Friday, December 11, 2015

Bushiroad Confirms C3 CharaExpo 2016 for July! (UPDATED)

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CharaExpo will return in 2016

Rejoice! With the first CharaExpo barely over, fans can already expect a CharaExpo 2016 for next year. 16,324 fans attended CharaExpo 2015 over the weekend of June 20 and 21 in Singapore, according to official numbers by Bushiroad.

CharaExpo 2016 will have more cosplay demonstrations

CharaExpo will return in 2016!

CharaExpo will return to Singapore in early June July 2016 with more artist sessions and cosplay demonstrations. CharaExpo 2016 will also feature discussion panels on how locals can develop their talent in this sector. Bushiroad confirmed that CharaExpo will be held again next year in a press release on Thursday morning.

UPDATE: C3 CharaExpo 2016 will be held on July 9 and 10 next year!

9  December 2015: 
Information sourced from WWHCurrent


Characters, culture and contents?

Bushiroad will be working with new partners ASATSU-DK INC., SOTSU CO., LTD. and Amuse Entertainment Singapore Pte Ltd, to bring “C3 CharaExpo 2016” to Japanese manga, anime, games and cosplay fans in the region. “C3 CharaExpo 2016” will be held on the weekend of July 9 and 10 at Singapore Expo Hall 7.

New partners for C3 CharaExpo 2016

Tickets will go for SGD 8 for early-bird specials, and SGD 10 for tickets sold over the counter on the event day itself. Bushiroad anticipates about 30,000 attendees across the weekend in the 10,000 square meters venue.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling will return to Singapore next year!

New Japan Pro-Wrestling will also be making its return to C3 CharaExpo 2016 after well-received feedback on the pro-wrestling matches in CharaExpo 2015 earlier this year.

The crowd at CharaExpo 2015

In addition, Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. will be organizing a B2B networking event catering to businesses, content providers and licensors in the game and creative industries within Southeast Asia alongside C3 CharaExpo 2016. The “Game & Creative Contents Networking Asia” seminar will be held at the Singapore Expo MaxAtria on Friday, July 8, 2016.

An events page for C3 CharaExpo 2016 was found on the Bushiroad website, with only the convention's logo and the words "Under Construction" displayed on the page.

 Screenshot of Bushiroad's website

It seems like the committee has decided on a name change for the convention, from "CharaExpo" to "C3 CharaExpo". We wonder what does the C3 stand for in particular though... With a similarly-named C3 anime, comics and games convention in Hong Kong, we wonder if it could stand for the same- characters, cultures and contents?

C3 Anime Convention in Hong Kong (source)

We are uncertain if the information in the previous press release in June will still apply with the name change although there is no doubt that we will be looking forward to C3 CharaExpo 2016 next year.

CharaExpo will return to Singapore in early June July 2016 with more artist sessions and cosplay demonstrations. CharaExpo 2016 will also feature discussion panels on how locals can develop their talent in this sector. Bushiroad confirmed that CharaExpo will be held again next year in a press release on Thursday morning.



ORIGINAL POST:
We broke the news in June after the first CharaExpo.

Previously published on 28 June 2015:

Though there has been no official word on this to the local media yet In addition, we have found several references to it in press releases and reports by the Japanese media.

From 4Gamer.net:
「CharaExpo」は来年も開催決定!皆様のご来場を心よりお待ちしております。

"CharaExpo will be held again next year! We look forward to seeing everyone again." (from an official press release to Japanese media by Bushiroad)

From Social Game Info:
なお、今回の成功を受け、同社は来年も「Chara Expo」を開催する予定としている。

"It should be noted that, in response to the first CharaExpo's success, Bushiroad is scheduled to hold CharaExpo again next year."

From Bushiroad Monthly (the official editorial of Bushiroad):
本題。イベントは大が5個つくぐらいの成功をおさめ、ブシロード木谷社長が「来年もやる!」と早々に宣言するくらいですからね。

"Bushiroad President Kidani declared "We will do it (referring to holding CharaExpo) again next year!""


In addition, CharaExpo 2016 had already been seemingly confirmed barely an hour into its inaugural edition.

A mention of CharaExpo 2016 in the official event booklet

Bushiroad President Takaaki Kidani had gave an early confirmation, at the first stage programme on the first day of CharaExpo, the Cardfight Vanguard Special Stage. He announced that CharaExpo "will be held again next year", according to the English translation provided by the emcee. Voice actor Tsubasa Yonaga had also expressed on stage that he hoped to back again next year too.

CharaExpo 2016 had been hinted at at the CharaExpo Special Live Stage

This was further affirmed and corroborated a few more times at the different stage programmes, where guests said that they would love to be back again next year and especially during the closing segment of the CharaExpo Special Stage on Sunday, when the emcee had hinted at CharaExpo 2016, hoping that everyone had enjoyed the event.

