Anime Matsuri

Anime Matsuri is an annual four-day anime convention traditionally held during spring at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. The convention's name comes from the Japanese word 'matsuri' meaning festival.[5]

For the anime convention in Ohio, see Matsuricon.
Anime Matsuri
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Japanese culture[1][2]
VenueGeorge R. Brown Convention Center
Location(s)Houston, Texas
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2007
Attendance29,063 in 2019[3]
Organized byDeniece and John Leigh[4]
Websitehttp://www.animematsuri.com/

Programming

The convention's programming includes an artists' alley, a carshow, the attendance of celebrities and special guests, cosplay chess, cosplay contests, fashion shows, gaming events, karaoke, LARP, live concerts, maid cafe, panels, a vendors' and exhibitors' area, and workshops.[1][6][7][8][9][10] The Charity Auction benefited Child's Play in 2009 and raised over $3,000.[11]

History

The convention was held at George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas in 2007.[12] Anime Matsuris 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 were held at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, and Anime Matsuri 2011 was held at the Crowne Plaza Houston Hotel near Reliant Park/Medical Center.[13][14] Anime Matsuri 2013 was held at Hyatt Regency Houston.[15] The Syfy reality series Heroes of Cosplay filmed the masquerade at Anime Matsuri and was featured in an episode.[16] The convention in 2014 moved to the George R. Brown Convention Center.[7][17] Complaints about the 2014 convention included long lines and delays.[8] The convention in 2015 remained at the George R. Brown Convention Center and used the first and most of the second floors.[9][18] Anime Matsuri 2020 was moved from July to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was later canceled after Houston announced the city would be holding no more events in 2020.[19][20][21][22]

