The Guests of Honor - 13th Impact

Like every year, Japan Expo hosted more than a hundred guests come to share their passions, their projects and joy to be here with you. To start with, let’s get back on 4 days of magical meetings between our guest of honor and their fans!

Naoki URASAWA

The 13^th Impact manga guest of honor was none but Naoki URASAWA, the author of 20^th Century Boys, Monster, Pluto or Billy Bat. If it was still necessary, his fans have confirmed that they were many by coming in hundreds for each of his apparitions!

A great conference on the main stage allowed some great moments. On top of learning more about his career, passions, and secrets, the audience (re)discovered another aspects of Naoki URASAWA’s talent: music. He took his guitar, harmonica and mike to perform a Japanese version of North Country Girl by Bob Dylan and Bob Lennon, Guta lala Suda lala, the song written by Kenji in 20^th Century Boys. He ended the conference with THE moment everyone had been expecting, the live drawing. At the end of his pen appeared Kana, Tomodachi, Tenma, Billy Bat and Kenji: a brilliant performance cheered with wild applause from the crowd!

Naoki URASAWA also gave a conference with Masao MARUYAMA, founder of the studio Madhouse, and several signing sessions. On Sunday, the pop-rock band Hemenway welcomed Naoki URASAWA on the J.E. Live House stage for 3 titles, among which 20^th Century Boy and Bob Lennon.

Haruhiko MIKIMOTO

For the 30^th anniversary of the Macross series, the great chara-designer Haruhiko MIKIMOTO was at Japan Expo as anime guest of honor!

During the week-end, he met the series fans. He also gave two fascinating conferences, talking about Macross and his work on the series.

Keiji INAFUNE

As the video game guest of honor, Megaman’s chara-designer, Keiji INAFUNE, held two conferences. He talked about his latest projects and future releases: Comcept, his new production studio, and the games Kaio: King of Pirates and Soul Sacrifice.

His many signing sessions attracted the early fans of this great name of video games, as well as the youngest.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu brought some colors in every nook and cranny of the festival, from the Japan Expo stage to the signing rooms, the J.E. Live House and the main stage.

On Saturday, it started with meetings which made you get stars in your eyes, the Japan in Motion event, and music with a “unique” showcase. On Sunday, the fashion guest of honor of the festival was back for the HARAJUKU KAWAii!!! in Paris Fashion Show.

Kawaii, colored, sparkling and memorable moments!!

FLOW

That was not it for music since FLOW was the music guest of honor of the festival. The fans rushed to the signing sessions and the conference of the band.

Beside the festival, FLOW also gave a big two-hour concert. For their first gig in France, they were full of energy and promised they’d be back. For the very first time, they sang an exclusive title, BraBlue (Brave & Blue), the future opening of Eureka Seven AO. The title will be released by mid-September in Japan and it had never been performed so far!

Kohei TANAKA

To finish with some more music, let’s not forget Kohei TANAKA, anime music guest of honor and talented composer for One Piece, Gate Keepers, Angelic Layer, Bastard, Gundam and so many more. In signings and showcases, he was accompanied by the seiyû Junko IWAO.