UlasanAnime.com – This article provides an updated outlook on event attendance plans for 2020, reflecting the significant impact of global events. The author shares their previous year’s notes and their personal Eventernote for reference.
The following is a compilation of planned travel and attendance for various otaku-related events, including conventions, anime-specific gatherings, and anisong artist concerts. The author encourages fellow attendees to connect if they plan to be at any of these events. A guide is provided where bold text indicates overseas trips and italics denote local or driving trips.
(1/3-5) Taiyoucon @ Mesa Convention Center, Phoenix AZ – Ticketed and attended.
(1/18-19) LoveLive! 9th Anniversary: LoveLive Fes @ Saitama Super Arena – Completed. Grateful for the overseas package!
(2/9) LisAni! LIVE 2020 Sunday Stage @ Makuhari Messe Event Hall – Completed!
(2/15-16) THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS 7thLIVE TOUR Special 3chord? Glowing Rock! @ Kyocera Dome Osaka – Completed!
(4/10-12) Anime Boston @ Hynes – Cancelled. This marked the beginning of the Corona Era.
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(5/2) IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors 2nd @ Makuhari Messe Event Hall – Cancelled.
(5/3) Asakura Momo Live Tour 2020 ?Agapanthus? Fukuoka @ Fukuoka International Congress Center – Postponed.
(5/8-5/10) Anime Frontier 2020 @ Fort Worth Convention Center – All arrangements were made, but the event was cancelled. It felt like we didn’t even get a chance to experience it.
(5/15-17) Anime Central 2020 @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center – Cancelled due to the overall convention cancellation.
(6/12-14) AnimeNext 2019 @ Atlantic City Convention Center – Cancelled due to the convention’s cancellation.
(7/2-5) Anime Expo 2020 @ LACC – It became clear this would not happen. The author was observing how the cancellation would be handled.
(7/31-8/2) Otakon 2020 @ Walter E. Washington Convention Center – A significant question mark. The author humorously questioned if this would be the first convention post-Corona era, concluding with a definitive “lol nope.”
(10/29-11/1) AWA @ Cobb Galleria Centre – Considered a possibility.
(11/20-22) AnimeNYC 2019 @ Javits Center – Cancelled, but an online event was planned.
(11/27-11/30) C3 AFA Singapore @ Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre – A placeholder, as it was not expected to happen.
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Following the previous update, the author observed the unfolding situation. The rising death toll and the economic repercussions were significant. The author expresses gratitude for personal safety and acknowledges that this situation has indeed reduced event attendance. The current times are described as remarkable.
Recent assessments suggest that no major conventions are likely to occur in the USA until late 2021. This is attributed not only to vaccine availability and related logistical challenges but also to the need to rebuild consumer confidence and the time required to re-establish event operations. For international travel, the focus is on Japan reopening its borders safely and the USA effectively managing its coronavirus situation. The author finds it quite concerning, questioning whether the USA is indeed a leading first-world nation or if fundamental issues have led to this difficult predicament.
Current information indicates that Japan may begin accepting tourist visas again around April. This is seen as the most probable pathway for the author to visit Japan. Logically, the rollout of such visas would likely be prioritized based on the percentage of tourists affected and the performance of each country in managing the pandemic. China and Southeast Asian countries are expected to be at the forefront of this list.
In the interim, a multitude of online events are emerging to substitute for offline gatherings, a trend driven by supply-side economics. The author notes that the major Shiny Colors event scheduled for late October appears particularly exciting.
