San Japan

San Japan
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Manga, Far East popular culture[1]
VenueHenry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk[2]
Location(s)San Antonio, Texas
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2007
Attendance28,033 in 2024[3]
Organized bySan Japan, LLC[4]
Websitewww.san-japan.org

San Japan is an annual three-day anime convention held during August/September at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel, and San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas.[2] The convention is held over Labor Day weekend.[5][6]

Programming

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The convention typically offers an arcade, Artist's Alley, car show, charity auction, concerts, cosplay chess, cosplay dating game, dealers room, electronic dances, a formal masquerade, grand cosplay show, Idol Festival, Lolita fashion show, panels, Maid Cafe, tabletop gaming, video games, and workshops.[1][5][7][8][9] The tabletop gaming space is open 24 hours a day during the convention.[10]

The 2014 convention had a blood drive and the charity auction benefited the San Antonio Battered Women and Children's Center.[11] The 2015 convention had a blood drive and some charity funds were donated to San Antonio Pets Alive.[12] San Japan held a blood drive, food drive, and the Charity Auction would benefit disABILITYsa in 2017.[1] The 2018 charity auction benefited disABILITYsa and UTSA East Asia Institute.[13] In 2018, San Japan brought $3.6 million to the local economy.[14]

History

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Due to venue issues, the first three day San Japan in July 2007 couldn't occur as planned.[15] The first San Japan instead was held in various locations on the campus of Our Lady of the Lake University in 2007, benefiting the OLLU Anime Club and the Congregation of Divine Providence.[1][8][16] San Japan moved to El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel (El Tropicano Holiday Inn) and San Antonio Municipal Auditorium in 2008, along with expanding to three days.[1][17] The convention moved to the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter in 2010, would leave after 2011, and move to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.[15][18] The San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel changed its elevator policy prior to the 2015 convention and began to limit access via a wristband system.[19][20]

San Japan used additional space in the expanded Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, having 100,000 square feet for vendors and 40,000 for gaming in 2016.[5][21] They also clarified convention policy that no firearms are allowed at the event despite the passage of Texas law HB 910 allowing open carry.[22] San Japan in 2017 was held only a few days after Hurricane Harvey affected Texas.[23] The convention in 2019 announced it would be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center until at least 2026.[6] In June 2020, the convention's chairman apologized and later resigned due to comments made about people of color.[24][25] San Japan 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26][27]

The 2021 event had a attendance cap of 10,000, with mask and vaccination or heath assessment requirements.[28][29]

