Cool Japan Guide

Japan blog by Abby Denson, author of Cool Japan Guide and Cool Tokyo Guide

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Cool Tokyo Guide won an IPPY Award!

Thanks for your support everybody! 

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November Tokyo dates!

This month I’ll be in Tokyo and exhibiting at two comic events with Matt Loux! Tokyo friends: please come and say hello!

11/23 10:00-17:00 Brave and the Bold

Venue: Cotton Commercial Center 4F Ticket: 2500yen Ticket information: Only the same day tickets will be on sale.

Location: Mensho Kaikan 4th Floor (8-10 Nihonbashi Tomizawa-cho, Chuo-ku,Tokyo.) http://www.mensyou.co.jp/map.htm

11/25 11:00-16:00 Tokyo International Comic Festival

In COMITIA 126 Tokyo Big Sight 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan 135-0063

To enter COMITIA 126, please buy a TIA'S MAGAZINE as an entrance ticket. TIA'S MAGAZINE are available in book stores (1,300 yen) and also at the COMITIA 126 Entrance. (1,000 yen) Free entrance for children under 13.

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See you at NEW YORK COMIC CON Artist Alley Table D14!

I’ll be exhibiting at New York Comic Con at Artist Alley Table D14 with Matt Loux. Come on by! say hello! Buy some art and books!

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Looking forward to Rose City Comic Con!

Looking forward to Rose City Comic Con!

I'll be at Artists Alley table # M-06 and on Saturday at 3 PM I'll present a talk about traveling to Tokyo in Panel Room 2. Hope to see you there!

September 7th-9th - Rose City Comicon Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR

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Next Cool Tokyo Guide events!

Here’s my schedule for the rest of 2018 - so far! Hope to see you there. ^_^

September 7th-9th - Rose City Comicon Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR

October 4th-7th -  NYCC in Artist Alley with Matthew Loux booth D14 - Javits Center, NYC

November 25th - International Comic Festival - Tokyo Big Sight 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan 135-0063

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Library talk in Long Beach, NY June 2nd!

Join me for a talk and signing at Long Beach Public Library in Long Island, NY! 

2pm-4pm at Long Beach Public Library  111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY

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APPEARANCES AT TCAF!

I'm excited to be doing scheduled signings at TCAF this year and speaking on this panel Saturday, May 12th 11AM: Book in Advance: Contemporary Travel Comics  Summerhill Ballroom (Marriott)

I hope to see you there!

Here’s my schedule! Book in Advance: Contemporary Travel Comics, Saturday, May 12th 11:00 AM Summerhill Ballroom (Marriott). Signing at The Beguiling Sales Area on Saturday, May 12th 12:30pm - 2:00pm and Sunday, May 13th 1:00pm - 2:30pm!

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2018 Main Exhibition: Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13 Professional Development: Friday, May 11 Free To Attend – All Ages

Primary Venues:

Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto The Marriott Bloor Yorkville, 90 Bloor Street East, Toronto The Masonic Temple, 888 Yonge Street, Toronto

(poster art by Fiona Smyth)

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KITTY SWEET TOOTH'S TASTEORAMA Announced!

Big news! My next graphic novel project was announced this week! It’s a two book series collaboration with artist Utomaru to be published by First Second Books. The Comics Beat ran an interview with us about it here. We will be posting progress images as it goes along, so keep an eye out for those.

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May 8th - Cool Tokyo: Harajuku, Akihabara and Beyond - talk at Japan Society

On May 8th I’ll be doing a talk at Japan Society with Sebastian Masuda. The talk will be followed by a book signing reception. Buy tickets here!

Tuesday, May 8, 6:30 PM

From street fashion to street food, kawaii to cosplay, Tokyo is the epicenter of Japan’s latest trends. With so much to explore in this vibrant, fast-paced city, it can be hard to know where to start. At this talk, Sebastian Masuda, visual artist and founder of Harajuku shop 6%DokiDoki, and Abby Denson, comic book artist and author of Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla, help to navigate Tokyo’s vending machines, subway etiquette, hidden treasures, and much more. Followed by a book signing reception. 

image © Connie Ma courtesy of Japan Society

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Next Stop: Awesome Con March 31st & April 1st!

