During our last visit to DoKomi, we talked with Light (@spoiler_of_light) from “Hana no Machi,” a group dedicated to organizing Japanese cultural activities in a dedicated room at the German convention. Hana no Machi is known for the unique, cozy atmosphere they prepare for their guests, as well as a wide range of performances that combine traditional and modern Japanese culture.
In this interview, we talked about Hana no Machi’s roots, changes over the years, and what emotions they want to convey to their visitors.
Portions of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity.
Q: How did Hana no Machi come about? Why did you choose the “hanamachi” geisha concept?
A: German conventions offer a great deal in terms of anime and manga. Our founders, Ruby and Hikari, have attended many conventions and they noticed that there was relatively little on offer in terms of Japanese tradition and culture. In particular, the lovely atmosphere of traditional teahouses, such as those in Kyoto, was something they hadn’t yet experienced. Over a nice cup of tea, you can unwind, watch a show and find some peace and joy—something that Japanese philosophy has always valued.
They wanted this atmosphere to form the basis for the new area: to experience a different world right in the middle of the convention, to relax and immerse oneself in the experience. So the name doesn’t actually have much to do with the geisha district ‘hanamachi’, but is more of a happy coincidence. Because Hana no Machi translates as “city of flowers”: a diverse, beautiful place.
Q: What does your range of activities cover? What criteria do you use to select the performances and themes?
A: We always try to make our programme as varied as possible. We’re delighted that our team is so multi-talented and enthusiastic. They bring a wide range of talents and passions to the table. From ikebana and origami to the koto; acting and Japanese singing: we’ve got it all. Each year, we come up with a central theme, such as geisha and maiko, modernity, or a story like the awakening of the sun goddess. We then always design the acts to fit the theme as closely as possible.
Q: What kind of atmosphere do you want visitors to experience at a ‘Hana no Machi’ event?
A: We want to create a cozy, feel-good atmosphere where visitors can relax both mind and body. A convention is big and noisy. In our Hana no Machi space, the décor and atmosphere are cheerful and peaceful. At the same time, we offer a varied programme of shows. The hall is fitted with brightly coloured light cubes, and visitors sit on cushions on the floor.
The décor is classic Japanese, whether it’s a bed of spider lilies, wisteria branches, cherry trees or—new this year—a wooden shrine where you could buy omamori (Japanese good luck charms) or omikuji (Japanese fortune slips). Hana no Machi simply whets your appetite for Japanese culture.
Q: What did you do at your first event at DoKomi? When was that?
A: We took part in DoKomi for the first time in 2021. That year, we started off very nervously, having to deal with COVID-19 restrictions and a reduced seating capacity, with a very small team of just seven performers. There were fight-choreographies, a kamishibai (Japanese art of paper theatre) in which we told the classic Japanese fairy tale Momotaro, group dances by idols, ikebana (Japanese art of flower arranging), singing and more.
Q: How has Hana no Machi changed over the years?
A: Hana no Machi has grown steadily over the years, and we have continually tried out new additions. We have also always tailored the content to the talents of our members. As mentioned, we have already featured ikebana, origami, traditional shadow plays, informative talks on Japanese cats or festivals, geisha and oiran performances, the demon Yamata no Orochi and other Japanese monsters in our programme. We have even staged a crime thriller set in the Edo period. One year, we had geisha-performers who played typical geisha games with the audience right at the table. Then there was rakugo, the Japanese art of storytelling.
Musically, there was plenty of variety too: we have already presented traditional and modern songs on the koto (Japanese zither), the shamisen, shinobue (Japanese flute), as well as music from anime and manga on the viola, the guitar or the keyboard. There’s something different to experience every year, so many visitors tell us that we’re the highlight of their DoKomi experience. That makes us particularly happy, of course. When we don’t have our own shows, we host the “Kimono Catwalk Contest,” idol concerts, and other activities.
Q: You’ve organised “Akuma no Mori” for this year’s DoKomi 2026. How did you come up with this idea?
A: That’s right, we had this event on the programme in 2025 and 2026. Akuma no Mori roughly translates as “Devil’s Forest.” In 2024, we had a ghost story, and somehow many of our members felt inspired by it: We had lots of good ideas, but they didn’t quite fit with Hana no Machi’s feel-good concept. They were too scary and possibly not suitable for under-18-year-olds.
So the idea arose to dedicate a separate show to horror: very late on Saturday evening and with its own entry. This year, the main theme was The Ring, or “Ringu”, as the Japanese original is called. We even needed our own helpers to carry out of the hall all the “corpses” that accumulated during the acts. It was a very fun experience.
Q: What difficulties do you face when organising activities? Is the focus on anime/manga a limitation or an advantage when planning an activity and/or performance?
A: Fortunately, we are completely free in our approach and draw inspiration from both classical arts and modern manga and anime. Right at the start, the focus was purely on traditional arts, then we compiled modern acts such as idol performances and music from anime into a “modern” show and advertised it as such.
This year 2026, we put on a production dedicated to a single anime for the first time: a 45-minute, cohesive show based on The Apothecary Diaries. That was a fun experience too, featuring singing, acting, dancing and funny vocals. I’d say we don’t overthink things and just let our creativity run wild. That enthusiasm rubs off on the audience as well.
Q: What do you like best about welcoming visitors?
A: I love the pleasant, relaxed atmosphere at Hana no Machi compared to the very hectic convention. We even do the admission process the Japanese way. Anyone who’s been to Japan will know what I mean: someone comes up, meets you at the entrance with a smile, asks how many people are in your group, guides you to your seat, and is genuinely happy to see you there. That’s exactly the kind of warm welcome we want to give our visitors, so they feel at home straight away. Many other acts and stages don’t have this opportunity.
Q: If you were to meet someone who knew nothing about Hana no Machi, how would you invite them to take part in an activity?
A: Hana no Machi is the convention’s haven of calm: in a pleasant atmosphere, you can sit down, relax and enjoy a varied programme of Japanese arts. If you’re interested in Japan and its traditional and modern culture in any way at all, you’ve come to the right place.
Q: Do you have a memorable moment from your time with Hana no Machi?
A: One year, we ended our final show of the day with a slightly adapted Japanese version of the song Country Roads. Instead of “Ano machi ni tsuzuiteru Ki ga suru”, we changed it to “Hana no Machi ni…” and so on. Everyone then came on stage and we said goodbye to the audience together with the song. I thought that was lovely because it showed us as a team, whether we were active on stage or behind the scenes.
Q: Do you have a favourite manga and/or anime?
A: I like quite a few of today’s titles, but for me nothing beats classics like Angel Sanctuary for the artwork and story, Shaman King for the manga’s philosophy, and Cowboy Bebop as an anime because of the music and concept.
Q: Could you send a message to the fans of Hana no Machi?
A: We love you and look forward to seeing you again! Thank you for making Hana no Machi such a success and for sharing our passion for Japanese culture with us.
We want to extend our thanks to Light and Hana no Machi for taking the time to do this interview, as we were always fascinated by the special place they built at the convention. If you ever have the chance, don’t miss their future activities!
Join the discussion
Comments are linked to your Anime Corner account and published after moderation.
Sign in to comment
Use your Anime Corner Portal account across all Anime Corner services.