Sep 1
JapanFest! 2016 promises to bring old and new Japan together like never before
By: William Pankey
Published: September 1, 2016
Last we checked, roundtrip flights to Japan can get pretty pricey. And while nothing quite beats stepping foot in Japan and experiencing the country’s vast and idiosyncratic culture, one way to take in Japan on the cheap is by attending JapanFest!
You may think that visiting a convention is a far cry from going to a country, but that’s where you are wrong. One of the longest-running celebrations of all things Japan in the country, JapanFest! is now entering its 30th year in Atlanta, bringing together Japanophiles of all walks of life. JapanFest! typically hones in on certain aspects of Japanese culture and 2016 will bring more of that.This year’s theme is “Cooler Japan,” a guiding motif that binds Japan’s cooler older traditions with its new, more pop-culture oriented lifestyle. "Cooler Japan" will be on display in five categories across the event including anime, technology, tradition, fashion, and music. It’s about as close as you can get to Japan without boarding a flight.
This year’s JapanFest! takes place Sept. 17-18 at the Infinite Energy Forum in Duluth, Georgia.