A big group of foreign people just congregated, was it some specific meet up? I know people hang out at the kamogawa to drink but they just seemed quite in the way and difficult to walk through so I wondered what was going on.
by annabugg
A big group of foreign people just congregated, was it some specific meet up? I know people hang out at the kamogawa to drink but they just seemed quite in the way and difficult to walk through so I wondered what was going on.
by annabugg
8 comments
There is an indie game show called [Bitsummit](https://bitsummit.org) that is going on this weekend. This is where people go to hang out after the show slash in between industry meetings.
If you’re interested, the show itself is at Miyako Messe. There’s a bunch of cool games, and usually a bunch of Japan AAA guests to do talks and performances. Last year Nobuo Uematsu did a stage performance, Chip Tanaka also does regular performances (albeit often on the business days), Shu Yoshida goes every year, iirc Yuji Horii went this year too.
Yes, this group was mildly-annoying while walking home. Maybe this conference should spring for one of the many venues overlooking the river?
I’m in there somewhere
it’s all game developers! every night during BitSummit video game festival, after the show hours it’s a tradition for game devs to grab some beers and hang out by the river.
Bitsummit party
Were the two dudes with cans and bottles ripping a techno set on the other side of the river? It seems like they come out around the same time
I was there when you took that picture.
It’s the unofficial Bitsummit after party that all of the foreigners congregate to. Japanese that don’t speak English typically don’t join, and anyone bigger don’t go because it’s less formal and business opportunities for them are easier to find on business day and invite-only after parties.
A lot groups had after parties, and then they’d come to the river if the after party ended. I went to a bar from 7 to 9, then the river. I’ve got to tell you that networking there has been so great, I met so many CEOs and people running their own businesses, and some seemed interested to contact me again once they start working on their own IPs.
It often gets noise complaints and police do come, but it’s more like after midnight when the cops have to start breaking it up. The cops listening to an acquaintance of mine explain the situation were curious if it was a demonstration or something, but they became understanding and relaxed when they realized what it was. They came that night (Saturday) because they received complaints about noise and blockage, so they had to section off groups and move them around to allow for bikes to pass unimpeded along the river, but didn’t dissolve up the gathering, and didn’t tell people to quiet down.
It feels like the usual Kamogawa scenery. Even without events like Bitsummit, university club and circle members gather on the riverbank at Sanjō Bridge on weekend evenings before heading to parties, creating huge crowds of people.
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