BALTIMORE, August 13, 2012 – Otakon, the convention concentrating on Anime and comics, took place at the Baltimore convention center on July 27 – 29 to celebrate all things anime and manga.

Over 30,000 fans descended on Baltimore City for three days to pay tribute to all things Japanese, cosplay (costume play), and buy from the vendors. This annual festival is the biggest among manga fans, and regularly attracts big names in anime voice actors, manga publishers, and anime artists.

The name Otakon comes from the Japanese term Otaku. In Japan, the word Otaku is an insult, synonymous with a geek or social awkward person. Otaku is described as “someone with a Manga or anime obsession, an obsession so acute they do not even leave their house.”

In the US, however, Otaku has come to mean anyone who is a fan of manga and anime. Otakon describes itself as a “convention of Otaku generation.”

Driving up to the convention center it normal to see pink wigs, cat eyes, capes, masks, prop swords, and all manner of hats. Fans go all out for this convention, where cosplay is the unofficial uniform.

The convention also has panels (one titled “Pokeholics Anonymous”), screenings of anime films, and video game tournaments.

In the vendor hall you could buy almost every concervable manga and anime, plus cosplay wear, swords, Japanese items, corsets, among many other items.

The convention even tried to reach into the Korean pop (K-pop) culture this year by having popular K-pop group VIXX play at the convention.

This year was also the second year that Otakon extended their festivities by holding a a free to public Matsuri on Thursday before Otakon. The Matsuri is an Asian themed festival that featured a traditional Okinawan taiko drum group, a Japanese style goth band, food, and Local Anime Clubs and the Japanese Embassy.

This influx of visitors is also a boon for the city of Baltimore. The Baltimore Business Journal estimates economic impact of over $15 million up Last year Otakon was awarded the “Customer of the Year” award for their annual hosting of Otakon in Baltimore, and their commitment to do so until at least 2016. The award was given by Visit Baltimore (Baltimore City’s tourism agency.

Baltimore based, Amy Phillips is a columnist, blogger, public speaker, twitter addict and all around nerd. 

Follow Amy on Twitter @amydpp.

Amy Phillips is an independent writer for the Communities. Read more from Amy at her Accidental Musings blog.

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