Dolls Party 23 Tokyo Big Sight [5-4-2010]

And admission is 2200 yen again *sighs*

Anyone else going? I am pretty sure I am.

 

Wait, I just got my notice for Okita and it is time to get ready for ANOTHER one??!!

Augh, i cannot handle this anymore LOL LOL (yes I can)

the cute bus guide Komame is cute... Well, the title is saying let's take a tour of Tokyo... so maybe another Tokyo boys series or the Harajuku series or new Tokyo related series

Yes above is my wild guess

 

Hmm. I'm putting my bets on cute SD-sized girls and potentially a MSD re-release.

One can't possibly eat Hello Kitty bentos for Dolpa without bringing a cute fluffy doll back.

 

I love the cute train theme. I hope we get some cute SD13 conductor girl.

 

Ahhh my beloved Yamanote line and Tokyo Tower. Unless they're starting some sort of new CLAMP series, my guess is a return to some of their Tokyo stories.

 

ohh I hope to see another Harajuku girl !
I sould get my purse ready !

 

Gah! Somehow, I had completely forgotten about this Dolpa. >.< Hmm, perhaps I'd better pass on that Soom tiny, I haven't even fully paid for Okita yet and I get the feeling this next DP will be expensive.

Here's hoping for an SD13 girl! We are so due for one -- not counting the itty bitty FDQ Shizu release, the last SD13 girl was Suigintou in '07. xD Though I'm secretly hoping that Volks will release a girl type SDGr.

 

Nyaa, the train theme is cute! And I may have to get the Hello Kitty bentou O_O. Curious to see what they'll come up with for LEs. It's true that an SD13 girl is seriously overdue. I'd love to see a girl type SDGr!

Ooh, YoSDs in train uniforms would be adorable . . .

 

Uh oh! I hope it isn't a Harajuku girl for my wallet's sake! I wish I could go!

 

>.< very interested in the new DD clothing set!!!

 

I'll be going, as it's a lot closer to my city than the Kyoto event. I hope for the sake of my wallet that none of the actual dolls catch my eye, though.

 

Train uniforms for Yos would be so incredibly cute and I would NEED to own those. I'm hoping there is nothing I absolutely need so can go a little later since I have an event at Big Sight the two days before.

Yeah!!! I'm glad you're going to go! Where in Ibaraki-ken are you, I adore Kairaku-en

 

Yay! Another event^^ I love the theme~~

 

I'm in Tsukuba as an exchange student at the university. It's not a particularly exciting city, but the express train to Tokyo makes it convenient.

I actually haven't been to Kairaku-en yet ^^; I've only been to Mito briefly on a field trip - I need to make a trip at some point now that the weather is improving again.

 

Going a bit OT, that's too bad you didn't go earlier in the month since you missed the ume festival. ^^;;; Kairaku-en is particularly famed for its ume and when they're in bloom its gorgeous and the park smells amazing. I went last March.

 

Here's hoping for a Harajuku Luna? Maybe with h.Naoto instead of BTSSB ?
Girl can dream can't she?
-Pandora-

 

Oh man... PLEASE DON'T RELEASE ANYTHING I WANT... my wallet will never be able to recover!

 

I hoping for an MSD boy!

 

The web design is cute and quite vivid...I have a feeling that it would be a new story arc, or Harajuku.

 

Oh please Volks, no re-releases of any of the Tokyo Boys Series. My wallet cant handle it...

 

I'm excited to see what they'll release!

 

Come on, kanaria!!

 

Has Volks had Hello Kitty lunches before? My friend and I often wonder why, since every other company in Japan has a Hello Kitty collaboration, Volks has done one yet....

SHOW ME A VOLKS HELLO KITTY DOLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Noooo but Volks has Komame already! XDDD

 

From the website, I'm guessing Tokyo Boys and Harajuku Memories. And do I see a "Komame Jinja"???

 

I feel kinda silly but&#8230; how does one get admission to a Dollpa? I know I've got to get the guidebook, but can I just do that in any of the Tenshi no Sumikas? (Sorry, my kanji is not exactly up to snuff.)

 

Awesome, I already planned to be in Tokyo over Golden Week. If they release a cute Harajuku style msd girl like Sweet Dreams Yui I don't know what I will do...

 

Yes. One just goes to a Sumika once the admission books have gone on sale and buys one. Technically, you only need the admission book in advance if you plan to try to get there early to try to get a LE/Sumika Goods/Buy from the most Popular Dealers, but most people buy their books in advance.

 

Okay, thanks. Do we know when they're expected to go on sale? (There's something about 22/04, but I can't tell if that means to buy them before that day, or after&#8230

Also, do people bring their dolls, or would that just look really weird?

(S-sorry, this'll be my first Dollpa. I'm excited but I'm not sure how it all works&#8230

 

Hiya Meep!

No, I think it's wonderful you have this chance to go to one in person and questions are the best way to find out about something!

