Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: anime, Comics, entertainment, manga, Sakura Con

No Matter What, Don't Miss Sakura-Con

Published Tue, 18 Mar 2014 21:00:00 -0500

By Ian Melton

There is a point when people tell you what convention they are going to that you either agree with them, "that's a great choice", or just nod your head and say "why are you wasting your money and time". There are certain conventions I don't bother with, small town sci-fi/gaming conventions, because they don't tend to hold my interest and they are often more an excuse for those with "geek interests" to gather and get drunk (not a real good reason to hold a convention in my opinion …).

The Pacific Northwest of the United States has lots of those type of conventions, but also several large conventions that draw a variety of people, supply a variety of interests, and are just bottom line really fun. In particular the first major convention I went to was one that type, a well-rounded and fun experience, the Pacific Northwest's #1 Anime and Japanese Culture convention, Sakura Con. Going back a decade now, I have been going, first when it was spread between hotels near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, and now as it has been nestled in the Washington State Convention Center for many years, giving the convention a stable home every Easter weekend.

Sakura Con is one of the more interesting conventions around and has been surpassed by Emerald City Comic-Con and PAX as being the biggest convention the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle sees every year. (In the early 2000s Sakura Con easily surpassed ECCC's attendance and PAX wasn't going till 2004). However, not being the largest convention doesn't detract from several of the unique features this convention brings to the area and 20,000 people is a fine number to have around. Sakura Con has gone through many different phases, heading into its 16^th year in 2014, the convention started as the ill-named Baka!-Con in 1998. (Baka being the all-purpose insult word that is usually translated to "idiot" in English. Really hard to get Japanese guests to come to a convention where the name is indicating the people there idiots…) The convention renamed in 2000 to Sakura Con and has been a regular feature on my "con-circuit" for several reasons.

First and foremost I call myself an otaku. I know what the word actually means (most translate it to hardcore fan, usually of anime and manga in English speaking countries) and I have written essays and a paper on its unique etymology and usage among fans both in Japan and America, and my experience with it while I studied in Japan. I consider myself a fan, but truly an otaku for good or bad.

Being an otkau led me to Japan and learning Japanese, and then returning to the United States where I have taught it since 2002. Sakura Con has a unique appeal as a convention, not just for being an "anime con" but since it is run by a volunteer group (the Asia-Northwest Cultural Education Association (ANCEA)) that stresses not just anime, manga, gaming, and cosplay, but also Japanese culture. To this end the educator in me can get a lot out of the con since actual educational and cultural groups put on panels and try to teach as well as entertain. This is a unique feature I have not seen in other sci-fi or comic book conventions, though I'm sure it exists elsewhere. The other part of this is that not only does the ANCEA say they will educate and help, but they actually do it!

Second, the convention still has many factors that aren't replicated at other conventions even with the amount of crossover that most conventions try for nowadays. Cosplay is still king at Sakura Con and most Seattle residents equate Easter weekend as that time of the year that if you go downtown, a lot of crazy kids are out in crazy costumes. The amount of cosplay at Sakura Con is epic with a good 70% of the con goers, I'd say, in costume and trying very hard to be a character they like, or at least can look like! ECCC has a lot of cosplayers, but that is not its main focus and for Sakura Con for most of those who go that is their main focus. Walking around and playing identify the character is always fun for me.

Third, the dealer room remains one of the friendliest and manageable, being large enough to find rare items at, but small enough that you can walk around and not feel like you are in a human carwash. My favorite Sakura Con story about the dealer room still remains the vendor who in 2007 who was yelling out: "GET YOUR FRESH HOT YAOI RIGHT HERE!!! BOY ON BOY LOVE JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT!!!" His bravado to do this was inspiring, funny, and outlawed at the next convention as he was told he was disturbing those around his booth. (He's still there every year, just not allowed to yell out like a circus barker that he had books full of boy on boy love for sale.) The heart of much of what happens at any convention is on the dealer room floor, and Sakura Con's is always one of the most enjoyable.

The convention itself to me is totally different than most other conventions due to the relaxed nature of the con, the fact it open 24/7, and that it is not focused on exclusives or which guests are going to be there. In addition to their two large late night dances and 24/7 gaming rooms, Sakura Con has my one of my favorite convention events, an Anime Music Video competition where con goers put their fan creations of music and anime together to create some of the most fun videos I've ever seen. It's fun to enjoy a convention experience where everyone gets together and enjoys the show.

Sakura Con has in recent years has shrunk some, as the anime and manga markets have shrunk, but my personal belief is that as those markets shrunk and more and more fans went online to get what they wanted anime conventions have become the place where the fans gather and actually spend money. The conventions provide a unique atmosphere that nothing online can replicate, and is something that even as the anime and manga markets shrunk to miniature size, the conventions have only remained at a steady level.

As I stated earlier, I do get told by friends which conventions they have decided to go to every year, and some do not surprise, but I know more people who go to Sakura Con then any other convention. A large part of it could be habit, but most of it seems to be a unique environment, where a proper emphasis is put on culture and learning, as well as buying and getting swag.

Ian Melton is one of our West Coast Correspondents at Bleeding Cool.

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