Sakura-Con
2018/4/12
From March 30th to April 1st, the 21st Sakura-Con (a large-scale anime convention) was held at the Washington State Convention Center.
At the convention, there was a variety of pop cultural and Japanese culture offerings such as cosplay, character goods, collectible figurines, manga, local Japanese cultural organization (calligraphy, go, ikebana, etc.) booths and demonstrations, video gaming arcades, mahjong, karaoke booths, and many more.
From the Consulate, the Consul General gave a speech at the opening ceremony. At the Consulate’s booth, JET Program and government scholarship guides, tourism pamphlets, and a samurai dress-up corner were offered. In addition, the Consulate had cultural panels that introduced furoshiki (Japanese traditional wrapping cloth), samurai culture, and traditional Japanese instruments, as well as a panel that introduced attendees to the JET Program and government scholarships.
According to the Sakura-Con organizer, 24,000 people attended this year. Sakura-Con is the largest anime and cosplay event in the northwestern region of the United States.
At the convention, there was a variety of pop cultural and Japanese culture offerings such as cosplay, character goods, collectible figurines, manga, local Japanese cultural organization (calligraphy, go, ikebana, etc.) booths and demonstrations, video gaming arcades, mahjong, karaoke booths, and many more.
From the Consulate, the Consul General gave a speech at the opening ceremony. At the Consulate’s booth, JET Program and government scholarship guides, tourism pamphlets, and a samurai dress-up corner were offered. In addition, the Consulate had cultural panels that introduced furoshiki (Japanese traditional wrapping cloth), samurai culture, and traditional Japanese instruments, as well as a panel that introduced attendees to the JET Program and government scholarships.
According to the Sakura-Con organizer, 24,000 people attended this year. Sakura-Con is the largest anime and cosplay event in the northwestern region of the United States.
![]() |
![]() |
Consul General Yamada’s speech at the Opening Ceremony | Taiko performance by School of Taiko |
![]() |
![]() |
Shamisen and traditional Japanese dance by Kabuki Academy | Exhibition Hall |
![]() |
![]() |
Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle booth | Trying on samurai armor |
![]() |
![]() |
Samurai Undressed, a cultural panel on samurai culture | Traditional Japanese percussion demonstration, a cultural panel with Dekoboko Taiko |