Otakon

Coordinates: 39°17′07″N 76°37′02″W / 39.28538°N 76.61734°W / 39.28538; -76.61734
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the Metal Gear Solid character, see
Otacon
.
Otakon
Otakon 2020 logo
Cosplayers at Otakon 2016
StatusActive
GenreAnime, East Asian popular culture
VenueWalter E. Washington Convention Center
Location(s)Washington, D.C.
CountryUnited States
InauguratedJuly 29, 1994; 29 years ago (1994-07-29)
Attendance40,466 in 2022[1]
Organized byOtakorp, Inc.[2]
Filing status501(c)(3)
WebsiteOtakon.com

Otakon (

portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku
.

Otakorp

Otakon is run by the

non-profit organization Otakorp, Inc.[3] whose primary purpose "is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment".[4][2]

Programming

Typical Otakon programming includes

Royal Farms Arena.[5]

History

Otakon 2020 was cancelled due to its venue, the

COVID-19 patients during the ongoing pandemic.[8][9]

Event history

Dates Location Attendance (unique memberships) Guests Notes
July 29–31, 1994 Days Inn Penn State, State College, Pennsylvania 350[1] Robert DeJesus, Dave Fleming, Jei Fubler Harvey, Bill Mayo, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Lorraine Savage, Sue Shambaugh, and Jeff Thompson.[10]
September 1–4, 1995 Penn State Scanticon, State College, Pennsylvania 450[1] Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, Matt Greenfield, Teruo Kakuta, Trish Ledoux, Neil Nadelman, Toshio Okada, Steve Pearl, C. Scott Rider, Tomoko Saito, Lorraine Savage, Sue Shambaugh, Toren Smith, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, Adam Warren, and Robert Woodhead.[11] Otakon's first and only four day convention
August 9–11, 1996 Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland 1,000[1] Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, Masaomi Kanzaki, Matt Lunsford, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Sue Shambaugh, Jeff Thompson, and Adam Warren.[12]
August 8–10, 1997 Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland 1,750[1] Ippongi Bang, Kuni Kimura, Matt Lunsford, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[13]
August 7–9, 1998 Hyatt Regency-Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia 2,500[1]
Shoji Kawamori, Kuni Kimura, Trish Ledoux, Stuart Levy, Matt Lunsford, Tristan MacAvery, Neil Nadelman, Lisa Ortiz, Steve Pearl, Jan Scott-Frazier, Scott Simpson, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, and Amanda Winn-Lee.[14]
July 2–4, 1999 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 4,500[1] Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Michael Brady, Robert DeJesus, Robert Fenelon,
Shinichiro Watanabe.[15]
August 4–6, 2000 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 7,500[1]
Mandy Bonhomme, Robert Fenelon, Michael Granberry, Shinya Hasegawa, Scott Houle, Amy Howard-Wilson, Kunihiko Ikuhara, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Ian Kim, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Gilles Poitras, Hiroaki Sakurai, Jan Scott-Frazier, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, Yasuyuki Ueda, Adam Warren, Pamela Weidner, and Simon Yam.[16]
August 10–12, 2001 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 10,275[1] Steve Bennett, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Jo Chen, Colleen Doran, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Scott Houle, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Ian Kim, Shin Kurokawa, Masao Maruyama, Hikaru Midorikawa, Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, Jan Scott-Frazier, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Adam Warren, and Pamela Weidner.[17]
July 26–28, 2002 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 12,880[1] Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Fred Gallagher,
Tatsuo Sato, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Lianne Sentar.[18]
August 8–10, 2003 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 17,338[1] Steve Bennett, Mandy Bonhomme,
T.M.Revolution, and Pamela Weidner.[19]
 Otakon's 10th anniversary
July 30 – August 1, 2004 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 20,899[1]
