Hobbystation Fest, a new Japanese pop culture event held in Jakarta, was held on 18-19 April 2026 at Jakarta International Equestrian Park Pulomas (JIEPP), East Jakarta. The event served as a celebration for fans of Japanese pop culture, particularly enthusiasts of trading card games (TCGs) such as Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh!
The event featured a variety of activities, including TCG tournaments, a cosplay parade, an itasha/itansha competition, and several performances on the main stage. It was also notable for being the first Japanese pop culture event held at this venue. For TCG fans in particular, the tournament was the highlight. Visitors were greeted by the sight of players preparing their decks on the ground floor, where the tournament took place.
Moving on from the ground floor, the main event was located on the third floor of JIEP. On this floor, various booths filled the area, such as cosplayer booths, community booths, and even a Shikisai booth that sold various Gramedia comics to visitors. Each booth had its own activities, such as the FUN! JAPAN booth, which provided attractive gacha simply by creating an account on the FUN! JAPAN website.
In addition to the FUN! JAPAN booth, there was also a cosplayer booth area where fans could greet and take photos with their favourite cosplayers. With great enthusiasm, visitors engaged in various activities, from taking pictures to purchasing merchandise.
A joint booth between Hobbystation and DigiNeko was located on the third floor of Hobbystation Fest, and it quickly became one of the main attractions, particularly for fans of TCG. This booth offered a range of original collectable cards, from more reasonably priced cards that could be used immediately in a tournament, to high-graded cards with verified quality and authenticity. Visitors were able to inspect the condition of the cards closely and consult with staff before making their selections.
A manga tutorial hosted by Corocoro Comic was being held on the second floor, where guests could learn how to make a basic manga. Kobayashi Koichi, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Corocoro Comic, was hosting this event. This activity begins with an introduction to Corocoro Comic and a philosophical explanation of manga creation.
After the explanation, the participants began a simple 4-panel manga drawing session, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. Afterwards, they presented their work and explained the stories behind their drawings.
To conclude the visit, we decided to return to the ground floor. This time, we are heading to the parking lot located near the lobby. Here, numerous itasha and itansha cars and motorcycles featuring anime images. These cars and motorcycles were on display for the itasha/itansha showcase competition. Participants presented their vehicles and explained their design choices and the characters featured.
The vehicles were judged directly by guest cosplayers. They examined each vehicle in detail, assessing its concept and creativity. After the judging process, each cosplayer voted for the most interesting and memorable vehicle. The vehicle that emerged as the cosplayer’s favourite was declared the winner.
The Hobbystation Fest was a memorable event for its visitors, especially those looking for a TCG-oriented event. It was held in a slightly “unusual” location compared to other Japanese events. There is one question yet to be answered, however: will Hobbystation Fest be held again next year? Let’s wait for further news, #Kaoreaders!
The Indonesian Anime Times | Translated from KAORI Nusantara’s Indonesian Website