Controversies

The owners of Anime Matsuri have a history of not paying guests like Japanese artist Miyavi in 2009.[23] After Anime Matsuri 2015, John Leigh, the conventions event manager was accused of sexual harassment by several members of the Lolita fashion community.[24] Significant financial improprieties have also been alleged against the convention organizers.[23] In May 2016, Anime Matsuri announced that the former CEO of Anime Expo, Marc Perez would join the convention as COO.[25][26] The convention sent Tyler Willis, owner of YouTube channel Last Week Lolita News a cease and desist letter in early 2018 after reporting about John Leigh's sexual harassment.[27][28] Boycott Anime Matsuri was formed in 2018 to inform about the conventions past actions, with guests such as Johnny Yong Bosch, Steven Universe voice actors, and Femm later canceling.[4][28] Leigh also apologized for his past actions.[4]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
April 27–29, 2007 George R. Brown Convention Center
& Hilton Americas
Houston, Texas		4,012[12]Christine Auten, Christopher Ayres, Back-On, Jessica Boone, Peter Cullen, Fizz, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Hilary Haag, Yaya Han, Kyle Jones, Chris Patton, RikkuX, and John Swasey.[12]
March 21–23, 2008 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		5,993[13]Aural Vampire, Amelie Belcher, Bespa Kumamero, Luci Christian, JoEllen Elam, Yaya Han, Kate Higgins, Yuri Lowenthal, Matthew Mercer, Vic Mignogna, Tara Platt, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Sky Pirate, Space Invader, Barbara Staples, Sonny Strait, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[13]
April 10–12, 2009 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		6,950[29]Takuya Angel, Clint Bickham, Luci Christian, JoEllen Elam, Quinton Flynn, Jason David Frank, Crispin Freeman, Gren, DJ Heavygrinder, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Misako Rocks!, Miyavi, Chris Patton, Cynthia Rothrock, Kristine Sa, Blake Shepard, Sonny Strait, Strong Machine 2, Diana Tolin, and Stephanie Young.[29][30]
April 2–4, 2010 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		7,113[31]Aural Vampire, Back-On, Leah Clark, Francesca Dani, India Davis, Crispin Freeman, DJ Heavygrinder, Thais Jussim, Reuben Langdon, Elizabeth Licata, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, and Strong Machine 2.[31]
March 18–20, 2011 Crowne Plaza Houston Hotel near
Reliant Park / Medical Center
Houston, Texas		7,982[14]Luci Christian, Gacharic Spin, Hamutsun Serve, Hangry & Angry, Kyle Hebert, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Reni Mimura, Christopher Smith, Michael Suarez, J. Michael Tatum, and Stephanie Young.[14]
April 6–8, 2012 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		10,422[32]Airship Isabella, Troy Baker, Clint Bickham, Luci Christian, Maile Flanagan, Flow, Kathryn "Rynn" Griffin, Yaya Han, DJ Heavygrinder, Akinori Isobe, Masumi Kano, Cyril Lumboy, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Vic Mignogna, Amy Reeder Hadley, Sleeping Samurai, Strong Machine 2, Alexis Tipton, Shinichi Watanabe, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[32]
March 29–31, 2013 Hyatt Regency Houston
Houston, Texas		14,989[15]Misako Aoki, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Erin Fitzgerald, Kathryn "Rynn" Griffin, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, Kelly Hu, Catherine Jones, Masumi Kano, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Carli Mosier, Justin Rojas, Michelle Rojas, Janet Varney, Waveya, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[15]
March 14–16, 2014 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		19,412[33]Misako Aoki, Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Eyeshine, Caitlin Glass, Shunsuke Hasegawa, DJ HeavyGrinder, Aya Ikeda, Catherine Jones, Masumi Kano, Linda Le, Yuri Lowenthal, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Tara Platt, Marisha Ray, Reika, TeddyLoid, Janet Varney, Bill Winans, Mai Yamamoto, and Stephanie Young.[33]
April 3–5, 2015 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		24,328[34]Misako Aoki, Asuka, Luci Christian, Olivia Chubear, Stella Chuu, Crispin Freeman, Todd Haberkorn, Shunsuke Hasegawa, DJ HeavyGrinder, Catherine Jones, Shigeto Koyama, Harrison Krix, Linda Le, Maki, Michiyo Murase, Atsushi Nishigori, Nylon Pink, Putumayo, Reika, Stephanie Sheh, Kaname Shiroboshi, Sushio, TeddyLoid, Anna Tsuchiya, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Bill Winans, Yoh Yoshinari, and Stephanie Young.[34]
February 26–28, 2016 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		30,215[35]Akira, Ani-Mia, Misako Aoki, Astarohime, Angela Bermúdez, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Stella Chuu, Leah Clark, Dario, Lance Falk, Goldy, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Hitomi, Kelly Hu, Chuck Huber, Kaname, Shinichi Kurita, Linda Le, Lana Marie, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Yui Minakata, Tae Yeon Minemes, Morning Musume, Enji Night, Ram Rider, Reika, Shiva, Yuzuru Tachikawa, Brian Tee, Christian Tremblay, Yvon Tremblay, Jennifer Van Damsel, David Vincent, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[35]
April 7–9, 2017 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		36,270[36]Akidearest, Akira, The Anime Man, Misako Aoki, Anjali Bhimani, Brilliant Kingdom, Christine Marie Cabanos, Danny Choo, Charlet Chung, Stella Chuu, Dancing Dolls, Disacode, Midori Fukasawa, Gacharic Spin, Megumi Han, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Hiko, Laura Jansen, Brittney Karbowski, Pion Kim, Su Hyun Kim, Ladybeard, Mago, Kazuya Masumoto, Vic Mignogna, Yui Minakata, Mirei, Misty/Chronexia, Aza Miyuko, Enji Night, Fumio Osano, Romi Park, Carolina Ravassa, Reika, Sailor Moon Musical Cast, Sakurako, Shiva, Masami Suda, Chinatsu Taira, and Cristina Vee.[36]
March 30 - April 1, 2018 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		40,270[37]Patricia Acevedo, Yuri Akiba, Akira, B-Project, Beau Billingslea, Mario Castañeda, Leon Chiro, Color Pointe, Dancing Dolls, Hana Dinh, Dorilooko, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Honey Popcorn, Doug Jones, Tetsuya Kakihara, Pion Kim, Chiaki Kon, Astarohime Koyu, Made Monster, Maul Cosplay, Yua Mikami, Hideki Nakayama, Natsumi, Enji Night, Fumio Osano, Pugoffka, Root, Ryu-en, Asami Sanada, DJ Shintaro, Shiva, Somenzari, DJ Sunamori, Mari Takahashi, Team China, Mirei Touyama, Hibiki Yoshizaki, and Zwei.[37]
June 13-16, 2019 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		29,063[3]Apink, Eva Bella, Ricardo Brust, Mario Castañeda, Leon Chiro, Richard Dorton, Rick Farmiloe, Gacharic Spin, Hana Bunny, HaneAme, Wataru Hatano, Junko Iwao, Doug Jones, Ellen Kim, Aina Kusuda, Patrick Kwok-Choon, Ladybaby, Reuben Langdon, Jason Liles, Made Monster, Alan Maxson, Vic Mignogna, DJ Misaki P, Sara Mitich, Nervo, Enji Night, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Reika, Damon Runyan, Harumo Sanazaki, Nozomu Sasaki, TJ Storm, and Livvy Stubenrauch.[38]

