoting local illustrators[1][2] and Japanese culture.
Origins
Tokyo Alley was founded by a group of local convention artists in response to the lack of opportunities in Perth due to the competitive nature of corporate conventions, and the dissolving of Wai-Con, Perth's premiere anime convention, several years earlier.[3][4]
Tokyo Alley was created with the support of Tokyo Underground[4], an anime merchandise store which would also lend its location to host the first few events. The name 'Tokyo Alley' is derived from the words 'artist alley' and 'Tokyo Underground' as an expression of this partnership.
History
In November 2016, the first Tokyo Alley event occurred, featuring 10 artists in the back storage room of Tokyo Underground.[5] Tokyo Alley would exclusively feature an artist alley until 2021.
Multiple events would be hosted within one year during 2017 and 2018. In 2017, Tokyo Underground would move store locations, leading Tokyo Alley to find a new venue with Citiplace Community Centre.
Due to the increasing demand for expansion, Tokyo Alley would move venues to South Perth Community Hall in 2021. The event would evolve into a more traditional anime convention format, with art activities, panels, stage performances, and a cosplay parade.
2022 marked Tokyo Alley's fifth anniversary and tenth major event. The convention was hosted at Curtin Stadium, more than doubling the capacity of artist and attendee turnout from the previous year.
Event History
| Event | Year | Dates | Venue | Theme | Artists | Attendance (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016 | 19 November | Tokyo Underground | 10 | 50[5] | |
| 2 | 2017 | 28 January | Tokyo Underground | 10 | 60[6] | |
| 3 | 27-28 May | Tokyo Underground | 20 | 55[7] | ||
| 4 | 25 November | Cityplace Community Centre | 33 | 90[8] | ||
| 5 | 2018 | 28 April | Cityplace Community Centre | Sakura Matsuri | 30+ | 100[9] |
| 6 | 10 November | Cityplace Community Centre | Retro Harajuku | 36 | 125[10] | |
| 7 | 2019 | 18 May | Cityplace Community Centre | Heroes | 38 | 200[11] |
| 8 | 2020 | 3 October | Cityplace Community Centre | Galaxy | 49 | 600[12] |
| 9 | 2021 | 22 May | South Perth Community Hall | Travel | 60 | 800[13] |
| 10 | 2022 | 28 May | Curtin Stadium | Dreamers (5th Anniversary) | 141 | 2,100[14] |
| 11 | 2023 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Tokyo Market
Launched in 2021, Tokyo Market is Tokyo Alley's secondary annual event. Tokyo Market's initiative aims to make tabling opportunities more accessible for those who are new to, or are starting out in the artist alley community, similar to the organisation's origins.[15][16]
Mascots
Touko
A blue-haired girl, with a double bun and curly twin tail hairstyle. Despite being the main face of Tokyo Alley, a convention that focuses on art and illustration, Touko is not very good at drawing, and is being tutored by Sensei.[17]
Sensei
A white akita inu with pink or blue highlights in his ears and tail. Sensei is a talented illustrator and is mentoring Touko on how to draw.[17]
References
- ↑ Staff, Perth Is OK. "TOKYO ALLEY: DREAMERS". Perth Is OK!. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Anime Fans, Here's A Reason To Visit Perth, Western Australia This April 2022". BEDSSI. 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "About – Tokyo Alley Perth".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "History – Tokyo Alley Perth".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Tokyo Alley 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Tokyo Alley 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ "Events — Tokyo Alley Perth".
- ↑ "Tokyo Market 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Mascots — Tokyo Alley Perth".
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