NicoNico Chōkaigi (ニコニコ超会議), “Super Meeting”, is an annual festival celebrating NicoNico Douga, Japan’s largest video platform. It’s held at Makuhari Messe in late April (this year: April 25–26).
What Makes Chokaigi Different
Chokaigi is less a trade show and more a living internet culture festival. The boundary between exhibitor and attendee blurs.
What You’ll Find
- Live streaming stages: Popular NicoNico creators broadcast throughout the day. Attendees can be part of the stream audience.
- Collab booths: Game companies, artists, and VTuber agencies run experimental installations.
- Chokaigi Games: The official event hosts a massive game zone with retro setups, fighting game tournaments, and unreleased demos.
- Doujin booths: Smaller scale than Comiket, but more focused on gaming and music doujin.
- VTuber stages: Major VTuber appearances with real-time NicoNico comment integration.
Tips
- Tickets: ¥2,500 day pass. Buy early: Makuhari is far and Chokaigi sells out.
- Getting there: 30 minutes from Tokyo Station on the JR Keiyo Line to Kaihin-Makuhari Station.
- Food: Makuhari Messe’s food options are limited. Eat at the nearby Aeon Mall or bring your own.
- Live comment culture: The festival is designed to be experienced alongside the NicoNico live stream. Bring your phone and participate in the chat.
Vocab: 超会議 chōkaigi: “Super meeting.” The prefix 超 (chō) means “super” or “ultra,” a common intensifier in Japanese internet slang.