Anime Matsuri Hawaii

Anime Matsuri Hawaii (AMHI) was a three-day anime convention held during November at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.[39] The convention's programming included a concert, cosplay showcase, J-Fashion show, screenings, and panels.[40] Yuegene Fay, a cosplayer, was unable to make a guest appearance due to immigration issues. Anime Matsuri Hawaii did not return in 2016.[41]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
November 27–29, 2015 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		Johnny Yong Bosch, Stella Chuu, DaizyStripper, Maile Flanagan, Crispin Freeman, Goldy, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Linda Le, Yui Minakata, Masahiko Otsuka, Reika, Justin Rojas, and Chinatsu Taira.[42]

References
  1. "Anime Matsuri Convention". KHOU-TV. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  2. "Great Day Anime Matsuri". KHOU-TV. Archived from the original on 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  3. "Invoice Anime Matsuri 2019" (PDF). Houston First Corporation. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  4. Darling, Cary (28 March 2018). "Houston's Anime Matsuri festival draws sexual-harassment controversy". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  5. Berardo, Maggie (March 31, 2015). "Turning Japanese, Houston-Style". Houstonia. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  6. "11 Photos Of Awesomely Dressed People Outside Anime Matsuri". Houston Press. March 29, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  7. One F, Jef With (March 13, 2014). "Anime Matsuri". Houston Press. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  8. Haydon, DL (March 18, 2014). "Anime Matsuri: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Free Press Houston. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  9. Cook, Phaedra (March 30, 2015). "Anime Matsuri Returns to Houston and It's Bigger Than Ever". Houston Press. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  10. Rouege, Ciara (April 7, 2017). "PHOTOS: Cosplayers invade Houston in jaw-dropping fits for Anime Matsuri". Newsfix CW39. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  11. Veron, Red (April 13, 2009). "Anime Matsuri '09: Child's Play Charity Auction". Japanator. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  12. "Anime Matsuri 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  13. "Anime Matsuri 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  14. "Anime Matsuri 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  15. "Anime Matsuri 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  16. Bertschy, Zac (2013-09-10). "5 Things I Learned From SyFy's "Heroes of Cosplay"". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
  17. "Anime Matsuri set to take over Houston". KIAH-TV NewsFix. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  18. Hlavaty, Craig (April 4, 2015). "The cosplay-heavy Anime Matsuri invades the George R. Brown Convention". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  19. "Anime Matsuri July 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  20. "Anime Matsuri August 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  21. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 8, 2020). "Mayor: All Houston Conventions Canceled, Rescheduled to 2021 (Update)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  22. Antonio Pineda, Rafael (July 8, 2020). "Houston Mayor: Anime Matsuri Convention Rescheduled to Next Year". Anime News Network. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  23. Rouner, Jef (September 15, 2015). "The Con: Anime Matsuri is Growing, and So Is the List of People Unhappy With It". Houston Press. Houston, TX. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  24. Rouner, Jef (June 29, 2015). "Anime Matsuri Organizer Accused of Sexual Harassment". Houston Press. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  25. "Former SPJA CEO Marc Perez Joins Anime Matsuri". Anime News Network. June 5, 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  26. Delahanty, Patrick (June 3, 2016). "Anime Matsuri hires former SPJA CEO". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  27. Orsini, Lauren (9 January 2018). "[News] Anime Matsuri Moves to Silence Vlogger with Cease & Desist - Anime Feminist". Anime Feminist. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  28. Ayres, Andrea (22 February 2018). "How #MeToo Helped Revitalize The Boycott Anime Matsuri Movement". The Beat. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  29. "Anime Matsuri 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  30. Aoki, Deb (7 April 2009). "This Weekend: Sakura-Con, Anime Matsuri and Kawaii-Kon". About.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  31. "Anime Matsuri 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  32. "Anime Matsuri 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  33. "Anime Matsuri 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  34. "Anime Matsuri 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  35. "Anime Matsuri 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  36. "Anime Matsuri 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  37. "Anime Matsuri 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  38. "Anime Matsuri 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
  39. "Anime Matsuri to Host New Convention in Hawaii". Anime News Network. March 24, 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  40. Yadao, Jason S. (November 26, 2015). "The Anime Matsuri Hawaii preview: It's kinda con-plicated". Honolulu Star Advertiser. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  41. Yadao, Jason S. (June 6, 2016). "Anime Matsuri Hawaii cancels 2016 convention". Honolulu Star Advertiser. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  42. "Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.

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