Anime Expo 2024

Anime Expo was held for 4 days from Thursday, July 4th through Sunday, July 7th at the LA Convention Center.

Anime Expo is held by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Anime, and the largest Japanese anime convention in North America.
This year is the 33rd time.

There were long lines forming from day 1 for the AX limited edition goods and good finds, as well as for the latest anime news.

Many fans dressed up as their favorite character and enjoyed socializing with each other like talking pictures.

Not only were there merch booths but also competition areas and a concert area for virtual YouTubers attracted many people.

There also was an area named “AX Crossing” at the plaza of the convention center.
About 50 Japanese food booths were available, and a mini J-pop concert was held there too.

Various events were held, including panel discussions featuring creators of popular anime, and a workshop introducing maiko culture, featuring a maiko invited from Yamagata Prefecture to promote tourism to the Tohoku region.
From traditional culture to subculture, a wide range of Japanese charms were introduced to the guests.

About 1,000 booths participated in this year’s Anime Expo.
Large booths of major companies were noticeable compared to previous years impressing the importance of Anime Expo within the industry.

JETRO set up a booth called “Geek Street,” gathering 16 companies under categories like “Anime,” “Kawaii,” and “Trends.”
They supported the overseas expansion of various Japanese content.

Each company showed off new anime that will be aired in the US starting this fall, new games that will be released next year, and new products that have just been released and are not available anywhere else in the US besides this event.

There was a stage at Geek Street where companies could give presentations.

Tickets for this year’s Anime Expo were sold out.
About 100,000 people attended.

2024 Jokun Recognition Community Luncheon

Sunday, June 9th was the Jokun Recognition Community Luncheon of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation at Quiet Cannon in Montebello.

Every year, the Japanese government honors those who have contributed to the promotion of Japan-US relations and friendship, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (JCCSC) holds a celebration to honor these recipients.

Kate Leonard majored in Japanese studies during college and studied in Okayama, Japan in 1973.
After returning home, she became the director of the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana and a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
She has served as the Honorary Consul of Japan in San Diego since 2012.

Haruo Takehana has been served as a board member and president of various Japanese American cultural and business organizations like JCCSC, the Japanese Community Pioneer Center and Kenjinkai since 2004.

Akiko Bourland founded the San Diego Chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana in 1973. She served as the president for 35 years, and was the first person in the US to receive the title of “Founder Advisor” from the highest advisor of the Ohara School of Ikebana in Japan.
She has been an instructor of ikebana at local universities for over 50 years and taught thousands of students.

About 200 people attended the event including family members of the honorees, related individuals, and representatives of various Japanese organizations. Consul General Kenko Sone and other attendees gave their words of congratulations, and recipients were presented with commemorative plaques sharing the joy of being recognized.