To be honest, I've not looked to see when the book is going on sale yet since I don't live in Japan and tend to ask one of my friends there to pick one up for me. ^_^;; I'm sure someone else though knows when they do. I know around 1 week before the event finding guides can be a challenge and I know for some other events they stop selling guides 1 week before. I don't know where you are in Tokyo, but I personally find the Ikebukuro branch is a great place to pick things up because they don't sell out as fast since they're not a Sumika as well.

Lots of people bring their dolls to Dolpa. (Of course it is Volks only, if you want to bring non-Volks dolls to an event, I'd highly recommend checking out Doll Show or IDoll which are also both really fun and large events though they also tend to be more of a mix of BJDs and other popular dolls like Blythe and Momoko.) I mostly collect Yos and sometimes I bring one or two and sometimes I don't bring a doll at all. ^_^;; For me personally, I find it gets heavy carrying around a doll with me all day and if I'm lucky some of my friends are amazing and grab a table, but I've also been to plenty of Dolpas where everyone is too busy shopping so that doesn't happen. Unlike a US event, sometimes Volks has enough tables and seats for all attendees and most of the time they do not. (The other problem is if you leave a doll at a table, you need someone to always remain behind to watch said dolls.) A lot of people find bringing dolls a bonding experience though and like to go around and photograph other people's dolls or talk to other owners about them. I think if I actually could speak Japanese or I didn't have the chance to go to US events I might be more excited about bringing my own dolls, but as it is, I usually just find them to be heavy lol

 

This is a good thread with info! ^__^

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?131872-Dolpas-amp-How-to-buy-Volks-Limited-Dolls-FAQ

 

That thread is somewhat out of date and Manami the person who created the FAQ had at that time, and I believe still has not been to a Japanese event and I think geared it more towards people attending US events as her description of what takes place at a Dolpa really bears little resemblance to what takes place at a Japanese event. ^_^;

 

Oh really? I apologize then. I just thought the info about how to get the guidebook and membership there was good info. Since it still applies really...

 

But you don't need a membership to go to a Dolpa in Japan. ^_^;;;;;; Membership only comes into play if you're trying to attend a US event or a members only event in Japan. Dolpa is open to anyone who wants to buy an admission.

And I guess I feel like there is not all that much information on buying a guidebook, it's really a FAQ geared more towards people who are not in Japan. ^_^;;;

 

The guidebooks can be reserved now (reservations started yesterday). They are up on the website:
http://www.volks.co.jp/jp/shop/list/list_3.aspx?sbct=88 You can also reserve them at any Volks store (Sumikas, Showrooms, etc).

Hrm, I wonder if a FAQ specifically for Japanese Dolpas is in order. The same questions do get asked over and over . . .

 

Yeah, I really with that the existing thread would be re-named to "US Dolpas and how to buy limited dolls from Volks USA", because Japanese Dolpas are almost nothing like that.

 

I might be able to go...probably won't be able to buy anything though XD

 

Hiya Timid,

I admit, I've thought about making one since I've attended around 10 Japanese (mostly Tokyo) Dolpas, despite never living in Japan. One minor thing I've noticed is Volks likes to change procedures sometimes between Dolpas. I know at some Japanese Dolpas I've been to there have been 3 separate lines and you must pick which line you want, before drawing your lottery # for LEs. Other Dolpas have had everyone draw a lottery # for LEs upon arrival. (Personally, I prefer the former method)

I told Manami when she made this FAQ that it was really not applicable for Japanese Dolpas at all, but she didn't want to listen to me. ^_^;

I've also thought maybe we should just make a Wiki now that we have that option here on DoA so that things can be more easily changed as Volks changes procedures.

Perhaps one of the mods would be willing to fix that?

It's not that I don't enjoy both Japanese and US events, but they really have very little in common. US events are much much more low key and less intense.

 

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'm sorry for my n00bishness. I've never been and I'm really excited! Since I'm inconveniencing everyone with my stupid questions, I'll gladly help with the FAQ to maybe help make up for the trouble I'm causing.

The showrooms are okay, too? Maybe I'll go to the one in LaLaPort, then~

 

Meep You are not causing any trouble, I didn't know about this either..so all good! ^__^V

 

No need to apologize! There are lots of us who are happy to answer your questions.

 

Oh, I'm glad I'm not causing any problems, then.

Uhm, rkold, I know this is a little off topic, but what's Doll Show and IDoll? When are they?

 

Please don't apologize Meep! I know I'm happy to answer your questions and actually I thought your question about bringing dolls was good really. ^^;; I think a lot of people don't necessarily think about the fact that their dolls can get heavy and that sometimes one can not find a place to sit at a Dolpa or someone willing to sit with everyone's stuff.