Event history

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Event Name & Date Venue & Location Attendance Convention Guests
November 10, 2007 Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, Texas		815Amelie Belcher, The Gear Project, Jessie James Grelle, Samantha Inoue-Harte, The Snags, Team Sugoi, and Larissa Wolcott.[30]
August 8–10, 2008 San Antonio Municipal Auditorium
San Antonio, Texas		3,523Mr. 3000, Hannah Alcorn, DM Ashura, Christopher Ayres, Amelie Belcher, CapsuleCorp, Daniel Cloud, Patrick Delahanty, DugFinn, Tiffany Grant, Jessie James Grelle, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, Knuckle Sandwich, Maja, Vic Mignogna, Carli Mosier, Alissa Simmons, Smile.dk, and Amanda Tomasch.[31]
August 14–16, 2009 San Antonio Municipal Auditorium
San Antonio, Texas		4,003Mr. 3000, Christopher Ayres, Laura Bailey, Troy Baker, Amelie Belcher, CapsuleCorp, Daniel Cloud, DugFinn, Jessie James Grelle, Clarine Harp, Kyle Hebert, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, Jonathan Joss, L33tStr33t Boys, Stacey Lee, Mega Ran, NeRiMa, OverClocked ReMix, Fred Perry, Wendy Powell, Carrie Savage, Alissa Simmons, Travis Willingham, Tadahisa Yoshida, and ZeaLouS1.[32]
July 9–11, 2010 San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
San Antonio, Texas		5,049Mr. 3000, Tina Anderson, Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, DugFinn, Jessie James Grelle, Clarine Harp, Jonathan Joss, Keshiki, Maja, Randy Milholland, NeRiMa, The Protomen, Carrie Savage, Michael Sinterniklaas, Micah Solusod, and We *Heart* Card Games Productions.[33]
August 5–7, 2011 San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
San Antonio, Texas		6,891Airship Isabella, Christopher Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Descendants of Erdrick, Caitlin Glass, Jessie James Grelle, Arin Hanson, Rai Kamishiro, Bryan Massey, Carli Mosier, NeRiMa, Brad Swaile, J. Michael Tatum, Chris "PRGuitarman" Torres, TWABI Productions, Shinichi Watanabe, We *Heart* Card Games Productions, and Greg Wicker.[34]
August 10–12, 2012 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio, Texas		9,464Airship Isabella, Christopher Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Martin Billany, Diana "Hanyaan" Divine, Kara Edwards, Emirain, Caitlin Glass, Jessie James Grelle, Arin Hanson, Clarine Harp, John Patrick Lowrie, Ellen McLain, Carli Mosier, David "Docjazz4" Ramos, Christopher Sabat, Carrie Savage, The Slants, Sleeping Samurai, Ciarán Strange, and Greg Wicker.[35]
August 16–18, 2013 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio, Texas		11,077Christopher Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Richie Branson, Eyeshine, Scott Freeman, Max Gilardi, Jerry Jewell, Sifu Kisu, Lanie Labens, Scott McNeil, Carli Mosier, David "Docjazz4" Ramos, Carrie Savage, Sleeping Samurai, Ciarán Strange, Karen Strassman, Katie Tiedrich, and Greg Wicker.[36]
July 18–20, 2014 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio, Texas		14,686Curtis Arnott, Christopher Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Martin Billany, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Florida Whammy Entertainment, Scott Frerichs, HamletMachine, Lauren Landa, Nick Landis, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Matthew Mercer, Lisa Ortiz, Powerglove, David "Docjazz4" Ramos, Lawrence Simpson, Sleeping Samurai, Ciarán Strange, Uncle Yo, Fred Wood, and Akira Yamaoka.[37]
July 31-August 2, 2015 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk[38]
San Antonio, Texas		18,411Curtis Arnott, Amelie Belcher, Steve Blum, Richie Branson, Jessica Calvello, Svetlana Chmakova, Forrest Cobb, Mr. Creepy Pasta, DJ Cutman, Taylor Davis, Patrick Delahanty, Descendants of Erdrick, Los Ferrand, Scott Frerichs, Gimmick!, Fumiko Kawamura, Mitsuru "Mick" Kouzai, Nick Landis, Lone Stars, Yuji Matsukura, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Mega Ran, Lisa Ortiz, Professor Shyguy, David "Docjazz4" Ramos, The Returners, Lawrence Simpson, Ciarán Strange, Vitamin H Productions, Brett Weaver, Greg Wicker, Fred Wood, and Yuka.[39]
September 2–4, 2016 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk[21]
San Antonio, Texas		16,346Curtis Arnott, Amelie Belcher, Bitforce, Kira Buckland, Forrest Cobb, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Ben Creighton, dj-Jo, Los Ferrand, Scott Frerichs, Yumi Fujiwara, Baylee Jae, Michele Knotz, Nick Landis, Lone Stars, Daman Mills, Masayoshi Minoshima, Mint, NateWantsToBattle, Lisa Ortiz, David "Docjazz4" Ramos, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, Anthony Sardinha, Stephanie Sheh, Ciarán Strange, Corinne Sudberg, Kirk Thornton, Vitamin H Productions, and Fred Wood.[40]
