Multitudes of comic book enthusiasts endure scorching temperatures to participate in Ani-Com 2025, held in Hong Kong
Affordable Japanese Figurines Draw Crowds at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong 2025
At the 26th edition of Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong, held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, a noticeable trend is the reduction in figurine prices. This price change is largely due to the weakened Japanese yen, making imports cheaper and thus lowering retail prices locally.
Jonathan Nguyen, a regular attendee who has come dressed as Dr Mario for every edition of the show in the last two decades, expressed his view that "nerds spend no matter what the economy is like" because they do it for the love of the game. The kindergarten teacher in his 40s, who moved to Hong Kong from the US, mentioned that he goes over budget at the fair every year. Despite this, he stated that he did not notice any impact of the economic downturn on his desire to spend at the fair.
The fair features a record-high number of 160 exhibitors and more than 788 booths, indicating growth in the collectibles and comics market in Hong Kong. This expansion is supported by various IP-related tourism projects and ongoing strong interest in animation, gaming, and pop culture, with over 250,000 tourists attending the event annually and various new exhibitions and collaborations featured.
The queue formed beyond the convention centre and continued onto a footbridge into Central Plaza on Saturday, with cosplayers dressed as characters such as Dr Mario, Pikachu, and Hokusai attending the fair. Nguyen, who is also a cosplayer at the fair, dressed as Steven from Steven Universe and Russell from the film Up on other days of the event.
An example given of a cheaper product is figurines that were previously priced around HK$600 and are now priced at HK$400. The teacher observed that certain products, such as figurines, are cheaper this year due to the low Japanese yen. This price change has made collectibles such as Japanese figurines more affordable for attendees. Despite broader economic concerns, fans showed strong willingness to spend, with some even doubling their usual budget, emphasizing a robust demand driven by passion for the hobby rather than economic cycles.
In conclusion, the key driver of cost reduction for Japanese collectibles, especially figurines, at the Ani-Com 2025 event is the favorable Japanese yen exchange rate. This trend benefits collectors and contributes to the event’s continued popularity and growth in Hong Kong’s collectibles and anime market.
- Amidst the weakened Japanese yen, the affordable prices of Japanese figurines at the Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong 2025 event could potentially influence an increase in their sales, given the fervent passion many attendees have for collection and related hobbies.
- In spite of the economic downturn, the affordable Japanese figurines at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong 2025 may inspire a shift in lifestyle choices, as some enthusiasts may prioritize spending on these collectibles over other leisure activities, such as entertainment or adopting cutting-edge technology.
