Convention Type
Anime
When and Where
June 21st-23rd at DeVos Place
Things to Do/See
Attend panels, photos/autographs, vendor hall, artist alley, gaming area that included console, arcade, board games, and table top, cosplay contest, concerts, sumo wrestling, heavy steel combat, maid café, anime screenings, weapon lessons at the swordsmanship dojo, swordsmanship museum, VIP lounge, manga library, Pokémon challenges throughout the event, video game tournaments, miniature painting, Let’s Make An Anime Deal game show, Official After Party at K-Rok
Guests
Voice Actors: Xanthe Huynh, Mike McFarland, Chris Patton
Musical Guests: Kohei Hattori, Playing with Power, Konundrum, Mesmerist, Noc. V
Cosplay Guests: Shockolate Energy, AMH Cosplays, Difusional Studios
Guest Panelists: Samurai Dan, Party Table, Soga Japan Center
Pros
Held in one central location at DeVos Place
Good signage that assisted in directing attendees to their various destinations
Program booklet was very informative with who, what, where of all the events, panels, and guests. It featured a map, an autograph section, and a checklist for the JAFAX Pokémon Gym Challenge.
The artwork for JAFAX’s merch was very nice. JAFAX made a solid effort in differentiating the artwork amongst the different types of merchandise. Art on the shirts was different than the art on the program booklet which was different from the art on the key chains etc.
Their anime squirrel mascot, Ringo, was featured in magical fantasy roles that are prevalent in the Isekai genre. She had multiple costumes to match the fantasy tropes such as warrior and mage.
Over 70 artists/crafters and over 30 vendors in the Vendor Hall and Artist Alley room.
The layout of the Vendor Hall and Artist Alley was improved compared to previous years. It appeared that the aisles were spaced out more and did not seem cramped during high traffic times.
Free to play gaming for everything in the gaming hall.
Multiple demonstrations of combat exhibitions from both the Grand Rapids Sumo Club and the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy, throughout the weekend.
JAFAX had a VGM (video game music) concert with Playing with Power. It’s the only convention in Michigan that routinely includes VGM and Nerdcentric music acts in their programming.
Let’s Make An Anime Deal closing game show where contestants will win prizes that included JAFAX 2025 badges with a hotel stay, plushies, funko pops, and various donated items from the vendor hall. The grand prize was a PS5.
I must note that I appreciate the comedy and charisma from the dueling hosts Wes and Chris during the game show. They are very entertaining, each year. Plus, the artwork for the “doors” is very cool and unique.
JAFAX took part in the local charity called Kids’ Food Basket. Here is an audio description of the charity, complements of Tim.
Cool Cosplay – Check out the GALLERY
Cons
Parking in the city lot $24 a day. If the attendant was not there to give you the event parking rate ($13), you were at the mercy of the city lot, across the street from DeVos Place.
The program booklet did not include the grid based schedule. The grid schedule was printed separately. By Saturday, it appeared that there were not enough prints of the grid schedules for attendees to take. Your options were to take a photo of the printout attached to the table or go to JAFAX’s website, at that point.
Getting destroyed by Piston Hurricane on Super Punch Out, from the SNES Classic Mini. What? I haven’t played the game since the 90s. I was a little rusty and I kept running into his fists. All joking aside, I can’t hold this against JAFAX since it was all a user and skill level error.
Do I recommend attending the event?
Yes. I’ve never had a bad time attending JAFAX and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. There is plenty to see and experience at JAFAX. I look forward to next year’s event.