AnimeJapan 2022" Media Conference Report! Takanori Nishikawa was appointed as the official ambassador & details of the theme, stage program, etc. were announced!

AJ Presentation" AnimeJapan 2022 Latest Information All-In-One Special" was held on February 1, 2022 to announce details of the world's largest anime event, "AnimeJapan 2022". The details of "AnimeJapan 2022" were announced.

AnimeJapan 2022" Media Presentation

Shunsuke Nakajima (Tatsunoko Productions) and Mizuho Saeki (KADOKAWA), the general producers of "AnimeJapan 2022," took the stage at the media presentation. Mr. Nakajima said, "We would like to hold "AnimeJapan" with a fresh start," and Ms. Saeki said, "The entire executive committee is working together to prepare for the event so that our guests can enjoy it.

He also announced that AnimeJapan, which has been canceled or held online for the past two years due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, will be held for real this year. The Public Days will be held on March 26 (Sat.) and 27 (Sun.), 2022, and the Business Days on March 28 (Mon.) and 29 (Tue.). The Business Days will be held online.

Mr. Nakajima commented on the first time in three years that AnimeJapan will be held in a real venue, saying, "This year, we have thoroughly implemented nine points to ensure a safe and secure AnimeJapan. In addition to the implementation of infectious disease countermeasures as stipulated by the government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, we will also be working to ensure safety and security by conducting PCR or antigen testing of all related personnel and staff," he said, stressing that the event will be held with thorough safety measures in place.

The theme is "Cue! . The theme of "AnimeJapan 2022" was chosen because this will be the ninth time the event has been held, and also because of the meaning of the "queue" that is produced during filming and postrecording of anime.

It was also announced that Takanori Nishikawa will be the official ambassador of "AnimeJapan 2022. Mr. Nishikawa, who appeared at the call of Weather News anchor Saya Hiyama, who served as MC for the presentation, said with a smile on his face, "I am looking forward to this year's event," and expressed his enthusiasm, "I hope we can all work together to make it happen.

Other key visuals and newly drawn collaboration visuals were also presented. The key visual features Big Sight in the background, and Nakajima said, "We want people to feel that we are back here after a long absence. After seeing these visuals, Mr. Nishikawa encouraged the audience to pose for photos in the same way.

Other projects included "Manga Ranking that I want to see made into anime," "Cosplayers' World," and "AJ Coloring. Several of the works nominated for the "Manga Ranking" have actually been made into anime, and by putting your name in the list, you may have a chance to have your favorite manga made into an anime.

Details of the program for the "AJ Stage," which attracts many visitors each time, were also announced. There will be three stages again this year: "RED STAGE," "GREEN STAGE," and "BLUE STAGE." A total of 42 stages, including Nishikawa's special live stage, will host various events with gorgeous guests. Please check the official website for stage details.

Ticket information for viewing the stages is also available. Admission tickets with stage application tickets and premium admission tickets, limited to 100, have been on sale since right after the end of the presentation. Those who purchase admission tickets will have the privilege of watching the entire AJ Stage program online, and the streaming will also be available for archival viewing.

When asked what he is looking forward to most about the real event, Nishikawa replied, "This kind of event allows me to communicate with fans. I think that the smiles on everyone's faces and the thoughts they express to me, even though they are behind a mask, are the charm and purpose of these events," he said.

In closing, Mr. Nakajima and Mr. Saeki once again offered strong words and enthusiasm. Mr. Nishikawa said, "In the Corona Disaster, culture, art, sports, and entertainment have been deemed unnecessary and urgent, and everyone involved has spent the past two years suffering. In the midst of all this, I want to make sure that we do not lose our enthusiasm for creating works of art and our love of animation. I believe that animation is now a cultural bridge not only to Japan but also to the world. I hope you will support those who continue to support such things," he said with passion.

Report on the "AJ Presentation: AnimeJapan 2022 Latest Information All-In-One Special

The "AJ Presentation" AnimeJapan 2022 Latest Information All-in-One Special" was broadcast live on the same night and featured voice actress Akane Fujita, who voices A (the older brother/white one) of the "AJ Brothers," the official characters of AnimeJapan, as well as the official ambassadors of the AnimeJapan event. The MC was Yuuki Iwai of Haraiichi, and he introduced the following contents titled "Announcement of AJ Presentation 9".

1. real event to be held! Safe and Secure AnimeJapan 2022

2. announcement of official ambassadors for AnimeJapan 2022

3. announcement of theme and key visuals

4. announcement of AJ collaboration visual

5. introduction of AnimeJapan official goods

6. we will have it again this year! Anime Run Cosplay Coloring

7. AJ Stage Program Announcement

8. ticket information

9. we will do it again this year! Takanori Nishikawa Special Live Stage!

The live broadcast was more in-depth than the media presentation, with some interesting comments and surprising revelations.

Mr. Nishikawa, who was appointed as the official ambassador again last year, jokingly said, "In my case, I'm going to do the backstage preparation for the next theme song and works," and "I want you to pay attention to how much my muscles (have) grown over the last year," while showing footage from last year and expressing his enthusiasm for doing his best this year as well.

In addition, Mr. Fujita's "Cue! The latest commercial, which was released at the "Cue! He also explained that the characters are posing as Cue in the newly-drawn key visual and that Big Sight is in the background.

Collaboration visuals included "Sword Art Online," "Tokyo Revengers," "Weak Mushi Pedal," "Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Club". Fujita-san and Nishikawa-san held the panels in their hands and happily discussed their impressions.

In the area of planning, a collaboration project between "AnimeJapan 2022" and "That dress-up doll will fall in love" was decided in "Cosplayers' World," and a video comment from Ms. Moe Iori, a supporting supporter, was introduced. About the cosplay, Ms. Nishikawa said, "I want to put on (Sukidaira) Inosuke's headgear. I have a body," she said. The "AJ Coloring" was introduced, showing the previous version drawn by Fujita and Yoshiaki Suzuki.

A total of 42 "AJ Stages" were announced. The "AJ Stages", which were the focus of attention, were announced for a total of 42 stages, again with many gorgeous productions and performers. During the presentation, Mr. Nishikawa revealed that the mascot of the AJ brothers on the table was actually the one they have been using since the 5th AJ. The flag on the head is said to be forcibly hiding the "5".

When Nishikawa-san's special live stage was announced, he made a quip about his own photo, which was to be the last live performance of the first day of the RED STAGE, and is expected to be one of the most popular stages of the year.

Ticket information including admission tickets with stage entry tickets to see these stages was also announced. There are also premium admission tickets with full of luxurious benefits, so don't forget to apply for them before the end of the period if you wish to attend.

Finally, Mr. Fujita said he hopes people will enjoy (the real event) since it is held locally, and appealed to the audience to improve the status of the AJ brothers and hopefully see them in action. Mr. Nishikawa spoke passionately about the difficult situation the entertainment industry has been in for the past two years, how anime is a bridge to foreign countries and a mix of art and culture that represents Japan, and how the voices of those who support us are reaching the people who are making the products and giving them the mindset to make them better. He also encouraged the audience to support the project.

Then, he ended the delivery by calling out, "Everything about anime" and "It's all here!" and the delivery was over. The "AJ Presentation" AnimeJapan 2022 Latest Information All-In-One Special" can be viewed in the archive, so if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out the archive.

(Reporting, writing, and photography by Kenichi Chiba)