Wonder Festival - The World's Largest Figure and Model Festival

Wonder Festival is one of the world's largest figure and model conventions, held twice a year at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture. Originating from the garage kit culture boom of the 1980s, it continues to captivate modeling fans from Japan and abroad with its unique style where individual dealers and major manufacturers share the same exhibition floor. The festival's most distinctive feature is the "same-day copyright system," which allows individual creators to obtain permission from rights holders to distribute original kits of popular characters exclusively on the day of the event. This system has fostered a creative culture unlike any other in the world, maintaining a balance between derivative works and rights protection. The venue hosts diverse programs including sales of unpainted prototypes and limited-edition items, modeling contests, and cosplay areas, bringing together a wide range of genres from bishoujo figures to mecha, tokusatsu, and kaiju. One of the attractions is the close connection between creators and fans, where production techniques are actively shared and exchanged. For those interested in figures, models, and Japanese pop culture, this is a valuable opportunity to experience the passion of creativity firsthand.