Matt Thorn.[20]
August 19–21, 2005 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 22,000[1]
Scott Ramsoomair, Xero Reynolds, Monica Rial, Michelle Ruff, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[21][22]
 Attendance was capped at 22,000; attendance cap was reached on Saturday, August 20.[1]
August 4–6, 2006 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 22,302[1]
Nobuteru Yuuki.[23]
 Attendance was capped at 25,000; attendance cap was not reached.[1]
July 20–22, 2007 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 22,852[1] AAA (Attack All Around), Morio Asaka, Steve Blum, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Eminence, Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Ryuhei Kitamura, Kenji Kodama, Pontus Madsen, Vic Mignogna, Maki Murakami, Mamiko Noto, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Tomokazu Seki, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, Michihiko Suwa, and Steve Yun.[24]
August 8–10, 2008 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 26,262[1]
MarBell, Masao Maruyama, Hiromi Matsushita, Tony Oliver, Tara Platt, Derek Stephen Prince, Michael Sinterniklaas, Ellyn Stern, Kazuko Tadano, The Underneath, and Kappei Yamaguchi.[25]
July 17–19, 2009 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 26,586[1]
VAMPS, Kanon Wakeshima, Travis Willingham, and Yutaka Yamamoto.[26]
July 30-August 1, 2010 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 29,274[1] Peter S. Beagle,
The Yoshida Brothers, and Hiroaki Yura.[27]
July 29–31, 2011 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 29,337[1] Peter S. Beagle, Johnny Yong Bosch,
Kylee, Shelby Lindley, Masao Maruyama, Mitsuba, Cassandra Lee Morris, Kazuya Murata, Momoka Ohara, Tony Oliver, Lisa Ortiz, Masayuki Ozaki, Scott Sager, Takamasa Sakurai, DJ Saolilith, Akira Sasanuma, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Chiaki Shimogama, Makoto Shinkai, Bob Shirohata, Sixh., Synergy, J. Michael Tatum, Nobuo Uematsu, Cristina Vee, Tom Wayland, Mari Yoshida, and Hiroaki Yura.[28]
July 27–29, 2012 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 30,785[1] Peter S. Beagle,
Yuuka Nanri, Trina Nishimura, Ai Nonaka, Brina Palencia, Shin Sasaki, Michael Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, Hidetaka Tenjin, Gen Urobuchi, VIXX, and Sarah Anne Williams.[29]
August 9–11, 2013 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 34,211[1] Shingo Adachi, Peter S. Beagle, Maile Flanagan, Crispin Freeman, Tsukasa Fushimi, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, Home Made Kazoku, Chiaki Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Kanbe, Yoko Kanno, Tetsuya Kawakami, Roland Kelts, Kaoru Kurosaki, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Kazuma Miki, Masayuki Ozaki, Takamasa Sakurai, Jad Saxton, Tomokazu Seki, Micah Solusod, Michihiko Suwa, T.M.Revolution, Yuzuru Tachikawa, Cristina Vee and, Shinichiro Watanabe.[30] Otakon's 20th anniversary[31]
August 8–10, 2014 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 33,929[1]
David Vincent, Yama, Yoshiki, and Hiroaki Yura.[32]
 Attendance was capped at 35,000; attendance cap was not reached.[33] First time in Otakon's history that an attendance decline occurred.
July 24–26, 2015 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 26,877[1] Ei Aoki, Laura Bailey, Sandy Fox, Yuichiro Hayashi, Yasuaki Iwase, Seiji Kishi, Toru Kubo, Shizuka Kurosaki, Lauren Landa, Lex Lang, Masao Maruyama, Toshiyuki Nagano, Oreskaband, Bryce Papenbrook, Romi Park, Christopher Sabat, Takamasa Sakurai, Sean Schemmel, Shinji Takamatsu, Kaiji Tang, J. Michael Tatum, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Travis Willingham, Shuko Yokoyama,[34] and Draft King.[35] Attendance was capped at 35,000; attendance cap was not reached. Second consecutive attendance decline recorded.
August 12–14, 2016 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 29,113[1]
Koji Morimoto, Sarah Natochenny, Muneki Ogasawara, Lisa Ortiz, Haven Paschall, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, Matt Stagmer, Sonny Strait, LeSean Thomas, Alexis Tipton, Shunsuke Wada, and Kazutomi Yamamoto.[36]
