San Antonio - San Japan fell upon the city once again with quite an impressive selection of activities and events. From a very large merchandise room, the SJ Car Show, a large game room, and a climactic performance by the Ken Dolls there was literally something for everyone at this years gathering.
The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center was filled with attendees from all walks of life. The cosplay was definitely something to behold as there were some pretty impressive builds on display.
One that stood out to us was Dr. Octopus from the Spider-Man film franchise. Others worth noting were the likes of Felix the Cat and characters from the Cuphead video game series.
It was evident that the cosplayers put a lot of work and/or dedication into this years attendance. Though we attended as media we also got into the spirit of things as I adorned
my Prince costume with Gloomy Bears and my partner in this event ReynaSceneslayer dressed in a very impressive Super Sonico/Gloomy Bear costume.
Though we have always enjoyed conventions this was our first time going to San Japan and we were very impressed with what the convention had to offer.
First, as most people do, we started in the Merch room where we found so many vendors that we spent no less than 2-3 hours just going from booth to booth. The selection varied from PVC figures, wigs and shoes, pop figures, plushies, cosplay gear, and even clothing.
One vendor we spoke with was AnimeTokyoSA who had an impressive selection of goods and were extremely friendly overall.
Mark from AnimeTokyoSA tells us that the con "went great, it was an amazing turn out and everyone seemed to love the venue." This was not the shops first trip to San Japan however, Mark went on to tell us "This is our 4th time doing it after taking a break for about 5 years to work on our retail shop expansions."
Their shop is very impressive and you can learn more about their shop via their Instagram of the same name. If you are in the market for more collectables in the San Antonio area, or any area for that matter we greatly recommend checking them out.
From the merch room it was on the the SJ Car Show which was located in the same area. The selection was out of this world. The work that went into these cars can not simply be
described, the photos we feel speak for themselves.
Of all of the cars that were at the show, there was one that really stood out to us and it was the Gengar car seen below with The Sceneslayer.
The black paint job with the graphics of the ghost type Pokemon really stood out amongst the rest of the cars. How could you not wanna drive this pocket monster - monster of a car.
From there, on we went to the game room where, well there was a lot to choose from. They had an array of machines that ranged from racing to fighting and even the highly sought after rhythm games of Japan.
We made our start at the tabletop game section of the show which had a beyond impressive selection. While I was being taught how to play Munchkin by my partner the game room also served as a great place to give a persons legs a rest from the constant walking and standing.
One aspect of the game room that was very refreshing was the fact that it was a very welcoming environment, unless someone has a game of D&D scheduled within a half hour, they will definitely ask you to leave so they can set up a half hour before their reserved slot.
However, that aside, this was one of the most relaxing rooms in the convention. It was really nice to see that you can start a board/card game, and people feel comfortable asking to join in.
Conversely people were very open about inviting you to join in their card/board games. If you didn't know how to play they didn't mind explaining and being patient with you.
Though tabletop games can get pretty vicious, this was really a breath of fresh air. We would go as far as to say that this may be the one time a game of Monopoly didn't end with violence.
Where to go from there? Well Saturday night definitely ended with a bang.
The climax of the evening was a midnight performance by The Ken Dolls which is in fact a
troupe of male and female cosplay burlesque performers. What a performance.
Ken the MC for the group tells us that this is not their first performance at San Japan. In fact, they have been performing at the event since 2017 and it has become one of their favorite events.
The performance went very smooth and Ken notes that the crowd's energy was electric which contributed to the show impact. "The San Japan audience is consistently enthusiastic and supportive which is one o the reasons we love performing here so much."
Ken notes that the show is all about reaching for the stars and helping each other achieve their dreams. "We aim to create a supportive environment where everyone feels welcomed and part of a larger family" Ken told us.
Ken went on to tell us that the reaction to the show was overwhelmingly positive. "Convention goers appreciate the creativity and artistry we bring to the stage. We see it as a fantastic way to celebrate the cosplay culture and add a touch of glamour, making everyone feel special and part of something bigger."
"San Japan Holds a special place in our hearts, and we;re thrilled to be a part of it once again. The energyfrom the croud is always infectious, and we love bringing our unique brand of show to this incredible convention. The show itself is a highlight for us, and the overwhelmingly positive reaction from the audience keeps us inspired. We work diligently to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience for everyone who attends our performances." -Ken
With that being said, what were our biggest take away from San Japan? Well, let's recap.
The merch room and artist alley - perfect 10
The SJ Car Show - amazing and worth going to
The video and table top gaming section - hours of fun
The Burlesque show featuring The Ken Dolls - Rowdy and the perfect way to end a weekend of cosplay
Long story short, San Japan 14 was a top notch convention and our only regret was that this was our first year attending. Will we attend next year, it is undoubtedly so.
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