IDoll and Doll Show are both other doll events. Unlike Dolpa they are not sponsored by any particular company and as such have different rules about what is allowed and a greater variety of dolls and doll clothes for sale. I confess, I started off in 1/6, so I have a huge fondness for Doll Show. Volks, Noix de Rome, Takara/Tomy, Sekiguchi, and lots of other companies and small time makers send representatives. There are several IDolls a year and there are smaller IDolls outside Tokyo. (I've only meet to IDoll West) Doll Show is several times a year in Tokyo. Both of these events have around 300+ sellers. Sometimes they have LE event only dolls but they're rarely BJDs. Feel free to PM if you have more questions! I'd love to go to Doll Show again, but it's the same day as Super Comic City and I am going to be selling there lol

 

volks usually releases a slew of dolls for the bigger Dolpas...
i'm thinking maybe they'll release another upgraded character like they did recently with Kira, Williams and Okita...
Maybe it will be someone from Harajuku Memories since this story arc is a favorite of many collectors..
Hewitt as an SD10 or Kurumi as an SD16 perhaps ^_^

 

Yup, Showrooms are okay. LaLaPort Showroom has a Sumika anyways. ^_^

Oh, and your questions aren't stupid! It's just that these threads get realllly long, and the same questions get asked many times in them.

 

Wow, Volks got the new site up fast this time! And I have a feeling I'm gonna get that HK bento, if only to have the bento box as a souvenir

Meep, I'll echo everyone else by saying ask away! Many of us have been to a Japanese Dolpa (or 2... or 5) & are more than happy to pull another into the fold- I mean, introduce a newbie to the wonders of Dolpa

 

Hey, thanks! I'm hopefully gonna pick up my guidebook tomorrow~

Is there going to be a mini-Den of Angels meet-up there, by any chance? I don't speak Japanese very well, but I would like to have some people to hang out with.

 

There should be enough of us for a small meet-up if people are up for it.

I speak passable Japanese but none of my friends are into dolls and I've never been the a Dolpa before so it will be quite an experience.

 

I'd be up for a meet-up ^_^.

Still a long haul before we find out the limiteds for this one *sigh* - HT Dolpa AE hasn't even happened here yet. Ah, impatience.

 

timid, at the risk of sounding like a creeper, where in Chiba do you live? (I live near Keisei-Ohkubo and I go to school in Makuhari.)

Where in Big Site would we be able to meet and, like, find each other? I've only been there once, but it was huuuuuuuuge.

 

I want to have that I watch a lot of dolls.
However, I look forward to meeting a lot of friends than it.

 

Hiya Meep,

A lot would depend on where in Big Sight they're holding Dolpa. The first few Dolpas I went to were held on the West side and the more recent Dolpas have been held on the East side. Usually they're in 2 halls like East 5+6. It is a lot of space and it is crowded, but it's not quite as bad or overwhelming as one of the events that takes over all the East halls like a Comic City.

If I am not exhausted and leave Dolpa early, I'd love to meet everyone and even if I leave early, I'd still love to meet people earlier during the Dolpa. I confess, I rarely stay until the end because I am generally too tired. ^^;; Dolpa is generally my 3rd event in a row and the long hours of Japanese events just run me ragged.

One thing we could all do is exchange cell phone #s.

 

About the bento - I remember once in the past they showed that Hello Kitty bento on the website with the the footnote "this is a sample of one of the bento that our caterer provides - actual product may vary", and there was no actual Hello Kitty bento at Dolpa. But from the website, it looks like this time, they're selling the Hello Kitty bento specifically. I hope so, because it's super cute, and it looks like I can actually eat it! But I definitely plan on asking to make sure before I buy it. (If I go. Which I probably will. )

 

*shakes fist* I will be in Tokyo one month and two days after this T_T At least I'll be staying in Shinkjuku near the Sumika in Alta.

 

timid, I know, right? Patience is a virtue & all that, but Volks makes it awfully hard sometimes!

meep, when the guidebooks come out, they should have a detailed map of where everything will be, like the booths & stage & displays & what-not. Then we could choose a spot & meet up there ^_^ We might even be able to grab a table if we're fast enough & have "gaijin gathering", so to speak

DolleyeSilver, welcome to DoA! I love your work & am looking forward to seeing you at Dolpa

Also, I agree with rkold - once it gets closer to Dolpa we should exchange cell phone #s or at least keitai mail, if only to keep ourselves occupied while waiting in the inevitable lines for the LE items, lol!

And neverything... dooooo eeeeet, you knooooow you want tooooooo

ellejayvee, that's too bad! But there are plenty of other distractions to keep you busy in Tokyo ^_^ Plus you might be in time for an After Event!

 

*Another noob raises hand for help*

Ehm, how do you get your hands on the guide books when you do not live in Japan but want to go?

Order them through Volks international website?

Been trying to find out but not quite sure how it works O.o Bit confused to be honest...

I have done the Dollshow and that was easy - just walk in, pay your 1000yen and you are free to roam the halls.

This Dolpa thing however, seems a bit complicated...

 

Indeed n_n

Ooh, I didn't know there are after events. =D Have you ever been to one?

 

guys, anyone know when the books will be available on english site? I dunno if I can buy book from jp site >.>;