This was the first time that I attended Anime Expo in Los Angeles, and despite all of the frightening pictures and videos of overcrowded spaces… I found Anime Expo to be quite wonderful! I honestly never felt crowded and had no trouble getting into any of the panels or screenings. But, then again, I did have an Industry Badge which actually gave me some privileges unlike other cons that I have attended in the past. At Anime Expo, I visited the Entertainment Hall where I spent way too much money on Bandai Gashapon, Artist Alley where I also spent way too much money on stickers and pins, and the Exhibit Hall where I visited publishers and made lists of titles to buy for my school library and myself. While I did not get a chance to visit the Ichiban Market or the Manga Lounge, I did make sure to find time to eat lunch at AX Crossing everyday… onigiri, takoyaki, and yakisoba. In the end, one really cannot visit and participate in all of the things at Anime Expo, there is simply not enough time. But, that is not necessarily a bad thing… It keeps the fans coming back for more! 

Manga in Libraries was invited by Billy Tringali, the founder and editor of the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS), to participate in the AX Anime and Manga Studies Symposium, which is “a special programming track of academic lectures and panels on topics related to anime, manga, and Japanese culture. Presented by scholars from around the world, the Anime and Manga Studies Symposium as first introduced in 2011 and has featured over fifty different speakers from more than thirty universities and colleges. With subjects varying from the development of the anime industry to common themes in anime writing, the Anime and Manga Symposium is a unique chance to delve deeper into the world of Japanese pop culture.” My presentation titled Manga in Libraries and Beyond… focused on, of course, Manga in Libraries, but also on my IMLS research grant with Dr. Sanchez (a Professor at Queens College). I introduced the audience to our research project Teenage BIPOC Readers of Manga: Librarians Learning from Teens of Color, our research questions on representation, social-emotional impact, and library services, the focus groups that we have been hosting with teens all across the country, and of course some of our preliminary findings. Learn more about the IMLS research grant here! 

Manga in Libraries was also invited by Kodansha to present on the Manga and Anime Clubs: Best Practices, Challenges, and Successes! panel. While there was not a program track for librarians and educators at Anime Expo, Kodansha did host a series of panels throughout the weekend that were dedicated to librarians and educators. During our panel we focused on the importance of hosting manga and anime clubs in schools and colleges, along with how to start a club, what to consider when designing a club, what types of activities to host during a club, academic and personal growth as a result of a club, and more! So, whether it is a manga book club, an anime watch party, a member-led workshops, or a special event. Hosting manga and anime clubs not only provide safe spaces for members, but they also help to build community.

My schedule for the American Library Association Annual Conference in June was packed, so I could not attend any publisher panels. So, it was with great joy that I was able to attend quite a few at Anime Expo! I will highlight some of the new upcoming titles from Yen Press, Square Enix, Dark Horse, and Kodansha that I am excited about adding to my school library collection or reading myself. During the Yen Press Industry Panel, they mentioned some of their popular ongoing manga series like Honey Lemon Soda, Bocchi the Rock, Delicious in Dungeon, Shy, and Oshi no Ko. They also introduced some new upcoming titles to the Yen Press lineup, which can be found here! During the Square Enix Industry Panel, they introduced some new upcoming titles including some beautiful art books for the popular manga series The Apothecary Diaries and My Happy Marriage. The Dark Horse Industry Panel announced a new upcoming title Cthulhu Cat which reminds me of Yokai Cats and The Evil Secret Society of Cats from Seven Seas. And, during the Kodansha Industry Panel, they introduced some new upcoming titles to their lineup, which can be found here! Two Kodansha titles that are of particular interest to me are Spacewalking With You, which I hope to include in my school library. And, Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan, a horrific tale of a girl and her scissors, adapted by one of my favorite mangakas Shuzo Oshimi, which will not be included in my school library!  

During Anime Expo, I also attended the VIZ Media Industry Panel which introduced the VIZ Originals One-Shots Program. Former editor-in-chief, Hisashi Sasaki, of Weekly Shonen Jump introduced the audience to the program. He stated, “Manga is popular and widely read in the United States, readers grow up reading manga, and there is a pool of talent here”. The VIZ Originals program seeks to tap into that pool of talent to create new mangakas here in the US. Mangakas will draw and write manga using the same methods deployed in Japan, with professional editing and proper promotion. Hisashi Sasaki wants to build a community in the US because he wants to give mangakas the opportunity to create manga, “I want you to be a part of that dream”. You can learn more about the program and submission guidelines on their website and in this video. 

Also, using the power of the Industry Badge, I was able to acquire front row seats to the Witch Hat Atelier interview with mangaka Kamome Shirahama and the premier of the Witch Hat Atelier anime, which is absolutely stunning and coming to Crunchyroll in 2025. Watch the trailer here! Did you know that public librarians and school librarians that host anime clubs can get a FREE Crunchyroll account? Get more information here! While no pictures or videos were allowed to be taken during this panel… We were able to grab a pic of the brushbuddy at the mic! Sooooo cute!

Well, that’s my recap! I look forward to having the chance to attend Anime Expo again in the future! For now, next stop… San Diego Comic Con! Email me if you have any questions mangainlibraries@gmail.com. 

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