September 1–3, 2017 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio, Texas		17,003All Off, CapsuleCorp, Ray Chase, Mr. Creepy Pasta, CreepyPastaJr, Ben Creighton, Crusher-P, Robbie Daymond, Scott Frerichs, Haruka Kurebayashi, Nick Landis, Matthew Lassiter, The Living Tombstone, April Martin, Kyle McCarley, MissShadowLovely, Max Mittelman, Naoshi Mizuta, Myuu, A New World, Chris Patton, Genevieve Simmons, Juliet Simmons, Grant Smith, Kirran Somerlade, Ciarán Strange, Kaiji Tang, TeddyLoid, Vedetta Marie, Vitamin H Productions, Greg Wicker, and Lara Woodhull.[41]
August 31-September 2, 2018 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk[2]
San Antonio, Texas		18,540AlpacaAsh, SungWon Cho, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Ben Creighton, DAGames, Deadlift Lolita, Scott Frerichs, Ghost Data, Grimecraft, Kohei Hattori, Natalie Hoover, Caleb Hyles, DJ Hype Girl, Kanae Ito, Kyle Jones, Mikaela Krantz, Brittany Lauda, Andrew Love, Joel McDonald, Myuu, OR3O, RichaadEB, Jad Saxton, Juliet Simmons, Lawrence Simpson, W.T. Snacks, Kazuhiro Soeta, Kirran Somerlade, Ciarán Strange, TiA, and Vitamin H Production.[42]
August 30-September 1, 2019 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Antonio, Texas		20,107Bryson Baugus, Justin Briner, Nobutoshi Canna, Clifford Chapin, Luci Christian, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Do As Infinity (D-A-I), Scott Frerichs, Chloé Hollings, Caleb Hyles, Nick Landis, Toshio Maeda, Myuu, Shihori Nakane, Paul Nakauchi, Lisa Ortiz, Sarcasm-himé, Matilda Smedius, Grant Smith, Kirran Somerlade, The Triforce Quartet, Vitamin H Productions, Gareth West, and Elise Zhang.[43]
September 3-5, 2021 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel[29]
San Antonio, Texas		Jules Conroy, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Khoi Dao, Adriana Figueroa, Scott Frerichs, Chris Hackney, Caleb Hyles, Nick Landis, Amanda "AmaLee" Lee, Mason Lieberman, Xander Mobus, and Laura Stahl.[44]
September 2-4, 2022 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas		21,149Gabriel "Black Gryph0n" Brown, Griffin Burns, Jessica Calvello, Claire Margaret Corlett, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Caleb Hyles, Emi Lo, Myuu, Aaron Roberts, Zeno Robinson, Rustage, Oscar Seung, TeddyLoid, and Austin Tindle.[45]
September 1-3, 2023 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas		24,027Jon Allen, Leraldo Anzaldua, BPM15Q, Dante Carver, Demondice, Ricco Fajardo, Jessica Gee-George, Grant George, Brian Holder, Caleb Hyles, Shinichiro Ishikawa, Arthell Isom, Hiroshi Kanatani, James Larabee, Bryan Massey, NipahDUBS, Molly Searcy, Moe Shop, Fred Tatasciore, TeddyLoid, Eric Vale, A.K. Wirru, and Jonathan Young.[46]
August 30 - September 1, 2024 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas		28,033Hakos Baelz, Burnout Syndromes, Bill Butts, ChibiTifa, Charlet Chung, Lucien Dodge, David Eddings, Doug Erholtz, Toshio Furukawa, Heather Gonzalez, Chigusa Kiyota, Rino Kodama, Nicholas Leung, Erica Mendez, Shin-ichiro Miki, Cassandra Lee Morris, Hiroshi Nagahama, Nerds Know, Masahiko Otsuka, Cindy Robinson, Shuzo John Shiota, Keith Silverstein, Christopher Corey Smith, Eiko Tanaka, Cory Yee, and Caleb Yen.[3]
August 29-31, 2025[47] Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas
September 4-6, 2026[48] Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Guzman, René A. (3 September 2017). "San Japan celebrates a decade of good fun and giving back". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Guzman, René A. (1 September 2018). "San Japan casts its magic on San Antonio". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "San Japan 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  4. ^ Dimmick, Iris (21 August 2013). "San Japan: 10,000 Japanese Animation Fans Celebrate Art, World Culture". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Guzman, René A. (2 September 2016). "San Japan animates Labor Day weekend with all sorts of fun". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Mendoza-Moyers, Diego (31 August 2019). "San Antonio's San Japan brings tourists, wild costumes to downtown". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  7. ^ Guzman, René A. (4 September 2016). "Gotta catch 'em all: San Japan brings in fans of all ages". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b Medina, Victoria (August 15, 2013). "This Weekend, Get Your Cosplay on at San Japan: Sinister 6". San Antonio Current. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. ^ Daniels, Lizz (August 29, 2024). "Beyond Seguin Borders: San Japan Anime Convention Returns to San Antonio". Seguin Today. