Pop Asia
Are you a lover of Anime, Manga, K-pop, Japanese culture, and all things kawaii?
Welcome to your sanctuary! If you’ve ever wanted to dance like BLACKPINK, become a Pokémon trainer for a weekend, indulge your curiosity about Japanese culture, or just gush over your new (or old) manga obsession, Pop Asia is the place for you!
We have interactive experiences, gaming, Japanese cultural groups, as well as anime and manga retailers for you to explore. Consider Pop Asia your little anime convention haven!
Where: On the Show Floor! Look for the Pop Asia sign near Autographing, Cosplay Central, and the Gaming Zone! Follow the cherry blossoms!
When: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Friday – Saturday and 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday
What’s Happening in Pop Asia?
Travel the World…
…without leaving Chicago! If you want to learn more about Japan then look no further! Pop Asia is home to some of the best local cultural partners including the Japanese Culture Center and traditional activities to give you an immersive cultural experience!
K-Pop Dance Covers
Hit The Stage : Vol.3. Are you ready to hit the stage with your best Kpop dance covers? Hosted by K-Pop YouTubers K!Junkies, ‘Kpop Hit The Stage : Vol.3’ is coming back to C2E2! Check the Pop Asia schedule for more details.
Panels and Screenings
Come on by and enjoy panels with your favorite anime voice actors, trivia, weird and wild Japan panels, sing-a-longs, anime screenings, and late night programming - Pop Asia is your home base for all things anime, manga, k-pop, Japanese culture and more!
Manga Library
Need a break? Why not relax and immerse yourself in a manga of your choice? We’ve got you covered with a variety of manga for you to dive into! Swing by the Manga Library to find your new obsession.
Who will be in Pop Asia?
Nerds Know
Your go-to group of nerds who know things! Nerds Know is an entertainment group from South Florida consisting of convention veterans, college professors, and convention professionals who have pooled their collective talents to bring you the knowledge that every geek, nerd, and otaku craves! Come join in on one of their many panels and be prepared to participate!
K!Junkies
Come join Amanda and Nathalie; a K-pop loving youtuber couple from Miami, Florida as they share their passion for all things K-pop! Their mission is to share their knowledge and love for underrated and senior artists, along with their love for all new artists joining the K-pop world.
Dreamland Maid Café
Come join Amanda and Nathalie; a K-pop loving youtuber couple from Miami, Florida as they share their passion for all things K-pop! Their mission is to share their knowledge and love for underrated and senior artists, along with their love for all new artists joining the K-pop world.
Japanese Culture Center-日本文化会館
The center was founded in 1977 by Fumio Toyoda, Aikido Shihan and Zen Master to share traditional Japanese arts with Chicago and America. Come by to learn about origami (art of folded paper), Balintawak Arnis (a type of martial arts) Shodo (calligraphy)and Koto (Japanese instrument) demonstrations.
Moonies Club & Sailor Moon Fan Clubhouse
Calling all Sailor Moon fans! Come visit the Sailor Moon Fan Clubhouse in the Pop Asia area at booth PA-02 for an interactive experience filled with moon tiara magic! We will be playing Sailor Moon board games and hanging out with fellow moonies!
AnimeChicago
We connect and educate Chicagoans through their shared love of Japanese pop culture. As a registered nonprofit in Illinois, we’re committed to bringing new and exciting anime experiences to all Chicagoans. Our members range from anime newbies to seasoned veterans, and everything in between. Our programs include small discussions and larger seminars to meet new people, learn about Japan, and discover anime and manga titles that make us think critically. We also collaborate with Chicago’s art community-at-large and promote knowledge-sharing with other Japanese culture organizations.
C2E2 Roll Call + Booth, Panels, Discord! Let us know you’re coming at: https://www.meetup.com/animechicago/events/292226058/
Learn more at: https://animechicago.com/