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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.
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| CharaExpo 2016 will have more cosplay demonstrations |
CharaExpo will return in 2016!
CharaExpo will return to Singapore in early
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 earlyJuneJuly 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.
We broke the news in June after the first CharaExpo.
Previously published on 28 June 2015:
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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Pop
sensation, Ayano Mashiro with her fans from Singapore and around the region
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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.
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Jushin Thunder
Liger (left) and Hiroshi Tanahashi (right)
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Totally packed NJPW matches were a fan
highlight
|
The Cos☆Stage
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!”
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The CharaExpo’s Top 10 cosplayers
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Evie Tan, winner of the Cosplay competition
at CharaExpo
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Bushiroad’s
Spring Fest 2015, had more than 600 participants
in their highly competitive trading card game tournament.
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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.