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  10. ^ Barber, Katy (August 30, 2024). "San Japan has been celebrating nerd culture in San Antonio for 15 years". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. ^ Richter, Kay (20 July 2014). "San Japan: Samurai 7 Floods Downtown". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. ^ Ortiz, Edmond (1 August 2015). "San Japan: Big Business for San Antonio". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  13. ^ Wang, Jackie; Arbittier, Bonnie (1 September 2018). "Anime Convention San Japan Takes Over Downtown Again". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  14. ^ Cotton, Kyle R. (August 14, 2018). "Convention founders bring geek cultures to the masses, cash to San Antonio". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  15. ^ a b Guzman, René A. (14 August 2017). "San Japan adds new sights and sounds for its 10th anniversary". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Our Lady of the Lake University hosts Zero Day Anime convention". AnimeCons.com. October 26, 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  17. ^ Delahanty, Patrick (August 17, 2008). "San Japan 2008 convention report". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  18. ^ Guzman, René A. (7 August 2011). "San Japan booms with anime, colorful costumes". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  19. ^ Guzman, René A. (8 July 2015). "San Japan attendees face reduced elevator access at Grand Hyatt". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  20. ^ Delahanty, Patrick (August 10, 2015). "San Japan 2015 Report". AnimeCons TV. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  21. ^ a b Ortiz, Edmond (2 September 2016). "San Japan 009 Takes Over Expanded Convention Center". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  22. ^ Martinez, Kiko (August 31, 2016). "San Japan Prop Policy Says No to Open Carry, Silly String". San Antonio Current. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  23. ^ Aguirre, Alexis (30 August 2018). "Cosplayers, arcade games, Japanese voice actors to descend downtown for 11th San Japan". San Antonio Heron. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  24. ^ Madalyn, Mendoza (5 June 2020). "San Japan leader calls himself an 'idiot' after tweeting why he doesn't book the 'POC industry'". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  25. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (June 7, 2020). "San Japan Chair Resigns After Claiming PoC Guests Aren't Profitable". Anime News Network. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  26. ^ "COVID-19 Update 2020 Update Announcement". San Japan. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  27. ^ "San Japan 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  28. ^ Nelson, Kelly Merka (September 1, 2021). "Popular anime convention San Japan returns to downtown San Antonio this weekend". San Antonio Current. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  29. ^ a b Kless, Troy (September 5, 2021). "Thousands attend San Japan convention downtown with COVID-19 protocols in place". KENS 5. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  30. ^ "San Japan 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  31. ^ "San Japan 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  32. ^ "San Japan 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  33. ^ "San Japan 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  34. ^ "San Japan 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  35. ^ "San Japan 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  36. ^ "San Japan 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  37. ^ "San Japan 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  38. ^ Guzman, René A. (1 August 2015). "San Japan animates downtown". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  39. ^ "San Japan 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  40. ^ "San Japan 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  41. ^ "San Japan 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  42. ^ "San Japan 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  43. ^ "San Japan 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  44. ^ "San Japan 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  45. ^ "San Japan 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
  46. ^ "San Japan 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  47. ^ "San Japan 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  48. ^ "San Japan 2026 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
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29°25′15″N 98°29′5″W / 29.42083°N 98.48472°W / 29.42083; -98.48472

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