Naka-Kon
Naka-Kon | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Anime |
Venue | Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center |
Location(s) | Overland Park, Kansas |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | 2005 |
Attendance | 8,772 in 2015 |
Organized by | Naka-Kon Japanese Cultural Education Association |
Website | https://naka-kon.com/ |
Naka-Kon is an annual three-day anime convention held at the Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. The name of the convention comes from the Japanese word for "center/middle".[1]
Programming
The convention typically offers an Artist Alley, contests, Dealers’ Room, game shows, fashion show, maid cafe, panels, showings, video game rooms, and workshops.[2][3][4][5]
History
Naka-Kon was founded in 2005 by members of the University of Kansas Anime Club.[2][3] The convention moved to the Overland Park Convention Center in 2012.[6] Naka-Kon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] Naka-Kon held a virtual convention in March 2021, a smaller event over Labor Day weekend in September, and in 2022 moved to Memorial Day weekend in May.[9][10][11][12] The 2021 convention had an attendance cap of 2,500, with 2022 having a cap of 6,000.[13]
Event history
Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
---|---|---|---|
April 17, 2005 | University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas | 300[14] | |
March 4–5, 2006 | University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, and Caitlin Glass.[15] | |
March 2–4, 2007 | Hilton Kansas City Airport Kansas City, Missouri | 1,529 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Steve Blum, Caitlin Glass, Rob Mungle, Dustin Reudelhuber, and Angela Von Huber.[16] |
February 8–10, 2008 | Kansas City Marriott Downtown Kansas City, Missouri | 2,091 | Chris Bevins, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Taliesin Jaffe, Dustin Reudelhuber, Chris Sabat, Sonny Strait, Angela Von Huber, and Kari Wahlgren.[17] |
March 13–15, 2009 | Hyatt Regency Crown Center Kansas City, Missouri | 3,135 | Yamila Abraham, Amelie Belcher, Leah Clark, Chuck Huber, K-State Yosakoi, LeetStreet Boys, Kevin McKeever, Brina Palencia, Chris Patton, Dustin Reudelhuber, and Angela Von Huber.[18] |
February 19–21, 2010 | Hyatt Regency Crown Center Kansas City, Missouri | 4,084 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Shion Francois, Kyle Hebert, K-State Yosakoi, Kojokan Shinbutai, Yumi Kwaguchi, M. Alice LeGrow, Peelander-Z, Wendy Powell, Dustin Reudelhuber, Eric Vale, Angela Von Huber, and Tommy Yune.[19] |
February 18–20, 2011 | Hyatt Regency Crown Center Kansas City, Missouri | 4,684 | Alsdead, Amelie Belcher, Daniel Coglan, Gavin Goszka, Clarine Harp, Charlene Ingram, Kojokan Shinbutai, Brina Palencia, Dustin Reudelhuber, Patrick Seitz, DJ Sephiroth, J. Michael Tatum, Angela Von Huber, and Eric Wile.[20] |
February 10–12, 2012 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas[6] | Amelie Belcher, Blood Stain Child, Steven Blum, Aleathia Burns, Chris Cason, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Quinton Flynn, Yaya Han, DJ Infam0us, Wendee Lee, Nina Matsumoto, and Take One Productions.[21] | |
March 15–17, 2013 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Blue Chee's, Christine Marie Cabanos, Richard Epcar, Kyle Hebert, Catherine Jones, Tony Oliver, and Nobuo Uematsu.[22] | |
March 14–16, 2014 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | 7,697 | Amelie Belcher, Ben Bell, Chaka Cumberbatch, Destrose, Kevin McKeever, Scott McNeil, Atelier Pierrot, DJ Reeves, Revolution Boi, Monica Rial, Michelle Ruff, Team Whatever Cosplay, Travis Willingham, DJ Willis, and Steve Yun.[23] |
March 13–15, 2015 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | 8,772 | Greg Ayres, Rev. Barrish, Amelie Belcher, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Shion Francois, Hizumi, Jin, Robert Jones, Takashi Kisaki, Matthew Mercer, Hachioji P, Revolution Boi, Patrick Seitz, Andre "DJ Jinrei" Smith, Micah Solusod, Junko Takeuchi, Jessica Tran, Alexandra Watson, and Greg Wicker.[24] |
March 11–13, 2016 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | Yoh Asakura, Greg Ayres, Kevin Dooley, The Earthbound Papas, Chihiro Fujioka, Akira Fukaya, Michael Gluck, Jason Hayes, Yoshitaka Hirota, Michelle Jade, Roland Kelts, Timothy Koenig, Eru Matsumoto, Erica Mendez, Momo Hime, Tsutomu Narita, Benyamin Nuss, Michio Okamiya, Pros and Cons Cosplay, DJ Rob Reeves, Arnie Roth, Ayu Sakata, Micah Solusod, Karen Strassman, Austin Tindle, Nobuo Uematsu, Mamoru Yokota, and DJ Zombie Kitten.[25] | |
March 10–12, 2017 | Overland Park Convention Center Sheraton Hotel[26] Overland Park, Kansas | Amelie Belcher, Ben Bell, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Roland Kelts, Showshow Kurihara, Joel McDonald, Max Mittelman, A New World , Rondonrats, and David Vincent.[27] | |
March 16–18, 2018 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | Ben Bell, Steve Blum, Sean Chiplock, Xanthe Huynh, Kabuki, Daniel Kanemitsu, Roland Kelts, Kill Screen, Nao Kurebayashi, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Moderately Okay Cosplay, DJ Chef Nguyen, Atelier Pierrot, Wendy Powell, Mikio Sakai, Masumi Sendou, Ian Sinclair, Strangecat Cosplay, Murata Tam, and Takayoshi Tanimoto.[28] | |
March 15–17, 2019 | Overland Park Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | Satomi Akesaka, Amelie Belcher, Kara Edwards, Ryuzou Ishino, Billy Kametz, Aya Kamiki, Roland Kelts, Kristen McGuire, Yoshinori Natsume, Alejandro Saab, Jād Saxton, and Keith Silverstein.[29] | |
September 3-5, 2021 | Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | Morgan Berry and Christina Marie Kelly.[11] | |
May 27-29, 2022 | Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center Overland Park, Kansas | Amelie Belcher, Jessica Calvello, Gavin Goszka, Anairis Quiñones, Eric Roth, Strangecat Cosplay, and Kari Wahlgren.[12] |
References
- ^ Ralph, Justin (24 March 2016). "Nak-Nak-Nakin' at Naka-Kon". The Vantage. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Naka-Kon books Blood Stain Child as musical guest for 2012" (Press release). AnimeCons.com. 2011-12-29. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ a b Farr, Courtney (2006-03-03). "U. Kansas club hopes to spread Anime fever". University Daily Kansan.
- ^ Kim, Sean (2013-03-20). "Naka-Kon a place of growth and diversity". The Current Online. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
- ^ Wang, Angela (14 March 2017). "Naka-Kon: A Convention Review". Viewster Blog. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ a b Shain, Nathan (2012-02-10). "Anime fans convene in Overland Park". KSHB. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2020 Cancelled". Naka-Kon. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2021". Naka-Kon. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2021 March Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- ^ a b "Naka-Kon 2021 September Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
- ^ a b "Naka-Kon 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ Gerian, Charles (April 13, 2022). "Journal-Tribune sets course for Naka-Kon anime convention in May". Blackwell Journal Tribune. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
- ^ Iaguessa, Joey (5 April 2017). "TMN at Naka-Kon 2017". Truman Media Network. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
- ^ "Naka-Kon 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-04-10.