Category: News

  • Junkhead returns to Chapter Spring 2023

    Junkhead returns to Chapter Spring 2023

    Image from Junkhead

    Junkhead – Chapter March 25th 8:30PM

    Japan | 2022 |  104’ | CTBA | Dir: Takahide Hori | Takahide Hori, Atsuko Miyake | Japanese with English subtitles.

    We are so thrilled to screen Junkhead in Cardiff on March 25th at 8:30pm, as part of the Mini Cardiff Animation Festival.

    Junkhead won the Kotatsu Festival Bangor Critics Award last year but we were unable to screen it in Cardiff. Please come along and see this labour of love from director Takahide Hori.

    Tickets are available via Chapter.

  • BCExpo in May

    BCExpo in May

    BCExpo 2013

    Kotatsu Festival will be having a table at the BCEXPO which will be held on 11th – 12th May at Brunel’s Old Station, Temple Meads in Bristol.

    Asuka Tanaka will be holding another Manga Workshop. Details to be announced.

    We are currently in the process of confirming the date of next Kotatsu festival. We will let you know shortly. Look forward to seeing you all there.


  • Success at Comic Expo in Cardiff!

    Success at Comic Expo in Cardiff!

    Kotatsu table

    We would like to thank everyone who visited the Kotatsu Festival table at Cardiff International Comic & Anime Expo, at MERCURE HOLLAND HOUSE.

    A big thank you to everyone who signed up to our mailing list to keep updated with all the exciting news from Kotatsu, and to all the people who offered to become volunteers at our next Festival.

    Representing Kotatsu at the Expo were Manga artist Asuka Bochanska Tanaka and Louise BeerAsuka Bochanska Tanaka hosted a Manga drawing workshop that was fully booked and a great success.

    Kotatsu Festival will be attending the Bristol Comic Expo on the 11th and 12th May. Hope to see you all again there.


  • Comic Expo in Cardiff

    Comic Expo in Cardiff

    Cardiff International Comic Expo Logo
    Cardiff International Comic Expo

    Kotatsu Festival will be having a table at the Cardiff International Comic & Anime Expo, which will be held on 2nd – 3rd March 2013 at the MERCURE HOLLAND HOUSE. Please come along to this amazing event and say hello.

    Asuka Tanaka will run a MANGA DRAWING WORKSHOP for teens on Sat 02.03.13 and pre-registration is crucial. Please email comicexpo@hotmail.co.uk for more information. Last year her workshop at the Kotatsu Festival was sold out, so please be quick to avoid disappointment!

  • Another Award For ‘In A Pig’s Eye’

    At this year’s London International Animation Festival 2011, a Japanese short animated film called ‘In A Pig’s Eye‘ by Atsushi Wada has been given the prestigious award for Best of the Festival.

    At last year’s Kotatsu Festival 2010, we showed one of his earlier animations entitled ‘The Mechanism of Spring‘ as part of our short film screenings. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Atsushi Wada on yet another award (the film has won others) and look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

    We are showing more great shorts at this year’s festival (at the Atrium) so be sure to check out the programme page where we’ll announce the films we’ll be showing very soon.

    image from In a Pigs Eye by Atsushi Wada
    In a Pig’s Eye by Atsushi Wada


  • Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

    Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

    We are slowly coming to terms with the earthquake disaster and tsunami which recently hit Japan on March 11th at 2:46pm (JST). We would like to send our very best wishes and most heartfelt sympathies to all affected by the terrible events of the last few days. We would also like to thank the countries involved in the huge relief efforts (over 115 countries at present), as well as anyone working as part of those efforts on the ground in Japan, and of course everyone who is remembering Japan in their thoughts and prayers.

    (more…)
  • Yakiniku Restaurant in Newport

    Yakiniku Restaurant in Newport

    Yakiniku Restaurant

    Last year’s festival included a Japanese Marketplace, showcasing all manner of paraphernalia from comics to food, art to flip-books. One of the food stalls was from a local restaurant called Yakiniku, situated in the Seoul House Hotel on the border between Cardiff and Newport, just off the A48.  We are sure you remember the great lunch boxes from Yakinuku at the festival, so why not check out their restaurant, you won’t be disappointed.


  • MVM Entertainment

    Cover of Samurai Champloo DVD

    One of our official sponsors for last year’s festival was a local company from Chepstow in Monmouthshire called MVM Films. They very kindly donated a DVD of the first episode of Samurai Champloo which was shown at the festival, and also donated a bunch of first episodes of various other anime DVDs, which were given away as raffle prizes to some lucky winners. So if you are looking for any good anime DVDs be sure to check out their website MVM Entertainment, and their shop Anime-On-Line. They have recently started to expand into other genres too, including Asian Cinema and Horror.


  • Cardiff International Comic Expo

    Cardiff International Comic Expo Logo
    Cardiff International Comic Expo

    While not strictly related to Japanese animation, we thought we’d bring this to your attention anyway. The Cardiff International Comic Expo is to be held at the Mercure Holland House Hotel on Newport Road on the 26th February 2011. Tickets are selling fast, so if you are interested in attending please make sure to book your tickets in advance via their website at http://www.fantasyevents.org/cice/. From their website, it is obvious that there will definitely be lots to see, and for the more Japan related items be sure to check out the Manga Expo Spotlight hosted by our friends Otakuzoku, and Genki Gear who take the great style of Japanese culture, Anime, Sci-fi and gaming and mix it with their own unique “Genki” twist to produce great quality t-shirts.

  • Summer Wars gets submitted for Oscar nominations

    According to reports from Hollywood blog ‘The Wrap’, Summer Wars has been submitted for consideration as an Oscar nominee in next year’s Academy Awards. So far, Summer Wars is the only Japanese submission in the category of Best Animated Feature. Other films that have been submitted are:

    Image from Summer Wars
    • Alpha and Omega
    • Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
    • Despicable Me
    • The Dreams of Jinsha
    • How to Train Your Dragon
    • Idiots and Angels
    • The Illusionist
    • Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
    • Megamind
    • My Dog Tulip
    • Shrek Forever After
    • Tangled
    • Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
    • Toy Story 3