 Last year Otakon was held in Baltimore. Attendance increased by 9.3% after two consecutive years of decreasing attendance.
August 11–13, 2017 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. 24,894[1] Ilya Alekseyev, Ei Aoki, Stella Chuu, Flow, Sandy Fox, Toshio Furukawa, Kyle Hebert, JAM Project, Shino Kakinuma, Kuniko Kanawa, Roland Kelts, Tetsuya Kinoshita, Tomoki Kyoda, Lex Lang, Masao Maruyama, Hidenori Matsubara, Takanori Matsuoka, Jamie McGonnigal, Vic Mignogna, Chris Niosi, Tony Oliver, Project BECK, Tyson Rinehart, Michelle Ruff, Frederik L. Schodt, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, The Slants, Matt Stagmer, Katsuyuki Sumizawa, T.M.Revolution, Hideyuki Tomioka, and Shimba Tsuchiya.[37][38][n 1] First year Otakon was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Attendance decreased 14.4%.
August 10–12, 2018 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. 28,116[1] Ollie Barder, Johnny Yong Bosch, Nobutoshi Canna, Ray Chase, SungWon Cho, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Robbie Daymond, Lucien Dodge, Kanetake Ebikawa, Jessie James Grelle, Todd Haberkorn, Kuniko Kanawa, Soojin Kang, Shoji Kawamori, Hirokatsu Kihara, Young Sun Kim, Yasutaka Kimura, Cherami Leigh, Masaya Matsukaze, Yuji Matsukura, Kyle McCarley, Erica Mendez, Max Mittelman, Tatsuyuki Nagai, Masahiko Otsuka, Bryce Papenbrook, Sujin Ri, Arnie Roth, Jez Roth, Naoko Tsutsumi, Nobuo Uematsu, Ho San Yi, Toshifumi Yoshida, and Yoh Yoshinari.[39] Attendance rebounded almost to 2016's level, increasing by 13.14%
July 26–28, 2019 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. 28,430[1] Ilya Alekseyev, Steve Bennett, Jen Cohn, Richard Epcar,
E. Jason Liebrecht, Masao Maruyama, Elizabeth Maxwell, Hiroshi Nagahama, Atsushi Nakayama, Nano, Stephanie Panisello, Jez Roth, Shing02, Matt Stagmer, Ellyn Stern, Substantial, Michihiko Suwa, Kirk Thornton, Kaoru Wada, Kari Wahlgren, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Yoshihiro Watanabe.[40]
August 1, 2020[41] Online convention
August 6–8, 2021 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. 25,564[1] Zach Aguilar, Ricco Fajardo, Aleks Le, Adam McArthur, Laura Post, Kaiji Tang, Abby Trott, Anne Yatco, Suzie Yeung, Joe Zieja,[42] and Conisch.[43][n 2] Idol group SPARK SPEAKER was scheduled to appear, but cancelled when the group disbanded in May 2021.[44]
July 29–31, 2022 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. 40,466[1] AleXa, Celeina Ann, Beau Billingslea, Steve Blum, Tiana Camacho, Jose Estrada, Ricco Fajardo, Angelina Foss, Lai Frances, Harumi Fujita, Toshio Furukawa, G.L.A.M.S, Yuki Hayashi, Motonobu Hori, Chado Horii, Mariya Ise, Takahiro Izutani, Shino Kakinuma, Masazumi Kato, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Junhong Kim, KingChris, Masafumi Mikami, Pixy, Kiral Poon, Zeno Robinson, Rolling Quartz, Kaho Shibuya, Kaoru Wada, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Wataru Watari, Yoh Yoshinari, and Jenny Zha.[45] Attendance rose by 57% from 2021, breaking the previous all-time record set by 2013's Otakon. Factors including relaxed travel restrictions allowing Japanese guests to return, the burgeoning popularity of Korean music in the U.S. at the time, and the option given to AnimeNEXT members to roll 2022 memberships over into Otakon memberships after the public attractions of AnimeNEXT 2022 were called off, lead to Otakon's highest attendance numbers ever.[46]
July 28–30, 2023 Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. Shinji Aramaki, Kia Asamiya, Ollie Barder, Mario Castañeda, Justin Cook, Jose Estrada, Ricco Fajardo, Haruna Ikezawa, Junko Iwao, Shoji Kawamori, KingChris, Amanda "AmaLee" Lee, Brandon McInnis, Masahiko Otsuka, Takaharu Ozaki, Kaho Shibuya, Megan Shipman, Substantial, Super Art Fight, J. Michael Tatum, Hidetaka Tenjin, Natalie Van Sistine, Yoshihiro Watanabe, and Wataru Watari.[47]
August 2–4, 2024[48] Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
August 8–10, 2025[49] Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.
August 14–16, 2026[50] Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.

