10 things not to miss at Made in Asia 2021 in Brussels • AVO Magazine
After the pandemic has made a 2020 edition impossible, it is finally time for the next edition of Made in Asia in Brussels! The event will take place from 8 to 10 October in Brussels Expo. Despite all the obstacles, when it comes to travel and other COVID-19 related restrictions, they have set up quite a diverse program.
Curious about what Made in Asia 2021 in Brussels has in store for you? Then read this list of 10 things not to miss during this edition!
1. Ekotum
Ekotumi is a Japanese singer, author and performer of Japanese mythology and folklore, brought to Belgium for the second time by HIGHFeeL. She is also known for her amazing hologram performance that premiered during the pandemic. Ekotumi will perform both on stage and in hologram form during Made in Asia. Her hologram performance, made SKUNABIKONA -Japanese little god- (–ト ル ゴ ッ ト -), you can perform in Little Asia. If you are curious about Ekotumi, AVO Magazine interviewed her in 2019, you can find our interview here.
Another artist promoted by HIGHFeeL who will perform at MIA is AMAZUMI, a female musician from Nepal. She is a hip-hop singer who will perform with other artists, including yu-ta, the drummer for X Made Alcoholic Santaclaus.
2. Workshop: Japanese Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a true art form and not an easy one to master. This workshop will teach you a thing or two about Japanese calligraphy, at a beginner level. If this particular form of ‘writing’ intrigues you, be sure to join this workshop.
3. Cosplay Contests
No anime-related convention is complete without: Cosplay. From a specific cosplay competition. Made in Asia 2021 will have two of these competitions, a group competition and an individual competition. You can no longer sign up as a participant, but you can come and see which cosplayer winter. If you’d like to take part, make sure to join the Cosplay Catwalk, which you can hold out for during the event itself. This is not a competition, but more an opportunity for everyone to showcase their cosplays.
4. Dragon Ball Exhibition
In this exhibition by Ludus Académie you will find a marked amount of artifacts from the entire Dragon Ball Saga. It consists of board games, collector’s goodies, video games, figurines and more. You can also stop by the Ludus Académie stand to watch the anime, or stop by the arcade terminals to play the video games.
5. Robot Battles
Have you always wanted to challenge your friends to a robot battle? Then this is your chance! Battlestation, a Belgian company specializing in robotics, will provide a space for robot battles and mini-games. Don’t miss your chance to stop by and see how you are doing as a robot handler.
6. Lego Exhibition
The Belgian LEGO® User Group, abbreviated to Belug, offers successful LEGO creations with an Asian theme this year. The group is made up of LEGO enthusiasts, builders and collectors, and they participate in many events with great LEGO builds. Curious about their work? Come see their realistic and geeky creations.
7. Onda Naoyuki
Onda Naoyuki is a Japanese animation artist, known worldwide for his work. He is known for his work on, among others, Resident Evil, gundam and Rage of Bahamut. One of his recent projects is Psycho-Pass, but the three Berserk Movies “The Golden Age” are probably responsible for its fame. This year you can meet him during Made in Asia 2021 and receive a free autograph from him.
8. Workshop: Drawing Manga
If you’ve always wanted to draw manga characters, or you’re already drawing them but want to work on your skills, this is the workshop for you. There are different parts of this workshop, with specific topics to focus on, such as characters of Pokémon, My Hero Academia and demon slayer. This workshop will take place once a day during Made in Asia 2021.
9. The Ghibli Universe
Explore the wonderful world of Ghibli by visiting the Ghibli Universe exhibit, where you can view beautiful sets and buy Ghibli goodies. Among other characters, you can look forward to a lifelike Turnip-Head, from Howl’s Moving Castle and dragon Haku, from Spirited Away. Founded by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli has become a big name in anime, known worldwide for their beautiful and critically acclaimed films.
10. Workshop: Origami
Folding a piece of paper is not difficult, but folding a piece of paper into an elaborate shape can be. During this workshop you will learn all about the art of origami, with step by step instruction on how to make your own folded paper art.
Besides all these fun activities, exhibitions and performances, there are many more things to do at Made in Asia this year. At ten on the day of this publication, the program was not yet complete, but be sure to keep an eye on the festival’s website. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door during the event. An ticket for Made in Asia 2021 also gives you access to the YouPlay! event, an expo about gaming and video.