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Japan Events

Tokyo Comic Con 2026 to Take Place at Makuhari Messe from December 11–13, with Nicolas Cage and Giancarlo Esposito Announced as First Celebrity Guests

Tokyo Comic Con 2026, one of the world’s largest pop culture events, will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture from December 11 to 13, 2026. The event marks its 10th anniversary since its inaugural edition in 2016 and is expected to attract significant attention as a milestone edition. Organizers have announced the first...

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Art & Culture

HATSUNE MIKU Comes to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on July 25, 2026: New Program at One of the World’s Largest Permanent Projection Mapping Displays

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been presenting projection mapping throughout the year as a new nighttime tourism attraction. A new program featuring HATSUNE MIKU, the internationally popular virtual singer, will debut on July 25, 2026. Combining advanced visual technology and music against the nighttime skyline of Shinjuku, the program offers a new form of nighttime...

Games & Pop Culture

【Report】Board Game Business Expo Japan 2026 (BGBE): Western Japan’s Largest Board Game Festival — A Report on the Event That Doubled Attendance to 20,000

In recent years, board games have increasingly been used in business settings, including workshops and team-building programs. Alongside this trend, a growing number of events related to board games have emerged. Among them, Board Game Business Expo Japan 2026, commonly known as BGBE, stands out as a particularly noteworthy event. Now in its third edition,...

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Global Events

SXSW 2026 Approaches: The 40th Anniversary of the “World’s Largest Convergence Festival” and Why It Matters for Japan — March 12–18 in Austin, Texas

In March 2026, South by Southwest (SXSW) will take place in Austin, Texas, entering what may be one of the most transformative moments in its 40-year history. With the closure of the Austin Convention Center, venues will be further decentralized across the city, and for the first time, the music, film, and interactive tracks will...

Games & Pop Culture

Tokyo Game Show 2026 Announced Celebrating 30th Anniversary with Record 5 Day Event

The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA), in co-organization with Nikkei Business Publications and Sony Music Solutions, has officially announced the event outline for Tokyo Game Show 2026 (TGS2026). Celebrating its momentous 30th anniversary, the event will be held for a record-breaking five days. We provide the details on this world-class gaming festival, which will be...

Games & Pop Culture

Pokémon’s First Outdoor Theme Park, PokéPark KANTO, to Open in Spring 202626-Hectare Facility Planned Within Yomiuriland

The Pokémon Company has announced the opening of PokéPark KANTO, the first outdoor facility dedicated to Pokémon.The new park is scheduled to open in spring 2026 and will be developed on a site of approximately 2.6 hectares within Yomiuriland, an amusement park located in western Tokyo. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale starting in...

Japan Events

The World’s Premier Esports Tournament ALGS to Be Held in Sapporo in 2026, Alongside a Career Information Session for Game Industry Jobs Aimed at Gaming Fans

In January 2026, the ALGS Year 5 Championship, the world championship of the globally popular game Apex Legends, will be held in Sapporo, Hokkaido. On the following day, a career information session focused on employment opportunities in the game industry and aimed at gaming fans is also scheduled to take place. The World’s Highest-Level Competition:...

Games & Pop Culture

Tokyo Comic Con 2025: December 5–7 at Makuhari Messe — Johnny Depp, Norman Reedus, Sean P. Flanery, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Antony Starr, Karl Urban, and more; “Back to the Future” 40th-anniversary cast, including Christopher Lloyd and three others, also...

With excitement from Osaka Comic Con during Golden Week still fresh, Tokyo Comic Con 2025 has been announced for three days from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7, 2025 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The 2024 edition drew a total of 74,290 visitors, and this major pop-culture event—closely watched by MICE professionals worldwide—returns this...

Games & Pop Culture

Osaka Hobby Fes 2025, one of Kansai’s largest model & hobby events, to be held at INTEX Osaka on November 1–2

The 2025 Osaka Hobby Fes, one of Kansai’s largest model and hobby events, will be held over two days on Saturday–Sunday, November 1–2, 2025, at INTEX Osaka, Hall 3. Designed for everyone—from dedicated enthusiasts to first-timers and families with children—the event offers hands-on experiences that showcase the fun of hobbies, a cornerstone of Japan’s craftsmanship...

Games & Pop Culture

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025: September 25–28 at Makuhari Messe — Exhibitor highlights updated as announced

Under the theme “Unlimited, Neverending Playground,” TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025 will take place from Thursday–Sunday, September 25–28, 2025, at Makuhari Messe. From hands-on demos of new titles to e-sports and AR/VR showcases, Japan’s leading game show brings together a wide range of gaming experiences. This article provides an overview of the event and will be...

Exhibitions & Events

One of the World’s Largest Game Exhibitions, “gamescom,” Opens August 20–24, 2025 in Cologne, Germany / The Event’s History and What’s Next — Plus Information on Japanese Exhibitors

Held annually in Cologne, Germany, gamescom goes beyond a conventional game exhibition. It has established itself as one of the world’s largest computer and video game events and as Europe’s largest business platform. Operating a unique hybrid model that serves both B2B (business-to-business) for industry professionals and B2C (business-to-consumer) for general game fans, it has...

Games & Pop Culture

BitSummit The 13th in Kyoto — Business Day Highlights: Standout Indie Games from Japan and Overseas (Even If You Couldn’t Attend)

BitSummit The 13th, one of Japan’s leading independent game festivals, took place at Miyako Messe (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall) from July 18 (Fri) to 20 (Sun), 2025. The event brought together indie creators, publishers, and stakeholders from Japan and overseas.This article reports from the first day, Business Day—useful for readers who wanted to go but...

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