News

Sakura-Con is aware of the recently announced upcoming changes to Washington State’s Covid-19 mandates. At this time, we are maintaining the Covid-19 safety guidelines we currently have. Masks, as well as proof of vaccination or a laboratory issues negative Covid-19 test continue to be required. Any changes in those guidelines will be announced on our website and social media channels.

Please visit our Covid-19 safety page here!

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.

Always wanted to be in a Fashion show? 

Well here’s your chance!!!!

MINT NeKO Tokyo Fashion is holding an open call for models. 

Selected applicants will model in the MINT NeKO Tokyo Fashion show held Saturday on main stage!

To enter, please send an email to 

fashion@jhouserock.com with the following:

• Two Photos (One headshot, One full body)
• Measurements (height, weight, bust/hip/waist)
• A brief statement telling why you want to be apart of the fashion event

All applications must be submitted by Monday March 28, 2022

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Junya was born in Tokyo on October 19^th.  His major works include Yuji Itadori from JUJUTSU KAISEN, Seishu Inui from Tokyo Revengers, Jona Busta from Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, and Pannacotta Fugo from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind.

He also dubs for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man in MCU’s Spider-Man series, which includes Spider-Man: No Way Home.

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.

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Katelyn Gault grew up near Seal Beach, California. From an early age, Katelyn developed an affinity for the performing arts. She studied piano and eventually classical voice, and participated in several theatre productions and show choir shows. Katelyn went on to earn her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Chapman University. She then moved to Los Angeles, and has been pursuing her passion for acting and storytelling ever since. 

Katelyn works in film, television, voiceover and theatre. Most notable VO credits include: Kisara in Tales of Arise, Rondine in Monster Hunter Rise, Fenneko in Aggretsuko, Tanith in Fire Emblem Heroes and more!  

She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and fur babies.

For more information about Katelyn you can visit her imdb page: imdb.me/katelyngault or her website: www.katelyngault.com. 

You can also follow her on Twitter: @katelyn_gault. 

Manga Library is looking for people who love manga and have great customer service skills. While we’d love to have people who can read Japanese, it’s not necessary to help us out! You’ll be helping set up the library on Thursday, helping attendees check in their bags at the library and reshelving manga after it’s been read during the convention, and taking the library down on Sunday.

Manga Library Staff Requirements:

• Work at least 16 hours over the course of the convention, including Thursday set-up
• Be on time to all assigned shifts.
• Be responsible and helpful
• Able to stand and walk for your shift 
• Able to lift up to 35 pounds 

Not required, but helpful: 

• Customer service experience
• Knowledge of manga series and manga genres
• Some knowledge/proficiency with written Japanese 

If you are interested, please email manga.library@sakuracon.org

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). 

Vocalist/Guitar: SHiNNOSUKE
Base: RYOTA
Drum: U
Guitarist : Yu-SaySupport
Drum: ICCAN

The four-piece band based in Shibuya exploded onto the music scene in June 2010 with their very first single, “Complication.” The single quickly reached number one in downloadable tracks, ranked 11th on the Oricon Weekly ranking, and was featured as the opening theme for the animated series “Durarara!!” ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D went on to have songs featured in the anime series Bleach with “song for…” and “IN MY WORLD,” the second opening theme for Blue Exorcist.

ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D attracts Rock and J-Pop fans through their unique sound which includes Rock, Punk, and Emo. They have performed for their fans over 100 times in a single year and every time, the audience was hungry for more.

In 2011 the band collaborated with the creators of Durarara!! to release their first album “DRRROOKiEZ!! ・ ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D respect for DRRR!!” featuring “DROP,” the opening theme for the PSP game Durarara!! 3-way Standoff.

The band is gathering attention from Anime industries as well. In 2012 the band collaborated with Animate, the largest retailer of anime, games, and manga in Japan, on their NicoNico Live channel,“ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D TV.

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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.