Anime Festival Asia (AFA) 2015 Begins

The region’s biggest premier festival for Japanese Popular Culture and anime sees strong response and support for refreshed 

I Love Anisong Concerts

SINGAPORE, 27 November 2015 – Anime Festival Asia 2015 (AFASG15), the region’s biggest premier festival for Japanese Popular Culture and anime, returns to Singapore starting today till 29 November, offering the latest content and action-packed activities. Held at Suntec City Convention Centre, Anime Festival Asia saw over 90,000 local and international visitors last year. This year it seeks to break new ground with the introduction of an almost all-new artiste line-up in its signature I Love Anisong concerts. VIP Tickets for the I Love Anisong REBOOT concerts have sold out on Sunday, while tickets for the remaining nights are selling fast.

This year’s festival features close to 200 booths, almost doubling last year’s number, of related merchandise, fan creations, food items and more. The festival will also include highly anticipated concerts, stage events, and themed anime showcases. AFA’s Regional Cosplay Championship will also be held today, as five regional cosplay groups representing Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand compete for the ultimate cosplay honours.

I Love Anisong REBOOT Concerts: Bringing anime music fever to a new chapter

Concert-goers can look forward to a fresh new line-up, from acclaimed performers making their overseas full concert debuts to returning heavyweights. AFASG15 I Love Anisong REBOOT Concerts will feature:

• Friday 27 November

          - Opening act: Usagi & AkatsukiRin

          - Concerts: Aimer, BACK-ON, bless4, HoneyWorks/CHiCo with HoneyWorks, ZAQ

• Saturday 28 November

          - Opening act: Majiko and mikitoP
          - Concerts: P’s LIVE! (featuring Ayana Taketatsu, Maaya Uchida, Suzuko Mimori, 

            MICHI, Shiori Mikami, Yumiri Hanamori and Yurika Endo)

• Sunday 29 November

          - Opening act: DJ YURiA

          - Concerts: GARNiDELiA, Lia, May’n, Mika Kobayashi featuring Tetsuro Shimaguchi 

            (KAMUI) and nano

Festival grounds: Bigger and better this year

Fans will be spoiled for choice this year at AFASG15. Highlights include an expanded Creator’s Hub, the biggest ever in the festival, with 100 booths of fan-made merchandise from bookmarks to fan art. Fans can also look forward to more food options in an expanded food area, to recharge and refuel with various Anime-themed food like a refreshing Love Life! Parfait.

Anime fans can look forward to exciting themed anime showcases this year. Keep on the edge of your seat for the first ever Movie International Premiere of Garokawa – Restore the World. They can also enjoy the screening of various anime blockbusters such as Charlotte (featuring voice actress Maaya Uchida, singer Lia and director Yoshiyuki Asai) and One Punch Man (featuring Makoto Furukawa, the voice actor of Saitama, the main protagonist) during festival days.

AFASG15: Injecting New Elements and Aspects of Japanese Popular Culture

For the first time ever, AFASG15 will introduce a comedy component with 10 Japanese comedian groups brought to Singapore. Comedians taking the stage include household names such as Seiji Chihara, Tomonori Jinnai, and Tutorial. 

Attendees of AFASG15 can also expect an exciting performance from the JUNON boys, who rose to fame after the recent JUNON SUPERBOY CONTEST, which is one of the most famous talent auditions for young men in Japan. The contest has produced many big names such as Shohei Miura, Yusuke Yamamoto, and Junpei Mizobata among others.

Said Shawn Chin, Anime Festival Asia’s Executive Festival Director and SOZO’s Founder and Managing Director, “Response to the festival has held strong this year and we thank the fans who continue to support us as we push boundaries and bring the latest and best J-pop content to the region. We look forward to putting up a good show again this year.”

AFASG15 is held at Suntec City Convention Centre, levels 3 and 4, from 27-29 November 2015. Tickets are available on-site to suit various interests, from S$13 for a single-day exhibition pass. For more information on the festival, check out www.animefestival.asia and www.facebook.com/animefestivalasia.