On September 12, 2026, we set up a booth as the ‘Illustration and Manga Creation Club’ at the ‘Hometown Festival’ held at Ibaraki Elementary School from 4 PM to 8 PM. We were amazed to find that everything we had prepared was sold out by 6:50 PM, just 2 hours and 50 minutes after opening! Thank you so much to everyone who bought something that day and to everyone who helped with the preparations!
Here is a record of what was actually done and how it was done.
First, after applying to the Ibaraki Community Center, we held various meetings to discuss the plan, price adjustments for each stall, and how much electricity we would use. After procuring all the necessary supplies, we actually did a practice setup at the GIGAZINE editorial office, and this is the result.
As for what we decided to sell at our stall, first up is frozen ramune soda with a prize draw attached.
To differentiate it, we’ve added a ‘prize’ element, giving it a bit of a gacha (lottery) aspect. If you get a prize, you get another one for free.
The reason is that, based on what we saw the previous year, there was no ‘ramune’ (a type of Japanese soda), so we asked the festival committee last year, and they said that although there had been some a few years ago, there were a series of incidents where elementary school students, wanting the marble inside the glass bottle, would smash the bottles on the ground to get it, causing terrible damage, so they basically stopped selling it. What a shame! However, it would be strange to have a festival without ramune, so after searching around, we decided that ramune that could be frozen like the old-fashioned Chupetto ice pops would just barely work, given that it was still a hot time of year. On the day of the festival, this frozen ramune was the fastest to sell out, so it seems we were pretty close.
Next up was the so-called ‘rainbow cotton candy.’ This was also incredibly popular.
To begin with, there’s another stall selling cotton candy every year, so it’s a bit of a competition. However, our goal for next time was to create something that even elementary and middle school students in the illustration and manga creation club could easily sell on the day of the event. As a result, we decided on this ‘Airy Candy,’ which comes pre-packaged.
When considering cooking, there are various hygienic procedures involved, which can be very troublesome. Therefore, I try to avoid those as much as possible, and I also look for items that are light enough for a child to carry, as well as items that are unique and not commonly found in supermarkets.
Similarly, we decided to stock light-up toys, as they are ‘items that even elementary and junior high school students in the illustration and manga creation club can easily sell on the day of the event.’
A ring that lights up with LEDs.
A glowing bracelet and a penlight. When you snap it in half, the contents mix together and it lights up.
To simplify the money transaction process as much as possible, all prices are standardized to 100 yen and 200 yen in 100 yen increments. If you can easily pay with a 100 yen coin, you can put it in a transparent acrylic box that resembles a donation box. It has a lock, so even if the box tips over, the coins won’t scatter, making it safe. At the same time, it gives children who come to make a purchase the feeling that they are paying for it themselves, and because it’s transparent, they can clearly see that they’ve put in a 100 yen coin and get a sense of accomplishment as the coins pile up.
If an item is sold out, a ‘Sold Out’ message will be placed next to the price on the price list.
The local festival starts at 4 PM but ends at 8 PM. The sun sets around 6 PM, so lighting is essential. We could borrow lights from the community center, but that alone wouldn’t have the same atmosphere, so we also procured some extremely sturdy, waterproof and dustproof LED strip lights for outdoor use.
You can wrap it around the inside like this.
This is what it looks like when it gets dark.
I was told that preparations could begin around 4 PM the day before, so I went to the Ibaraki Elementary School playground and found a spot marked ‘Illustration’.
I quickly set up the tent that a GIGAZINE reader sent me via
I’ve already reviewed what kind of tent it is below.
We tried out Coleman’s ‘Instant Visor Shade IV/L DR,’ a useful item for events and BBQs, to see how easy it is to set up – a review from GIGAZINE
Next, we stretched ropes around the four corners, hammered in pegs, and placed the long tables that we brought from the editorial office and the long tables we borrowed from the community center.
And then the day arrived.
We start bringing in the luggage on carts, rattling along, from 9 a.m.
And this is how it turned out.
It’s cozy. All I need to do now is bring in some frozen ramune candy and a portable freezer that a GIGAZINE reader sent me via
my Amazon wish list, and I’ll be pretty much done.
I’ve already reviewed what kind of portable freezer it is below.
I bought a Philips car thermal box to use as a portable refrigerator for outdoor events; it can cool down to -22 degrees Celsius, so it’s perfect for frozenラムネ (ramune) candy – GIGAZINE
Rainbow cotton candy is definitely the bulkiest.
The 4 PM start time is fast approaching. More and more people are starting to gather.
At 4 PM, it’s beyond just being crowded!
And it sold out in no time!
Next year, I plan to use this experience to improve not only the illustration and manga creation club, but also the ‘New Children’s Club (tentative name)’ that the Betsuin-cho Neighborhood Association is planning.
Furthermore, the ‘Illustration and Manga Creation Club,’ hosted by the editor-in-chief of GIGAZINE, involves everyone drawing together like this , and also drawing together at the after-school children’s classroom at Ibaraki Elementary School . Through these activities, various IT devices and apps are fully utilized, naturally improving IT literacy, internet literacy, and AI literacy. Practical role-playing activities, such as the mock shop shown here, are also available! Activities are mainly held in various locations in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, and primarily on weekdays after school. The target age group is elementary, middle, and high school students. Participation is free, no materials are needed, and there are no parental duties, so transportation is not required. It’s just like a school club activity. So, if you live nearby and are thinking, ‘I’d like to participate!’, just contact us using the form below!
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If a parent or guardian is applying, tap/click here.
A boys and girls struggling hard against abalone partners “grabbing abalone”
I tried making “Sweet Osechi” like that very much without spending time or money
I tried playing at Shogakukan’s “First grade primary school” appendix “Anywhere Yubi piano Doremi-kun”
A new sensation dessert “Ice plum” which becomes sweet when freezing sour sanpa
A report on the 6-session ‘Doodling Illustrations Together’ creative arts workshop held at Ibaraki Elementary School’s after-school children’s class.
‘Shikoku Green Travel’ – Taking full advantage of express trains and riding all of JR’s Shikoku lines – Day 2
‘Everyone can doodle illustrations at the same time!’ A drawing and chatting experience will be held at Onikuru in Ibaraki City from 2pm on Saturday, August 9th. Click here for event details and to register!
“Feeling the possibilities of gore ★ Assovi” Journey ★ Asobi vol.2 Takeshima Anime Ambassador and Kanemori Harvest Tour “
Sep 29, 2026 19:00:00
in Education, Hardware, Coverage, Food, Creation, Notice, Posted by darkhorse
