As some of you may know, last weekend was Naka-Kon. This was the 20th anniversary of Naka-Kon, and my first time at this convention. It was a blast. Great panels, a wide variety of foods and other Japanese products in the vendor hall, and unique once in a lifetime events.
The guests this year were:
Voice actors: Sasara Sekine, AJ Beckles, Steve Blum, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Brandon McInnis, Max Mittelman, Anairis, Quinoñes, and J. Micheal Tatum
Industry guests: Aoki Misako, BAN BAN BAN, Emily Temple cute, LAFARY, Maison de minette, Melody BasKet, RoseMarie seoir, Yukiemon, Madison May, and Sam Villanueva
Artists: Misako Rocks, Amelie Belcher, and Ratty Creations, Cosplayers Bee Nerdish, Diana “Binkxy” Tolin, Malinda Chan, TurtleSmithy Cosplay, Yaya Han, Diana The Great, and Duff Cosplay
DJ: Getty [ゲッティー]
Performers: Luna Flare, Kora Kayy, Freddy Mac Uchawi, and Cos-lesque Performers (Risque Revelry).
There was a one time only interactive concert collaboration (Anison [anime song] Disco Live) between comedy duo BAN BAN BAN (Hiromi Sameshima and Masatake Yamamoto) & Sasara Sekine (music idol, actor and model) which was an absolute blast. This performance was separate from Naka-Kon’s typical yearly rave (which featured Getty [ゲッティー] as the DJ this year).
In addition to several Q&A Panels by the guests, there were panels covering entering into the professional world; breaking into VO (voice over), composing music for games & shows, and entering the video game industry.
The last thing I want to highlight from the con, would be from the History of Horror in Anime panel. It was great seeing and hearing about the evolution of horror within anime over the past 40-50 years, and there were several recent and upcoming releases mentioned that I either hadn’t heard of prior or hadn’t realized what they were about which I am looking forward to watching (and reviewing).
Solo Leveling (2024) – Set in a world where hunters battle monsters within dungeons in order to protect mankind, the main character Jinwoo ends up with a unique ability to grow stronger which in this world was previously unheard of. (I’ve planned on watching this for a while now but haven’t gotten around to it. Didn’t realize it was a horror anime though, I always assumed it was another fantasy adventure anime)
Devilman Crybaby (2018) – A brutal and very TV-MA anime where demons have been recently reawakened and torment humanity mercilessly.
Ninja Kamui (2024) – Joe Logan, a ninja who escaped his clan and was hiding out in rural America with his family ends up being tracked down and forced back into the life of killing when his clan kills his friends and family.
The Summer Hikaru Died (Summer 2025) – After returning from a hiking trip in the mountains with his friend, Hikaru isn’t quite the same, having been posessed by some otherworldly being.
This Monster Wants to Eat Me (TBD) – The main character is depressed and is wanting to commit suicide, a mermaid agrees to grant her the sweet release of death as long as she gets to kill and eat her when the main character is at her tastiest. The terms are agreed to, though that “tastiest” point for the mermaid, is when someone is at the happiest they’ve ever been.
There was so much more that occurred at Naka-Kon than just what I’ve mentioned here, contests, screenings, a charity ball, an arcade room, a game room with Plinko, and Mahjong. There’s plenty I haven’t mentioned and really the only way to experience any of it is to go yourself in the future.
Cthulhuville 