July 31-Aug 2: Otakon at the Convention Center

from their website: 

Founded in 1994, Otakon is an annual convention held in the summer months to celebrate Asian pop culture (anime, manga, music, movies, video games, etc) and its fandom. The event runs from Friday to Sunday and is packed with a schedule that has tons to do.

In 2017, Otakon moved to our new home, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in our nation’s capital of Washington, DC.

“For fans, by fans”, Otakon is run all by volunteers under the non-profit organization Otakorp, Inc.

IJOCA article - Japanese Cyborgs and Cuban Revolutionaries: On the Trail of Tobor the 8th Man

 I recently met Drew Shepherd who lives in NoVA and he told me about his long-time interest in animation. When he revealed he had some unpublished articles, I asked him to consider submitting them to the Int. J of Comic Art. Editor John A. Lent never saw this piece, but he would have loved it.

Japanese Cyborgs and Cuban Revolutionaries: 

On the Trail of Tobor the 8^th Man

 

By A.P. Shepherd

International Journal of Comic Art blog  July 24, 2026

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/07/japanese-cyborgs-and-cuban.html

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/07/ijoca.blogspot.com202607japanese-cyborgs-and-cuban-pt2.html

Local anime podcaster London Fogg, aka Sin, has passed away

There's a notice of his death on Facebook from Loading Snacks - 

 

It is with a sorrowful heart that we announce the sudden passing of our own London Fogg. Known as "Sin" to most of you, he was the resident anime guru, the lead host of our Anime Chat podcast, and lover of all things One Piece.

 

You can find the podcast on YouTube. The screencapture above is from Loading Snacks Anime Chat Podcast: Otakon 2025 Recap (Episode 46).

I'm afraid I never met him, although we had some friends in common (which is how I found out about this). My sympathies are with his family and friends. There's nothing one can say or do to really make it better, but there is a fundraiser for his funeral expenses.

Virtual Screening - Animezing!: Modest Heroes

Enjoy a FREE Children's Day virtual screening from the JICC!

Images: © 2018 STUDIO PONOC Virtual Screening  Animezing!: Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1 Watch Online on Thursday, April 30 at 4:00 PM The JICC: Japan Information & Culture Center Embassy of Japan is excited to present a virtual screening in honor of Children's Day on May 5! This is also the first time we are presenting an anthology of Japanese short films with English audio so that younger audience members can enjoy our special program as well. Registration on Eventbrite is open to all.  Image Courtesy of Sozai Library Studio Ponoc, the new animation studio founded by two-time Academy Award®-nominee Nishimura Yoshiaki (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There) and featuring many artists from the venerable Studio Ghibli, made an immediate splash last year with its acclaimed debut film Mary and The Witch's Flower. Studio Ponoc returns this year with Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1, an ambitious anthology of three thrilling tales created by some of the greatest talents working in Japanese animation today. Together, the stories explore ideas of heroism in everyday life, and the infinite potential of the short film format allows the directors and Studio Ponoc to experiment with breathtaking visuals and gorgeous fantasy worlds in this unforgettable short film showcase. With English Audio | PG | 2018 | 54 min | Directed by YONEBAYASHI Hiromasa, MOMOSE Yoshiyuki, and YAMASHITA Akihiko Registration required "These are all truly stories of modest heroes, their little braveries filling the screen..." — Austin Chronicle Viewers will also receive a digital JICC educational packet with fun activities they can try at home with their children! Virtual Screening Animezing!: Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1 Thursday, April 30 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Hosted online by the JICC: Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan  Enjoy a JICC screening from home! REGISTER HERE This event is free and open to the public, however registration through EventBrite is required in order to receive an exclusive access code to the virtual screening via follow-up email.A digital JICC educational packet with activities will also be included. In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Online program begins at 4:00 PM. The film will be streamed during this time frame and  the link will expire after the screening ends. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 | Washington, D.C. 20036-3838 TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 | jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp © 1981-2020 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

Orsini's Cosplay book available now

Cosplay, by Arlington author Lauren Orsini was published this year, and is featured in Barnes and Noble. This photo is from the Falls Church store.

Orsini has long been active in anime and manga fandom, and worked for some years with Anime USA. This book was done on contract, and she wrote about it on her blog under the title, "Writing a book in seven weeks."

There she noted, "It's quickly becoming apparent that the actual writing part of the book is going to be a cakewalk compared to getting the photos in order. I didn't write a word of the book this week. Instead I spent my time organizing the cosplay photos my publisher has already given me, plus searching for and contacting talented cosplay photographers all over the world."

By week 5 the writing was becoming the focus, "...I've reordered the sections in a way that feels good to me (now they're all focusing on a genre, with the final chapter on original costuming)..."

She told ComicsDC, "Traditionally publishing a book isn't easy or lucrative, but it's an experience unlike any other. People have sent me photos of my book from places like California, Florida, and New York. I'm really grateful to Carlton Limited and Sterling Publishing for giving me this opportunity."

Nov 13: Animezing - Royal Space Force: Wings of Honnêamise

- ROYAL SPACE FORCE: The Wings of Honnêamise -  November 13, 2015 | Friday, 6:30PM | Directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga Sci-Fi | 1987 | 121 min | Unrated| In Japanese with English Subtitles © BANDAI VISUAL / GAINAX   Please join us at:   Interested in more great Japan-related events in the Washington DC area? Check out our upcoming area events page, updated three times a week, for a list of the latest events in the region. The Japan Information and Culture Center 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 Washington DC, 20036 In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at  jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Registration is non-transferable. "...one of the most ambitious of all anime productions, a visually sensational two-hour extravaganza." -Roger Ebert Come join us for the film that launched the careers of dozens of Japan's animation superstars - including Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Summer Wars, Wolf Children) - and put Studio Gainax on the map as one of Japan's premiere production houses. The Royal Space Force is established in Honnêamise - a fictional kingdom on a fictional planet. Although the force boasts 30 years of history, they haven't been able to achieve solid results; people and the government have given up on them, seeing the force as a burden. Shirotsugh Lhadatt, the protagonist, is a member of the Royal Space Force, which far from their dreams have gone into idleness. One day, Shirotsugh meets Riqunni, a religious girl, and his destiny drastically changes, leading him to volunteer to be a space pilot...        This film is unrated and contains some scenes of violence and sexual situations. Viewer discretion is advised.   Recommended ages: 15+ This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here to register.   Doors open at 6:00PM and will close once seating is full or promptly at 7:00PM for security purposes. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat.

JICC, Embassy of Japan | 1150 18th St., NW | Suite 100 | Washington | DC | 20036