Otaku Jatra 2017 Draws Massive Crowds in Kathmandu
Key Takeaways
- Otaku Jatra 2017 drew more than 2,000 participants to Celebration Heights, Kathmandu
- Highlights included cosplay contests with winners from Death Note, Fairy Tail, and Re:Zero
- The event also featured anime merchandise stalls, Japanese food, and live performances
Otaku Jatra 2017 Draws Massive Crowds in Kathmandu
The first Otaku Jatra event took place on January 14, 2017, at Celebration Heights in Sukedhara, Kathmandu, under the slogan “By the fans, for the fans”. The gathering, organized by Otaku Club Nepal together with Lil Bit Entertainments, brought together more than 2,000 enthusiasts of anime, manga, and video games.
Attendees enjoyed a range of activities, including a cosplay competition with around 160 registered participants, as well as many others who performed without registration. Notable cosplays included characters from popular series such as Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Wolverine, and Joker, with the winning entries featuring Ryuk and Misa from Death Note, Mystogan from Fairy Tail, and Rem & Ram from Re:Zero. Honorable mentions went to Devil Jin from Tekken and Mayuri Kurotsuchi from Bleach.
Rohit Shrestha, the cosplay competition winner, shared that his passion for cosplay drove him to succeed, thanking his support team and partner. Despite balancing event preparation and his own cosplay work the night before, his efforts paid off with an impressive Ryuk costume that received widespread praise.
The venue hosted 14 stalls, including anime merchandise shops, welfare organization booths, event partners, and sponsors. Food stalls served a variety of Japanese dishes, keeping busy throughout the day, while a Maid Café attracted visitors with its themed service. Face painting stalls added to the festive atmosphere.
Live performances featured The Bang Up crew, Mongolian Namja, Otaku Bboys, K-Hoppers, H2B, Crimson Yeoja, Rapper DMJ, and a dynamic Wushu display. YouTuber Dhiraj Magar, known as thatdudevlogs, attended and commended the participants and organizers. Silent Pages delivered engaging AMV presentations that enhanced the event experience.
Wataru Shrestha, Founder of Otaku Club Nepal, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting the unexpected size of the crowd and the team's dedication from design work to promotional videos. Despite logistical challenges, the event successfully fostered interactive engagement and promoted otaku culture in Nepal. For those who missed it, a follow-up event called the Nepal Comic and Cosplay Convention is scheduled for March 2017, hosted by Otaku Next.
