If you thought Anime NYC was your only shot to meet major Japanese manga creators, Kodansha US has a huge surprise in store for this October, as the publisher has announced a month-long pop-up event called Kodansha House setting up shop in New York City, where fans and some of the most popular authors published by Kodansha will be able to interact outside of the constraints of the typical anime convention.
Fans will be greeted by a giant manga shelf entryway—a portal into a gallery, cafe, lounge, and robust manga library. Kodansha House will also offer a space for fans to connect, create, and celebrate the stories they love. From interactive exhibits and workshops to date nights and movie screenings, this pop-up is the perfect spot for manga enthusiasts.
The month-long programming slate includes a diverse lineup of activities such as the “Toast of Tardiness Challenge”, live discussions, trivia night, movie screenings featuring fan-favorites like Akira, Blue Lock, Ghost in the Shell, and Blame!, as well as a fun-filled “speed friending” event for fans to find their perfect manga-loving match. Four major manga creators will also make rare U.S. appearances with Q&A sessions and signings: Shuzo Oshimi (The Flowers of Evil), Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Blue Period), Makoto Yukimura (Vinland Saga), and Kamome Shirahama (Witch Hat Atelier).
The pop-up will also be capped off by two photobooths dedicated to fan favorites Akira and Attack on Titan, where fans can suit up in Kaneda’s iconic jacket and goggles, hop onto a stationary Akira bike, and pose against a projected anime background in a four-shot sequence, while fans of Attack on Titan will be able to step into a real-life model of the Attack on Titan walled village. The scaled model lets fans become the Titans, acting out scenes as they reach over walls and grab tiny figures made of candy or chocolate as the moment is captured on video.
More details on admission and the programming schedule will be released closer to the event’s October 4 opening. Kodansha House will be located at 45 Grand Street, in New York City’s Soho neighborhood from Wednesdays to Sundays, open from 12pm-9pm.
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