It has been ten years since I last went to Wonder Festival Winter. The last time I attended, it snowed. This time, it was snowing even harder.

For those who don’t know, Wonder Festival, or WonFes, is one of Japan’s biggest events for figures and garage kits. Major companies showcase upcoming releases, and independent artists display and sell their own creations. It’s a mix of polished industry presence and pure imagination.

The event is usually at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, located just outside of Tokyo.

Ten years ago, I remember spending most of my time in the industry booths. I wanted to see the big brands, the announcements, the hype.

This time, I realized I enjoyed the non-industry booths more than before. Maybe I’ve become a bit jaded now that I understand what happens behind the scenes.

Industry Area

Good Smile Racing was there again with their GT race car. Miku is still going strong. Seeing that reminded me how some things in this space have real staying power.

The industry booths were what you would expect. Large displays, organized showcases, long lines for popular releases. I walked through, took photos, and appreciated the scale of everything.

But I didn’t feel the need to stay long.

Artist Alley

I kept finding myself back in the artist alley.

There was one artist who created frog characters in different forms. Knights, mechanics, robot pilots. Each frog had its own personality. It was creative and playful without trying too hard.

Another booth featured small cartoon steampunk towns with working trains moving through the miniature streets. The details were impressive. You could tell the artist genuinely enjoyed building these tiny worlds.

I didn’t buy anything. I just admired the work.

Ten years ago, I might have been more focused on what I could take home. This time, I was content just looking and getting inspiration from different artists’ perspectives. They felt completely different from what I usually see at Anime Expo or DesignerCon. Not cookie-cutter. More personal.

Ten Years Later

What stood out to me most was how my interests have shifted.

I used to be more drawn to the big companies and the large displays. Now I find more enjoyment in the individual artists and their imagination.

Maybe that comes with age. Maybe it comes from being around this culture long enough to appreciate the smaller, more personal expressions of it.

Either way, WonFes still delivers.

The snow made the day memorable again, just like the first time. Walking out into the cold after hours inside, I thought about how much has changed in ten years, and how some things haven’t.