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Theodora Yu

The return of an exhibition featuring popular Japanese manga series Chiikawa to Hong Kong drew crowds and big spenders on a rainy Sunday afternoon, even though the organiser cancelled a much-anticipated roundabout for safety reasons.
While some fans expressed disappointment over the halted rides at the K11 Musea promenade on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, others welcomed the alternative arrangement, which allowed them to take photos with several characters on the stationary roundabout.
Some spent thousands of Hong Kong dollars on merchandise.
“It is a bit disappointing, as my son was looking forward to hopping on the roundabout,” said Joey Chan, a corporate secretary in her thirties. She was visiting with her son and her husband, who is also a corporate secretary.
The show, Chiikawa Artiverse, organised by local design studio AllRightsReserved, is in its second year and will run until September 6.
A premium exhibition ticket, which includes the roundabout experience, costs HK$590 (US$75), while a general ticket costs HK$200, with fewer freebies.

But despite the disappointment, Chan noted this year’s exhibition featured fluffy dolls, which she found refreshing, while last year’s show in August had memorable interactive machines that played videos or sounds when touched.
Chan’s husband, Leo Lok, said the family planned to spend HK$3,000 on exhibition merchandise, including a roundabout figure as well as blind boxes with random dolls in opaque packaging, adding an element of surprise for buyers.
“I love the character Usagi; it makes amusing noises which are cute,” said the couple’s 12-year-old son, Keon Lok.
The much-anticipated roundabout featured the three most recognisable characters – Chiikawa, Usagi and Hachiware – from the anime. Chiikawa means “something small and cute”.
The event is part of local efforts to cash in on the intellectual property economy and encourage Hongkongers to remain in the city over the summer, as more residents cross the border for holidays.
The organiser said on Friday that it had detected “abnormal noise” from the roundabout’s operating mechanism during a routine inspection that day, and further repairs were needed.

As these could not be completed within the original exhibition period, it decided to deactivate the roundabout’s rotating function and turn it into a stationary photo area “out of the highest safety considerations”.
“The organiser once again apologises to the public and Chiikawa fans for the imperfections in the event planning and arrangements,” the Friday statement read.
But Hong Kong resident Kelly Cheng said she found the exhibition arrangements “sincere and smooth”.
The 32-year-old civil servant said the stationary roundabout allowed more time for her to take photos with each character, and praised the special display of the manga manuscript by creator Nagano, which she noted was previously only in Japan.
Cheng spent HK$4,025 on merchandise, including a desk lamp, a music box, an umbrella and eight blind boxes of fluffy dolls and pins. That was largely within her budget, although she admitted to splurging on the smaller collectables.
“The exhibition was worth it,” she said with a grin.

Student Sammy Ma, 19, spent about HK$1,000 on a fluffy headband, stickers and blind boxes in addition to an advance premium ticket that cost HK$420, excluding the ride. She was unable to board the roundabout, but could take photos nearby.
“Originally I would have been able to take photos with some characters while it was moving, but now the stationary roundabout made it impossible for me to take photos with my favourite character … it was a bit regrettable,” Ma said.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said it had been notified by the organiser on Friday about the halted arrangements, and instructed it to disconnect the power supply, in addition to revoking the permit for use.
Wing Tam, who works in the non-profit sector, visited the exhibition with her nine-year-old daughter, Edna, and other family members.
Tam, who is in her early thirties, said she found comfort in Chiikawa characters because they have to go to work and face their “employers”, as most adults do.
“The characters have to face real-life challenges and are very relatable,” Tam said.
AllRightsReserved also collaborated with fast food chain McDonald's and the MTR Corporation for Chiikawa-related merchandise and displays.


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Hong Kong economy

Rains fail to deter Chiikawa fans and big spenders after roundabout cancellation

Visitors take pictures of themselves seated on the stationary merry-go-round in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Edmond So

Joey Chan with her husband, Leo Lok, and their son, Keon, at the exhibition. Photo: Edmond So

A visitor poses for a picture with some Chiikawa merchandise. Photo: Edmond So

The shutdown of the roundabout failed to deter patrons from having a good time. Photo: Edmond So

Chiikawa fan Sammy Ma spent about HK$1,000 on a fluffy headband, stickers and blind boxes. Photo: Edmond So

The 16-seat merry-go-round was set up outside K11 Musea. Photo: Edmond So

Chiikawa fans brave Hong Kong summer swelter for ‘preheat’ fun before exhibition

Fans get up close to the character Usagi at the “preheat celebration” in Tsim Sha Tsui ahead of the “Chiikawa Days” exhibition. Photo: Dickson Lee

Three of the main characters in the series are Hachiware (left), Chiikawa and Usagi. Photo: Dickson Lee

Fans are out in force to get snaps of the popular manga characters. Photo: Dickson Lee

Japanese manga Chiikawa exhibition to be held in Hong Kong in August

Hong Kong design studio AllRightsReserved is organising the three-week “Chiikawa Days” show in August. Photo: Handout

The popularity of the manga and its merchandise in Hong Kong previously led to crowds jostling in packed shops and inflated prices on the resale market. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong design studio AllRightsReserved will start selling tickets in July to the three-week “Chiikawa Days” show, which will be held a month later. Photo: Handout

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Chiikawa Artiverse, organised by local design studio, AllRightsReserved, is in its second year and will run until September 6


Chiikawa Artiverse, organised by local design studio, AllRightsReserved, is in its second year and will run until September 6.


Rains fail to deter Chiikawa fans and big spenders after roundabout cancellation

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chiikawa Artiverse, organised by local design studio, AllRightsReserved, is in its second year and will run until September 6

Chiikawa Artiverse, organised by local design studio, AllRightsReserved, is in its second year and will run until September 6