CharaExpo 2016 was also seemingly confirmed by the organisers on its Facebook page after the event.

CharaExpo's official Facebook page's cover image


No surprises at the announcement, seeing as how the first CharaExpo was such a huge success. We look forward to CharaExpo 2016 and hope to be able to cover the event again next year. Meanwhile, you can check out all our pre and post-event coverage of CharaExpo here.



 Check out our CharaExpo coverage here:










Below is the full official press release by Bushiroad:

​Celebrating the J-Wave Revolution at CharaExpo 2015



June 25, 2015, Singapore – Over 16,324 fans attended CharaExpo 2015 over the weekend of June 20 and 21 in Singapore, welcoming more than 45 Japanese stars of anime, manga, games, cosplay and pro-wrestling. Veteran illustrators Yoichi Takahashi (Captain Tsubasa), Mel Kishida (Atelier Rorona, Hanasaku Iroha) were present; voice actor Ryo Horikawa (Vegeta from the Dragon Ball series, Kou Uraki from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory) and pop stars, Maon Kurosaki, Mashiro Ayano and BACK-ON, among others, treated the audience to exclusive artist showcases as well as mini concerts and talks at the two-day expo.

Pop sensation, Ayano Mashiro with her fans from Singapore and around the region

Fans from around the region filled the CharaExpo on both days

Wrestling fans got up close and personal with the stars of New Japan Pro-Wrestling who were in town for their maiden showcase.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Jushin Thunder Liger (left) and Hiroshi Tanahashi (right) 


Totally packed NJPW matches were a fan highlight
 
The CosStage cosplay competition saw Evie Tan’s entry of Guildmarm from MonHunt, emerge as its winner and Singapore’s representative at this year’s Tokyo Game Show in September. “I really love this nerdy character who is very much like me and loves helping people. It was a really great feeling to be onstage at CharaExpo and seeing all the fans and other competitors. I’m extremely excited about winning and attending the Tokyo Game Show as this would be my very first plane ride!”

The CharaExpo’s Top 10 cosplayers
 
Evie Tan, winner of the Cosplay competition at CharaExpo

Bushiroad’s Spring Fest 2015, had more than 600 participants in their highly competitive trading card game tournament.

The trading card booth was always filled

President and Chief Executive Officer of Bushiroad Inc., Mr. Takaaki Kidani, elaborated on the popularity of trading cards, “Trading card games remain popular today because they foster personal interaction and community bonding. Players regularly meet for tournaments, to trade cards and also widen their circle of friends. The illustrations have also evolved into collector’s items, with each deck becoming more beautiful and detailed. More and more artists are gaining acclaim for their work on trading card decks.”
                                                                                                                                            
First-time exhibitors such as Visual Art’s, Frontwing, bili bili and AniCrush!! treated fans to exclusive merchandise. Good Smile Company’s Representative Mr. Darren Tan, were overwhelmed by keen collectors who are out for exclusive buys. “This is the first time that we’re exhibiting at the CharaExpo and the fan response has been very positive. Fans in Singapore really love our figurines. Our exclusive nendoroid figures have been in high demand throughout the expo. We hope that the CharaExpo will grow and that we will grow in together with them over the years.” Exhibitors such as Visual Art’s had merchandises sold out within the first hour of opening.

CharaExpo will return in Singapore in early June 2016 with more artist sessions and cosplay demonstrations. CharaExpo 2016 will also feature discussion panels on how locals can develop their talent in this sector. For more information visit http://chara-expo.com/2015.

-- END--
                                 
About CharaExpo
CharaExpo 2015 is a Japanese manga, anime, games and cosplay event that will be held from June 20 to 21, 2015 in Singapore EXPO Hall 7. This is the first major Japanese content-related event to be held in Singapore.

CharaExpo 2015 aims to shine the spotlight on the people and team behind the scenes of these Japanese-related content. The event will feature prominent producers, manga artists, illustrators, cosplayers and more. Fans can look forward to meeting these special guests and learn more about their passion and work.  Major Japanese anime, manga and game companies will also be participating in the event to showcase and offer event-exclusive exhibits and merchandise. For more information, visit: http://chara-expo.com/2015/

About Bushiroad
Bushiroad Inc. is an entertainment company known for developing Cardfight!! Vanguard, Future Card Buddyfight, Detective Milky Holmes, Weiss Schwarz and other card games, promotional items, smartphone applications around the world.

Bushiroad Inc. consists of 6 sub-entities: Bushiroad Inc., Bushiroad South East Asia Pte Ltd, Bushiroad USA Inc., Bushiroad Media, Bushiroad Music, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling Co., Ltd. Bushiroad South East Asia Pte Ltd was established in Singapore on November 12, 2011 in order to expand the overseas market for Bushiroad card games such as Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiβ Schwarz, Chaos TCG and Five Qross.