Consulate-General of Japan’s Participation in Anime North

Consul-General of Japan Yasunori Nakayama presented an award to

the member of the Kimono team at Anime North’s Fashion Show.

On May 27, Consul-General of Japan Yasunori Nakayama attended Anime North, the anime fan convention which ran from May 26 to 28 in Toronto. The Consul-General attended the Fashion Show featuring designers inspired by Japanese fashion, as well as various types of street fashion.

In his remarks, the Consul-General said, “I am so happy to see that countless people around the world today are freely enjoying manga and anime. I hope everyone in attendance today will continue to hold anime close to their hearts, and that this will also develop into a greater interest in Japan. Nothing would make me happier than seeing all of you in Japan sometime in the future.”

The Fashion Show showcased genres such as Lolita and Visual, as well as modernized traditional dress and Japanese kimono combined with fashion from other cultures. At the end of the show, the Mr. Nakayama presented the kimono group with the Consul-General’s Special Award.

 

The Fashion Show

 

On the same day, the Consulate-General of Japan held a panel entitled “Japan’s POP! Culture Diplomacy”. The panel consisted of Toronto Comic Arts Festival Director Christopher Butcher; Mr. Sunil Pai, Organiser or the Canadian Preliminaries of the World Cosplay Summit; and author and Consulate-General staff member Rui Umezawa. The discussion centered on the development of manga and anime, their present and future. Attendants listened intently and asked a variety of insightful questions afterwards.
 

A panel of experts discuss anime and cross-cultural understanding and goodwill.


Anime and cosplay enthusiasts at Anime North.