XSp.

Hot new original pics from Imim Matsuri event in Curitiba, which started just today.

Sorry for the crappy quality on pics, but I didn’t quite learned how to deal with my cam… consider this a teaser. 😛

Started just today, Imim Matsuri 2008 in Curitiba, celebrating the 100 years of japanese immigration in Brazil.

The event was still being prepared… I got there around 17:30, so it was still kinda empty.
Somehow a good thing, since tomorrow it’ll probably be so packed, it would be impossible to take pics of the location.

The event is split in 2 areas… one with stands with tons of different stuff, and the food court.

The food court has plenty of different stuff to taste. From traditional yakissoba, sukiaki, sushi, sashimi to other stuff which you don’t see much on matsuris… like gengiskhan, karerice (tasted it, very good) among others… possibly more than 20 options.
But be prepared, food is kinda expensive. You won’t spend less than 10 reais on a meal (about 5 USDs… which is expensive for food in events around here).

On the stand area, it’s kind of a mix.
Ikebana, art exposition, Toyota cars, Navy (wut?), japanese caligraphy, japanese language schools among others. The “gardens” on the first pictures are also on this area. A huge closed space.

Now, for the anime and otaku stuff… stands selling hoods, caps, keychains, T-shirts, mangas and other related stuff.
Question for non-brazilian readers: Anime/manga related stores and stands on events in you region also sells stuff like those? I mean, hoods and caps. I know they are not licensed, but they are very common around here, along with other accessories like nekomimi, tails, plushie dolls and others.

There was even a space with 2 Nintendo Wii… they were playing Mario Kart and… I guess it was Naruto.

Folks from Itiban (comics and manga store well known in Curitiba) started early… they also have a reserved space for people to play card games, games and others.

Finally, the main stage, where lots of presentations will happen… dances, karaoke, cosplay, taiko drums and several other stuff. On the pic, just some music and people dancing.
Another question for non-brazillian readers: Do events in your region also gather lots of otaku or anime fans that’ll participate in traditional dances, along with parapara and others?

And this is only the beginning! I recommend it for people who lives nearby to come to the event!
Today I was there for only a couple of hours, didn’t have much time… but Sunday I’ll be there for the day, so I promise more stuff with better quality too!

Place: Exposition center from Barigui Park, Curitiba, Parana – Brazil
Date: June 20 to 22

Got here now, kinda lost? Don’t fret. Here’s a guide to the matsuri posts:
1. Event on Friday.
2. Lots of pics on Sunday.
3. Gadgets and technology on the event.
4. People working, cosplaying and making presentations.
5. Another one with cosplayers.
6. And closing the series, last post with cosplayers too.