The Japan Town area at Lucca Comics & Games will be, more than ever, an unmissable destination for lovers of Japanese culture; this year it has been revamped and transformed into an even more immersive experience, packed with new features, interactive activities and spaces dedicated to the community.
Pop culture, tradition, crafts and street food will welcome visitors as soon as they step through the doors of the Polo Fiere, which this year is hosting over a hundred exhibitors with merchandise, action figures, manga, retro video games and hard-to-find imported goods, including Anime Import and, from Japan, Animate.
But that’s not all. This year, the cultural and artistic area takes centre stage: in addition to spaces dedicated to the Lucca Manga School and other manga schools, the Japanese language, and Japanese associations and organisations that will recount the history of Japan, visitors will be able to soak up the mystical atmosphere of Japan thanks to the small Shinto shrine, where anyone who wishes can receive omamori, the traditional fabric good-luck charms. And after these immersive experiences, the music, the fun and the ramen, you can take a break in the Zen Area to relax, breathe and even meditate, before diving back into Lucca’s captivating festival.
SPOKON, THE JAPAN TOWN EXHIBITION
There is great anticipation for Japan Town’s incredible exhibition, which explores the narrative genre that revolutionised Japanese comics and animation: ‘Spokon: sport, tears and victory!’, curated by Giorgia Vecchini with illustrations by Alessandro Apreda DocManhattan. ‘Spokon’ means ‘sport’ but also ‘spirit’, and the exhibition traces the evolution of the genre from its forerunners: the epic rivalry of Rocky Joe, the passions of Mimi and the national volleyball team (Attack No. 1), the elegance of Jenny the tennis player and the determination of Tommy, the Giants’ star. A common thread links the great pioneers to the hits of the 1980s and 1990s, with a special focus on Captain Tsubasa (Holly and Benji) and Slam Dunk, right up to the more recent Haikyu!! and Blue Lock. Through original artwork, animation cels, vintage memorabilia from the Land of the Rising Sun and glorious Italian merchandise, the exhibition explores how sacrifice, determination and redemption have transformed athletic competition into a universal metaphor for life. And the ‘exhibition’ continues beyond the exhibition itself… with volleyball matches and cosplayers dressed as Mimi and characters from Haikyu!!
MANGAKA AREA, JAPAN LIVE STAGE AND MEETING ROOMS
The ideal meeting place for aspiring manga artists, Japan Town is home to the Mangaka Area, where you can discover new talent, discuss drawing techniques and showcase your own work under the watchful eye of the tutors from the Lucca Manga School, whilst the Meeting Rooms are set up for practical workshops, also hosting in-depth panels and close encounters with the festival’s star guests. And then there’s more music on the Japan Live Stage, featuring singing performances, breathtaking shows and, of course, cosplay parades, always the stars of Lucca Comics & Games.
THE LUPIN EXPERIENCE
Among the most interactive experiences at Japan Town 2026 is the Lupin Experience: anyone who wishes can step into the shoes of anime’s most famous gentleman thief, Rupan Sansei (his original Japanese name), and help him escape from prison.
COLLECTIBLES
The 2026 edition of Lucca Comics & Games expands its Collectibles offering more than ever before, and Japan Town further enhances this, featuring vintage treasures such as toys that defined an era – like the legendary Saint Seiya Myth Cloth (Saint Seiya) and Masters of the Universe, and nerdy collectables, with incredible displays of static models and sci-fi items curated by the renowned NewKit Generation Community.
