A Brief History of Yokai

From Godzilla to Pokémon, Japan is monster country—and all of Japan's monsters have their roots in the bizarre menagerie of creatures called yokai. Guest of Honor Zack Davisson, noted monster scholar and yokai folklorist, guides you through the history behind yokai; a journey from the invisible monsters of the Heian period to the yokai catalogs of Edo.

Anime and Manga for Parents

Anime and manga works released today cover more genres, topics, and age ranges than ever. Do you have any concerns? Want to share your knowledge? Bring your thoughts and come for a discussion with Guest of Honor Gilles Poitras, and perhaps leave with some new ideas on what to read or watch next.

Behind The Voice: Khoi Dao

Meet the voice behind Albedo in Genshin Impact, Shota Kazehaya in Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You, Tetsuya Kuroko in Kuroko's Basketball, Rei Kiriyama in March Comes In Like A Lion, Cancer Cell in Cells at Work!, Kagetsu in Fire Emblem Engage, Idia Shroud in Twisted Wonderland, and more! Guest of Honor Khoi Dao discusses his career as a voice actor, his experiences in the anime and video game industries, and maybe cats.

Career Spotlight: Hiroshi Nagahama

Best known for his directorial work on Mushi-shi, Guest of Honor Hiroshi Nagahama discusses his varied career in the Japanese animation industry.

Con Going 101

Con Going 101 is a beginning con-goer/cosplayer-focused panel to help give beneficial advice to new members of the community. Guest of Honor Maguma covers topics ranging from proper trip planning, convention functions and amenities that are available to attendees, and the many community rules and guidelines that can improve our overall experience.

Densetsu.EXE Karaoke!

MVP Forever! Densetsu.EXE is the electrifying virtual idol trio made up of Guest of Honor Mint Fantôme, Victoria Roman, and Phoebe Chan! Join the three of them for a fun-filled live karaoke experience! They'll be singing all kinds of songs to dazzle the crowd!

Kaibyo: Supernatural Cats of Japan

All cats are magical, but the cats of Japan have their own secrets. If they live long enough, their tails split, they stand on their hind legs, and they start to dance. Bakeneko, nekomata, kasha, and even the ubiquitous "lucky cat" called the Maneki-Neko—come learn some of the secrets of these magic cats from Guest of Honor Zack Davisson, yokai scholar and author of Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan.

Khoi Dao Takes Your Commissions

Describe the image in your heart and Guest of Honor Khoi Dao, voice of the illustrious Albedo from Genshin Impact, will bring it to life, albeit extremely poorly. It can be your Genshin team, your OC, or your cat—anything you desire! Khoi will draw whatever you ask for, and at the end you get to keep the drawing, you lucky duck.

Let's Talk About Cats!

Join Guest of Honor Emi Lo in this panel about cats: show pictures of your cats, talk about your cats, look at pictures of other cats…let's all bask in the glory that is cats. (Other animals are also okay.)

Meet ALI!

After seeing them in concert, come to this Q&A Panel and get to know MusicFest headliner ALI, the band behind theme songs for BEASTARS, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more!

Mint Fantôme's Moe Seance Q&A

Moe moe boo! Did somebody summon a spooky ghost? Join Guest of Honor Maid Mint Fantôme for an action-packed tell-all panel—bring all your burning questions! Just be careful not to leave haunted!

Monster Hunter Challenge

Welcome to the New World, young hunters! We have a small problem and need your help clearing out a few monsters! Join Guest of Honor Maguma in the hunt—you can win fun prizes and watch some INTENSE MONSTER HUNTING ACTION!

Nostalgia in J-Fashion & Media

Explore Japanese street fashion styles and media of the past with Guest of Honor Néant Glass, why we love them, and how they influence creativity and style today.

Q&A with Ai Nonaka

Meet Guest of Honor Ai Nonaka, the Japanese voice actor behind Kyoko Sakura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), Kafuka Fuura (Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei), and Konoka Konoe (Negima! series)! Aipon answers your questions during this open-mic Q&A panel.

Q&A with Emi Lo

You've heard their voice in Apothecary Diaries, Higurashi: When They Cry - GOU, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Chainsaw Man, Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, and more—now, come and bring your questions for Guest of Honor Emi Lo in this open-mic Q&A.

Q&A with Hiroshi Nagahama

Come and learn about Guest of Honor Hiroshi Nagahama's storied career as an animator and director, while asking him all your questions!

Q&A with Yuriko Yamaguchi

Guest of Honor Yuriko Yamaguchi—the Japanese voice actor behind memorable characters such as Nico Robin in ONE PIECE, Ritsuko Akagi in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Nurse Joy in Pokémon, and many others—answers questions from the audience during this open-mic Q&A panel.

Shaping Your Cosplay Vision

Are you passionate about cosplaying your favorite characters but aren't sure what comes next after getting your cosplay all set and ready? Have you ever wondered how to pose, book the photographer, or get the right shot? Are you not sure what other work is needed before the photoshoot? Guest of Honor VampyBitMe teaches you how to portray your cosplay in photography and beyond in the best way possible, so you can be ready for all the cameras on your debut day!

Spooky Tokyo

Before Tokyo, there was the shōgun's capital, Edo; before that, there were villages, and before villages…

In all that time, various legends, folktales, plays, literature, anime, manga, and events have contributed to situate lots of spooky stuff in what is now Tokyo. Guest of Honor Gilles Poitras shares where you can find these spooky statues, markers, buildings, and more, as well as places to get yōkai-themed items.

Stained Glass 101

Guest of Honor Néant Glass breaks down the process of creating stained glass art—from pattern design to cutting, grinding, and soldering the finished piece.

Tokyo: The Cheap & Easy Way

Tokyo has a reputation for being expensive to visit, but it does not have to be, and with the current exchange rate it is even more affordable. That said, there are ways to keep your costs quite low through careful planning on just a few aspects of your trip. Money is not the only thing to budget—time is also important. Guest of Honor Gilles Poitras will give tips on planning and easy transit that will help you see more of Tokyo without rushing.

Toy & Figure Content Creation

Are you a model builder? Gunpla fanatic? Brick builder? Miniature painter? Have you ever wanted to start streaming your hobby, but were not sure where to start or how to set everything up? Do you have questions about equipment and the minimum setup to start making content? Guest of Honor VampyBitMe breaks down everything you need to start getting your content and your passion out there! This panel will also cover realistic goals and how to set them for yourself.

VA Spotlight: Ai Nonaka

Best known for her roles as Kyoko Sakura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), Kafuka Fuura (Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei), and Konoka Konoe (Negima! series), Guest of Honor Ai Nonaka's career as a voice actor spans over 25 years. Join her in this panel as she discusses her career and experiences in the Japanese voice acting industry.

VA Spotlight: Yuriko Yamaguchi

Join Guest of Honor Yuriko Yamaguchi—known for her roles as Nico Robin in ONE PIECE, Ritsuko Akagi in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Nurse Joy in Pokémon, and more—as she discusses her career and experiences in the Japanese voice acting industry.

Yokai of Dandadan

Dandadan is weird, wild, and full of monsters! But are they "real" monsters? Did Turbo Granny ever really zoom through the tunnels of Japan? Who is Reiko Kashima? And what is Acrobatic Silky? Come learn the backstory from some of these crazy creatures from author, folklorist, NYU professor, and Guest of Honor Zack Davisson. It's going to be a wild ride.