News

Sakura Con is proud to host the first U.S. appearance for BLUE ENCOUNT!!

Hailing from Kumamoto and now based in Tokyo, BLUE ENCOUNT is a four-piece, emotional rock band that has been creating buzz with their intense, in-your-face, hot-blooded performances.

They made their major debut in September 2014 with EP TIMELESS ROOKIE.  Their first single “Motto Hikari wo,” released January 2015, played heavily on 35 radio stations nationwide, an extraordinary achievement for an up-and-coming band.  In May the same year, they released their single “DAY x DAY,” which became the opening theme of the popular anime series Gintama (Season 3).  This was followed by their first full-length album titled, ≒ (Nearly Equal).  

Xander Mobus is a voice over actor from LA. You might know his work from anime and video games including Persona 5 as The Protagonist, Super Smash Bros as Ren Amamiya, Street Fighter V, Soul Calibur VI, One Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100, Hunter x Hunter, Detective Pikachu, Erased, Boruto, Boruto’s Dad (aka Naruto), Rising of the Shield Hero, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, Fire Emblem Heroes, Fire Emblem Warriors, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Beyblade Burst Turbo, B: The Beginning, Blue Exorcist and many more!

Due to an extremely high volume of submissions, SakuraCon’s Cosplay Contest will be closing submissions early.  At this time, all places in the main competition have been filled, and wait-lists have been started for every category.  For those interested in getting a spot on the waitlist, submissions will remain open until Next Saturday, January 18th at 11:59PM Pacific Time.  At that time, submissions will be closed

Rules and Submission Form can be found HERE

Panel Submissions are now open and will be accepted through February 1st, 2020.

For more information, check out the Panel Page for the submission form and updated FAQ!

Want to show off your cosplay crafting and/or performance chops? 

Sign-ups are now open for Sakura-Con’s Cosplay Contest!  

All submissions are on a first come, first serve basis, and will be open until March 1st, but don’t wait too long — spots fill quickly, and if we fill up, you could end up on the wait list. Please read the Cosplay Contest Rules and fill out the form at the bottom of the page to sign up!  Please email cosplay@sakuracon.org with any questions.

Warm up your vocal cords and prepare to sing your heart out! Signups for Sakura-Con’s Karaoke Idol will open on February 1; they’re first come first serve and will fill up quickly.

Go here for the rules and information.

Pre-Registration membership prices

$55 until 11/30 at 11:59 PM Pacific

$60 until 12/31 at 11:59 PM Pacific

$65 until 2/29  at 11:59 PM Pacific

$75 until 11:59PM on 3/30 Pacific

$85 at the door 

Artist Alley registration for Sakura-Con 2020 has officially gone live!

Artist Alley is a venue for amateur and professional artists/artisans to sell their anime, manga and Japanese inspired works to the general convention members. This includes comic book artists, illustrators, makers of small cosplay accessories, and much more.  

Chicago native Erica Mendez is a longtime anime and video game fan who put in the work and became a voice actress.

She has been fortunate to play some fan-favorite characters, including: Retsuko in Aggretsuko, Ryuko in KILL la KILL, Gon in Hunter x Hunter, Aladdin in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Yuuki in Sword Art Online II, Sailor Uranus in the new Viz Media dub of Sailor Moon, Megumin in Konosuba, Akko in Little Witch Academia, Diane in Seven Deadly Sins, Nico in Love Live, Mash in Fate/Grand Order, Bernadetta in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Raphtalia in The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Attention all AMV creators and video editors! Enjoy making videos? Love Sakura-Con?

Want to help get people pumped up? Why not try your hand at making us a video for our Opening Ceremonies?