Locations

Otakon 2011 Visit Baltimore "Customer of the Year" Award

The first Otakon was held at a Days Inn in State College, Pennsylvania in 1994; 350 people attended.[51]

Baltimore

From 1999 to 2016, Otakon was held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2011, the Baltimore city tourism agency, Visit Baltimore, gave Otakon a "Customer of the Year" award for "demonstrat[ing] ongoing commitment to Baltimore, bringing more than 27,000 attendees to the city every year, a much-anticipated event by the local community and media".[52] Otakon has been a top convention for Baltimore since 2003.[53] Otakon 2009 had an economic impact of $12.5 million in direct spending and booked over 4,500 hotel rooms. According to the Baltimore Business Journal on December 10, 2010, Otakon 2010 had 4,575 booked hotel rooms and an estimated economic impact of $15.3 million, up from $12.5 million the year before;[54] in particular it had significant impact on food vendors.[55]

Washington, DC

Beginning in 2017, Otakon moved to Washington, DC, to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.[56][57]

Las Vegas

Main article: Otakon Vegas

From 2014 to 2018, a spin-off convention also run by Otakorp had been held in January at the

Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.[58][2] In 2018, shortly after the end of Otakon Vegas 2018, Otakorp, Inc. announced on the Otakon Vegas website that Otakon Vegas was going on hiatus for an undetermined amount of time and that Otakon Vegas 2018 would be the last Otakon Vegas held. Otakorp, Inc. described Otakon Vegas as being an "experiment" and stated that they were "taking some time to examine the results of this experiment, to rethink and reorganize the show logistics, and to determine how best to bring the show forward." They left the door open for a future Otakon Vegas by concluding that they "hope to return to Vegas in the future."[59]
"

Notes

  1. ^ Flow, JAM Project, and T.M.Revolution appeared as part of the Anisong World Matsuri event.
  2. ^ Norihiro Kurosawa, Hiroshi Watanabe, Conisch and Atsushi Kosaka appeared in a livestreamed Hetalia World Stars panel and Q&A event.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Otakon: Statistics". Otakon. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  2. ^ a b c "Otakorp, Inc. Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  3. ^ Register of Corporations, Pennsylvania Dept of State. "Business Entity: OTAKORP, Inc". Retrieved 2007-10-24.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Otakorp". www.otakorp.org. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  5. ^ a b "Events: Schedule". Otakon.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  6. ^ "Baltimore Convention Center Map" (PDF). otakon.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  7. ^ a b "Anime Convention ::: Advanced Media Network - Comprehensive Convention Coverage". Anime.advancedmn.com. 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  8. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (April 27, 2020). "Otakon 2020 Cancelled Due to COVID-19". Anime News Network. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Otakon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  10. ^ "Otakon 1994 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  11. ^ "Otakon 1995 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  12. ^ "Otakon 1996 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  13. ^ "Otakon 1997 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  14. ^ "Otakon 1998 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  15. ^ "Otakon 1999 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  16. ^ "Otakon 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  17. ^ "Otakon 2001 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  18. ^ "Otakon 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  19. ^ "Otakon 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  20. ^ "Otakon 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  21. ^ "Otakon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  22. Baltimore Sun
    . Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  23. ^ "Otakon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  24. ^ "Otakon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  25. ^ "Otakon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  26. ^ "Otakon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  27. ^ "Otakon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  28. ^ "Otakon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  29. ^ "Otakon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  30. ^ "Otakon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  31. ^ "Otakon". JNTO. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  32. ^ "Otakon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  33. ^ "Otakon's Online-Registration Opens at 12:01AM, March 8th!". www.otakon.com. March 7, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  34. ^ "Otakon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  35. ^ "Draft King to Play Friday Concert at Otakon 2015". Anime News Network. May 28, 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  36. ^ "Otakon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  37. ^ "Otakon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  38. ^ "Anisong World Matsuri Brings Two Amazing Concerts to Otakon". Otaku USA Magazine. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  39. ^ "Otakon 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  40. ^ "Otakon 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  41. ^ "Otakon Online 2020". Otakon. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  42. ^ "Otakon 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  43. ^ "Hetalia World Stars (Live Stream)". www.otakon.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  44. ^ "Spark Speaker unable to appear at Otakon 2021". www.otakon.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  45. ^ "Otakon 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  46. ^ "2022 Call-Off". www.animenext.org. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  47. ^ "Otakon 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  48. ^ "Otakon 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  49. ^ "Otakon 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  50. ^ "Otakon 2026 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  51. Washington Post
    . Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  52. ^ "History: In the News". www.otakon.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  53. ^ Bernstein, Rachel (2009-07-17). "Otakon convention brings thousands of Japanese anime fans to Baltimore". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  54. ^ Proctor, Carolyn (2010-12-10). "Room to Grow". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  55. ^ Bernstein, Rachel (2010-07-30). "Otakon and soccer means big business for Baltimore". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  56. ^ Cooper, Rebecca (August 11, 2017). "With Otakon, city boosters hope to up D.C.'s creative cred". Washington Business Journal.
  57. ^ Goldchain, Michelle (August 14, 2017). "Otakon 2017, the highlights". Curbed Washington DC.
  58. ^ "Otakon Spin-Off Convention in Vegas Planned for January". Anime News Network. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  59. ^ "Welcome to Otakon Vegas". Otakon Vegas 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-16.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otakon.

39°17′07″N 76°37′02″W / 39.28538°N 76.61734°W / 39.28538; -76.61734

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