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MINT, the designer of MINT NeKO, was born in Shimane in 1984.

After graduating Bunka Fashion College, he became an assistant designer of h.NAOTO and made his debut as a designer of Sixh. in 2006.

While part of a fashion duet with the brand Sixh., MINT has created his own line called MINT NeKO. MINT NeKO uses oriental silhouettes inspired by mode style with cat character graphics. There are actually more than 250 original kitty characters that are created and used in the garments.

MINT has created cats to collaborate in the world of fashion. MINT has collaborated with many Japanese artists and is becoming one of the leading young designers in Japan.

Director of TRIGUN STAMPEDE. Beginning with a background in live-action film, Kenji joined the animation industry more than a decade ago.

Kenji learned animation directing while working with Director Satoshi Nishimura, director of the 1998 Trigun animation series. In 2017, Kenji began working with studio Orange on Land of The Lustrous as an episode director. Now he is making his mark with his dynamic camera work and action sequences, and his directorial debut with TRIGUN STAMPEDE (2023). 

Reports are flooding in: Sakura-Con 2023 press applications are open NOW until March 24!

Late submissions and exceptions will not be considered.

Chief Producer at studio Orange. Waki is TRIGUN STAMPEDE’s lead production producer. In 2007, Waki joined the animation studio Madhouse.

After working with producer Yuichiro Saito at Madhouse, in 2011 he joined Mamoru Hosoda’s Studio Chizu as one of its founding members. At Studio Chizu, Waki was involved with projects including ‘Wolf Children’ (2012), and ‘Boy and The Beast’ (2015). Then in 2016, Waki joined the animation studio Orange and worked on ‘Land of the Lustrous’ (2017) as Producer and since then as Chief Producer on ‘BEASTERS’ (2019) and ‘Godzilla S.P’ (2020). Waki is also producing ‘TRIGUN STAMPEDE’ (2023) for studio Orange.

QUEEN BEE is a 4-piece band from Japan formed in 2009. With their unique and intense performances and newsworthy activities in various fields, they have created a buzz not only in the music industry but also in various other fields.

Their songs rank high on music charts, and their live shows are sold out in many places, boasting an overwhelming presence in terms of both popularity and ability. Their songs have also been used for popular anime such as “VIOLENCE”, the ending theme for the anime “Chainsaw Man”, “Kaen(Fire)”, the opening theme for the anime “Dororo”, and “HALF”, the ending theme for the anime “Tokyo Ghoul:re”.

Kouhei Eguchi is a Producer at Eight Bit Co., Ltd. He is a utility player who is familiar with all aspects of animation production and can take the lead or play a supporting role.

He worked as an Animation Producer on “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Scarlet Bond” and is currently working on “BLUE LOCK” and “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3”.

Leah Clark is an American voice actor and Funimation Staff Script writer.

Her more recent voice acting roles include Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia), Kobayashi (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid Season II), Sylvie (How Not to Summon a Demon Lord), and Megumi (Fruits Basket).

Other memorable roles include Negima (Nodoka); Fairy Tail/Fairy Tail Zero (Mavis); Soul Eater (Blair); One Piece (Coby/Miss Doublefinger); Eden Of This East (Saki); Baka and Test (Minami); Deadman Wonderland (Minatsuki/Hummingbird); Dragonball GT (Maron); Assassination Classroom (Kanzaki); Suzuka (Suzuka); Rosario + Vampire (Ruby); Murmur (Future Diary); Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie – Conqueror of Shamballa (Noah). 

As a staff ADR script writer at FUNimation; Her most recent projects include SK8 the Infinity; Toilet Bound Hanako; Plunderer;  How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift; Ensemble Stars; RobiHatchi; How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord; Space Battleship Tiramisu; Chio’s School Road; A Certain Magical Index III, and Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka. Other favorite scripts are Panty and Stocking, Suzuka, Peach Girl, Baka and Test, Sasami: Magical Girl Club, B Gata H Kei – Yamada’s First Time; and Strike Witches. 

Leah studied music theatre at Circle in the Square in New York City.  She is madly in love with her family which include a gorgeous husband, two remarkable brilliant children, and three of the world’s most adorable and manipulative dogs. 

Follow Leah on Twitter and Instagram @leahclarkVA; leahclarkva.com;  youtube.com/laureandclark

Hisashi Kagawa is best known for being the character designer of SaiKano: She, The Ultimate Weapon, One Piece: Defeat The Pirate Ganzak!, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, Toriko TV, and Dream 9 Toriko x One Piece x Dragon Ball Z Super Collabo Special.
Some of his other works as an animation director includes Pokémon (1997), Angelic Layer (2001), Fresh Pretty Cure (2009), Soul Eater (2008) and Toriko (2011). He also lent his talents to Sailor Moon, which include Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S, Sailor Moon Super S, and the opening for Sailor Stars. His major episodes included Makoto Kino’s, Black Lady’s and Haruka Ten’o’s first appearances and the past of the Silver Millennium. He also was a character designer and animation director for the Sailor Moon S movie.
Most recently, he has worked as the Chief Animation Director for the Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai anime series.

If you are interested in volunteering for Sakura-Con 2023, take a look at the “Volunteer Staff Opening” page for staffing opportunities like helping out in the Arts and Crafts room:

http://sakuracon.org/volunteering/staff-openings/

Junichi Hayama is a Japanese animator with more than 30 years of experience. He began his career in animation in 1983, and he trained under Masami Suda on Fist of the North Star. He served as director, character designer, and chief animation director on the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood anime film. His other animation director credits include Be-Bop-Highschool, Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu, InuYasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler, Yu-Gi-Oh! TV anime series was the Key Animator for the 2016 Yu-Gi-Oh Movie, Dark Side of Dimensions. 
Most recently, he worked as an Animation Director and Key Animator on the ONE PIECE FILM: RED Movie.