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Alice Kong

Kahon Chan

Tourists from the Philippines, Japan and the US were among hundreds who flocked to the Hong Kong harbourfront on Saturday for the launch of an exhibition depicting famous manga character Doraemon.
Hotel receptionist Eri Okawa, 28, said she flew all the way from the robot cat’s native Japan to see the “100% Doraemon & Friends Tour” installation in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“We first made online reservations, and then we booked plane tickets to come here,” said Okawa, who came to the city with her friend, 27-year-old floral arrangement teacher Rio Yoshino.
Hong Kong is the travelling show’s first stop on a global tour and it will remain in the city until mid-August.
The show includes a ticketed zone inside the K11 Musea shopping centre and free entry areas along the Avenue of Stars, which has more than 40 statues depicting characters from Doraemon’s manga series.
Event attendees, carrying umbrellas and wearing hats to shield against the sun, headed to the open-air exhibition to see the giant statues framed by a view of Hong Kong Island.
“This exhibition greatly fulfilled my expectations,” Yoshino said. “It’s so fun and I felt so happy seeing it in person.
“I started watching him when I was in junior school, and have deep feelings for this character.”
The two Japanese tourists said they planned to spend the rest of the day shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui, as well as enjoying some good food during their week-long stay in the city.
Doraemon, created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969, is a blue-and-white robot cat from the future who travels back in time to help a young boy named Nobita Nobi.
The pair go on adventures together with the help of the cat’s futuristic and magical gadgets.

Steven Chan, who moved to the United States about 20 years ago and works in the aerospace industry, said he had used a Chinese-dubbed version of the animated series to help his two young sons learn the language.
“I used to play the Doraemon show on television every day with my children to make them learn Chinese,” he said. “My children are so excited about this exhibition – I had to stop them from running away.”
Ethan Chan, his nine-year-old son, said seeing the characters in real life was “amazing”.
He added he had bought a Doraemon-themed popcorn holder that could double as a piggy bank.
“In a way, he’s a character representing Hong Kong,” Ethan said. “I grew up in America and started watching Doraemon when I was only three years old and it helped me learn Chinese.”
Bryan Obispoa, a 37-year-old Filipino visitor who works as a medical representative, was among the early birds at the Saturday launch of the exhibition.
“I’ve been watching Doraemon for years now,” he said. “We’ve been watching it since we were kids and it’s a wholesome cartoon character for me.”
Obispoa’s family of three said they had already spent about HK$15,000 (US$1,900) on travel and accommodation for their four-day stay in Hong Kong.
They added they also planned to visit other city hotspots with a tour guide.
The midday heat also led some visitors to head to a nearby Doraemon-themed coffee shop that offered the robot cat’s favourite snack, a pancake sandwich packed with a red bean filling called dorayaki.

Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, the executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, said he expected the two segments of the exhibition to attract a total 200,000 to 300,000 visitors to the city.
“With this event, we’re attracting visitors from Singapore, Japan and the Philippines and raising interest in Hong Kong overall,” he said during a visit to the event.
“This is the kind of activity that we want more of in Hong Kong, where anchor events such as these are going to drive the retail and food and drink industries and boost the local economy as a whole.”
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, earlier told a radio programme that authorities “had done a lot” to help organisers with crowd control and communications.
The exhibition is also on the government’s list of mega events, which Yeung said was designed to allow businesses to plan promotions in advance to help maximise the number of attendees.
Founder of K11, Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, said: “This exhibition reflects Hong Kong’s status as an east-meets-west centre for international cultural exchange, which will continue to boost our tourism, food and beverage, and retail industries, generating both popularity and economic prosperity.”
Tickets for the paid area of the 100% Doraemon & Friends Tour, which will run until August 18, have sold out.
The free zones will be open until August 11. People will need to wait for slots available every Tuesday to book a week in advance.


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Hong Kong’s Doraemon exhibition launch draws hundreds of fans, including overseas visitors

A young Doraemon fan poses for a picture alongside a statue of the beloved robot cat. Photo: Dickson Lee

The open-air section of the exhibition is framed by a view of Hong Kong Island. Photo: Dickson Lee

(Left to right) Travellers Rui Yoshino, Rio Yoshino and Eri Okawa show off their Doraemon souvenirs from Saturday’s launch event. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong’s Ngong Ping 360 to promote and play a role in coming Doraemon exhibition

Ngong Ping 360’s 100% Doraemon & Friends cable car. Photo: Dickson Lee

A giant gold “capsule machine” that dispenses souvenirs has been installed at Stupa Square in Ngong Ping next to several Doraemon standees. Photo: Dickson Lee

Doraemon’s limitless world sprang from humble briefcase. Post unpacks inspiration for manga ahead of Hong Kong show

Children pose for a photo with Doraemon in Sai Ying Pun. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Jitsuko Katsumata says her father wrote down his ideas in a notebook he kept in his briefcase. Photo: Handout

Fujiko F. Fujio also visited the toy section of department stores to see what was popular among children. Photo: AFP 

Jitsuko Katsumata at the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki, Japan. Photo: Oscar Liu

Doraemon fans wowed by drone show in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, but some complain duration too short

The drone show lights up Victoria Harbour. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The drone show lights up Victoria Harbour. Photo: Jess Ma

Fans flock to the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade to watch the Doraemon drone show. Photo: Dickson Lee

The drone show featured some of Doraemon’s famed gadgets such as the Anywhere Door that allows travel to anywhere. Photo: Jess Ma

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Fans from Philippines, Japan and US among those visiting exhibition depicting robot cat from famous manga series


Fans from Philippines, Japan and US among those visiting exhibition depicting robot cat from famous manga series.


Hong Kong society

Tourism