GEEK OUT
Anime and gaming fans flock to San Antonio for San Japan convention
Downtown will be overflowing with cosplayers during the annual San Japan convention.
Don’t be alarmed if you catch a few Pikachus wandering around downtown San Antonio this Labor Day weekend. San Japan, billed as South Texas' biggest anime and gaming convention, is returning to Henry B. González Convention Center and San Antonio Grand Hyatt on August 29-31, bringing three days of cosplay, panels, tournaments, and Japanese snacks.
Tickets are still available for the annual celebrations of all things geeky, one of the few pop culture conventions entirely run by fans. Guests can expect meet-and-greets with notable voice actors, a vinyl lounge, laser tag free play, tabletop gaming, and karaoke among the dozens of activities during San Japan’s run.
There will also be dances, themed, of course. A maid cafe — a pop-up cosplay restaurant featuring domestic servants — will keep guests refreshed. Ticket holders can also peruse an exhibit dedicated to Japan’s growing Itasha car culture, where anime fans elaborately decorate their vehicles with their favorite anime characters.
Among the notable guests this year are Katsuhiro Harada, the video game producer and director behind the uber-popular Tekken series; Jonah Scott, a voice actor for Netflix’s BEASTARS; prolific voiceover artist Sarah Anne Williams; and Dragon Ball actor Jason Douglas.
Obviously, familiarity with the personality varies according to how embedded one is in the subculture, but even newbies can enjoy the pageantry of the annual event.
San Japan was founded in fall 2005 and has since grown into one of San Antonio’s largest fan conventions. The inclusive event expects to attract over 30,000 attendees this year.
Tickets range from $32.45-$299, but won’t be on sale for much longer. Some special events and autographed merch require a separate cost. Fans can register and find the full, insanely packed schedule online.