ECCC and Kinokuniya NY were so fun! My next stop will be at Awesome Con in Washington DC. I'll be tabling at Artists Alley booth # P04 Saturday and Sunday, and speaking on a panel about traveling in Tokyo on Sunday, April 1 at 11:30 AM in room 202 A. Hope to see you then!

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Cool Tokyo Guide’s book birthday!

Today is Cool Tokyo Guide's book birthday!!! Get your copy and spread the word!

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Cool Tokyo Guide Tissue Packs!

You may have heard about promotional tissue packs that are distributed on the streets of Tokyo. Tuttle’s Tokyo office coordinated some for my Cool Tokyo Guide book tour! I can’t wait to bring them to you!

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Cool Tokyo Guide Excerpt up now at Spiralbound!

Spiralbound is running an excerpt from my upcoming book Cool Tokyo Guide. Read all about Yokohama, Hakone, and Nikko. Plus waterslides and sake and wine bath adventures! Read it here!

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Cool Tokyo Guide March Appearances!

Cool Tokyo Guide is almost here, and I have some appearances scheduled. Hope to see you there!

March 1st, 2nd, 3rd - Signing at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle at Kinokuniya’s booth # 1715! Signing 2-4PM Thursday, 2-4PM Friday, and 2-3PM Saturday. Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

March 10th - 3-4:30PM - presentation and signing at Kinokuniya NY RSVP here! 1073 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

March 31 & April 1 - Awesome Con in Washington DC! Walter E. Washington Convention Center 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW Washington, DC 20001

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Reviews are coming in for Cool Tokyo Guide!

Cool Tokyo Guide is available for preorder and reviews are starting to come in! 

“...a delightful and educational excursion through Japan’s capital city and its surrounding areas. ­VERDICT Anyone with even a passing interest in visiting ­Tokyo someday would do well to seek out this title. It contains valuable information for those unfamiliar with the city as well as a few nuggets even the seasoned Japanophile will find useful.” – School Library Journal

* “Fun and quirky but thorough and effective efforts. Cool Tokyo Guide might not look like a traditional guidebook, but for many travelers—actual or armchair—it will become a favorite.” – “Starred Review” Foreword Magazine

* “This informative guide touches on exactly the sorts of things a Western traveler needs to know, from getting passes to the Ghibli museum months in advance to visiting fun discount stores to how asking where the toilet is—and then how to use it once you are there! There are helpful phrases to learn; important social cues to recognize; tips on where to visit, along with addresses and websites; guides to visiting hot baths; and more. The overall result is a love song to a city and an inspiration for prospective visitors.  – “Starred Review” Booklist

“Thoroughly accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla is a travel guide in the format of a full-color graphic novel.”  ―Midwest Book Review

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Tokyo Events November 2017!

This month I’ll be at several events in Tokyo and you can get my new book Cool Tokyo Guide early, as it is already available there. If you’re in Tokyo, please attend and say hello!

November 23rd: Tokyo International Comic Festival 11AM-4PM @ TOKYO BIG SIGHT 3-11-1 Ariake, Koutou-ku, Tokyo - I will be signing at the Kinokuniya booth from 11AM-12PM.

November 25th: Comic Art Tokyo 11AM-6PM @ Temple University Japan Campus Azabu School Building (2-8-12 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo) - I will be on a panel at the Main Stage 11:30 Am with Yuuko Koyama and others about International Collaboration and will be exhibiting at Artist Alley with her and Matt Loux.

November 26th: Brave and the Bold 11AM-7PM @ Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd. Harimasaka Studio 4-15-7 Koishikawa Bunkyo ku, Tokyo 112-0002 - I’ll be exhibiting with Matt Loux. 

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My new book - Cool Tokyo Guide - is available to order now!

Great news! I have a new book coming out in March 2018. It’s Cool Tokyo Guide! Similar in format to my last book, Cool Japan Guide, this fun and fully illustrated book will take you on a deep dive into Tokyo with myself, Matt, Yuuko, and Kitty Sweet Tooth there to guide you! If you enjoyed Cool Japan Guide, or if you are looking for a more Tokyo-specific resource, this is for you! It includes attractions for children, a high-tech toilet guide, seasonal festivals, food (my favorite), and much more! Pre-order it here.