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The Anime Festival Asia (AFA) has been an annual highlight for anime fans and cosplay lovers since it began in 2008, quickly establishing itself as one of the largest events on the calendar. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, AFA 2023 last weekend continues to draw massive crowds, with fans flocking in to experience the festivities.
Walking through the event, I was completely immersed in the vibrant atmosphere as impressive cosplays brought beloved anime characters to life. The dedication was incredible, especially among the pros—fans eagerly lined up at their booths, waiting for a meet-and-greet with their "idols." Watching everyone embody their characters with such confidence made me want to dive in and join the fun myself! The energy was contagious, with fans snapping photos and sharing unforgettable moments together.
These Pokemon terrariums are so adorable! You can see the monster in their "natural habitat"!
AFA also offers fans a chance to snag rare collectibles, from licensed merchandise to unique fan art. Beyond figurines, there were booths filled with keychains, button badges, clothing, and even special "lucky bags" with anime-themed surprises. Some vendors even had Ichiban Kuji—a popular lottery-style game where each pull guarantees a prize.
This year, AFA introduced a new sponsor, Crunchyroll, the leading anime streaming platform, which brought the JUJUTSU KAISEN Experience to the festival. Inside the immersive 360-dome, I enjoyed key scenes from the hit series in a secluded space, away from the crowds. Crunchyroll also shared exclusive news about upcoming anime events and hosted the SACRA Music Festival, featuring iconic artists like FLOW (famous for “GO!!!” and “Sign” from Naruto), ASCA (known for “RESISTER” in Sword Art Online: Alicization), and performances by halca, spira spica, and Nami Tamaki. Here’s hoping for even more artists next year.
HoYo FEST 2023 was another major attraction. This year, instead of being a separate event, HoYo FEST partnered with AFA to bring together all six HoYoverse titles at one booth for the first time. Fans could explore dedicated sections for Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Honkai Impact 3rd, Tears of Themis, and the upcoming Zenless Zone Zero, with demo gameplay, interactive activities, quizzes, and more. Each area was packed with fans; completing a mission felt like a quest in itself!
The Genshin Impact section recreated the enchanting scenery of Mondstadt, while the Honkai: Star Rail area showcased the Xianzhou Luofu. Fans also got a sneak peek at Zenless Zone Zero’s gameplay and storyline in the demo area.
I also stopped by the much-talked-about TENGA booth, which sparked some debate about whether such products were suitable for a younger crowd. To address these concerns, the booth had tight security, ensuring only those of age could enter. Qualified without question, I walked in confidently, curious to see what the fuss was about. Honestly, there's nothing shameful about exploring and understanding one’s own body, and after seeing the range of products TENGA offers, it’s clear they can bring an extra layer of fun and connection to relationships when used thoughtfully. There’s no need to be shy—if we prioritize healthy sexual education, there’s absolutely no reason why topics like these should be hidden away.
Bushiroad Expo Asia 2023 offered a full roster of trading card tournaments, including the Bushiroad Championship Series 2023 Regional Championship and the Shadowverse: Evolve World Invitational 2023 Regional Qualifier. For casual attendees, there was plenty to explore, from merch and video game demos to learn-to-play sessions and an exhibition photo booth area dedicated to fans.
A major highlight this year was the inclusion of World Wonder Ring Stardom, or STARDOM, Japan’s popular women’s pro wrestling group. Yes, AFA 2023 featured an actual wrestling ring! Unfortunately, I missed the live action while exploring other sections of AFA.
In a special collaboration with Ultraman, I also got to experience the exclusive launch of the Ultraman trading card game by Tsuburaya. While the game is still awaiting release, I scored some exclusive cards for my deck! Live Ultraman appearances brought the characters to life on stage with thrilling fight scenes, giving us a sneak peek of the upcoming game.
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AFA 2023 was an unforgettable celebration for fans, and I can’t wait to see what surprises await next year! Here's leaving the most with more of the amazing cosplays I saw around the AFA 2023 grounds.
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