KotoriCon

KotoriCon was an annual two-day anime convention held during January at Rowan College at Gloucester County (formerly known as Gloucester County College) in Sewell, New Jersey.[1][5] It was sponsored by the college's Japanese Anime Guild and KotoriCon's name came from the Japanese for little bird, inspired by the colleges roadrunner mascot.[6][7] The convention was designed to be family-friendly.[8] The convention ran its final event in 2020.[9]

KotoriCon
Kotori, mascot of KotoriCon
StatusDefunct
GenreAnime, Manga, Japanese pop culture, and Video games[1][2]
VenueRowan College at Gloucester County
Location(s)Sewell, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2010
Attendance1,020 in 2018[3]
Organized byRCGC Japanese Anime Guild[4]
Websitercgc.edu/Kotoricon

Programming

The convention typically offered anime music videos contest, artists' alley, charity auction, comedians, cosplay events, dealers' rooms, Jedi events, karaoke, live performances, martial arts demonstrations, panels, and video game tournaments.[2][8][10][11]

Charity

Proceeds from the 2011 convention went to the Doctors Without Borders and Child's Play charity.[11] In 2012 the charity auction benefited Direct Relief International and the Lauren Rose Foundation.[8] Proceeds from the convention in 2012 resulted in a $700 donation to Mothers Matters.[12] Charities the 2013 convention benefited were Hurricane Sandy victims and Liberty in North Korea (LiNK).[13] The 2014 charity auction benefited The AbleGamers Foundation, a North Korean human-rights group, and others.[14] The 2015 charities that KotoriCon supported were Able Gamers, Doctors Without Borders, Liberty in North Korea, and Pets for Vets.[7][10] 2017's charities included Child's Play, Doctors without Borders, Indochinese-American Council, KotoriCon Endowment, Liberty in North Korea, Pets for Vets, and Seabrook Buddhist Temple.[15] KotoriCon's 2019 charities included the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, KotoriCon Scholarship Endowment, Liberty in North Korea, Seabrook Buddhist Temple, and Samaritan's Purse.[16]

History

The convention in 2010 started under the name Gloucester County Anime Convention.[6] Video gaming was held in the cafeteria on Friday night in 2011.[2] The convention was spread out among three buildings on the Gloucester County College campus including the Fine Arts Center, College Center, and The Instructional Center.[11] The third KotoriCon was in two locations, Pitman High School and Gloucester County College; in the first location, a concert by Eyeshine took place on January 6, 2012.[17] The 2019 convention had a ticket limit of 1,500 attendees.[16]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
January 16, 2010 Gloucester County College
Sewell, New Jersey		250-350[1][2]Aikido Agatsu Dojo, Dr. Ross Beitzel, Chie Matsumura Dusk, geist, Jamie McGonnigal, Pennsylvania Jedi, Princeton Kendo and Iaido Club, Michael Shore, Katie Tom-Wolverton, and Peter Tom-Wolverton.[18][19]
January 14–15, 2011 Gloucester County College
Sewell, New Jersey		505Robert Axelrod, Cosplay Joe, Jonny "Jace" Davidson, Chie Matsumura Dusk, KyoDaiko, LeetStreet Boys, MaeMae, Reni Mimura, Pennsylvania Jedi, Promise Sisters, Katie Tom-Wolverton, Peter Tom-Wolverton, and Uncle Yo.[20]
January 6–7, 2012 Pitman High School;[8] Gloucester County College
Pitman, New Jersey; Sewell, New Jersey		1,000+2 Comedy, The Asterplace, Johnny Yong Bosch, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Elderberry, Eyeshine, Gavin Goszka, Ichigo Pantsu, Michele Knotz, DJ Kurono, KyoDaiko, Catherine Maiorino, Jamie McGonnigal, Mesquite Honey, Pennsylvania Jedi, Bill Rogers, Sneko, Uncle Yo, and Stuart Zagnit.[21]
January 12, 2013 Gloucester County College
Sewell, New Jersey		1,000+
(est)[13]		+2 Comedy, The Asterplace, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, CJ Henderson, Michele Knotz, Jamie McGonnigal, Scott A. Melzer, Pennsylvania Jedi, Platform One, Mike Pollock, Bill Rogers, Ian Rubin, Sneko, Uncle Yo, and Uzuhi.[22]
January 11–12, 2014 Gloucester County College
Sewell, New Jersey		1,200[23]+2 Comedy, 501st Legion, The Asterplace, The Audio Pool, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Gavin Goszka, CJ Henderson, The Hsu-nami, Michele Knotz, Jamie McGonnigal, Mega Ran, Scott A. Melzer, Bill Rogers, Ian Rubin, Sneko, Sonny Strait, Uncle Yo, and Uzuhi.[24]
January 9–10, 2015 Rowan College at Gloucester County
(formerly Gloucester County College)
Sewell, New Jersey		1,500Danielle Ackley-McPhail, The Asterplace, Greg Cipes, Charles Dunbar, Chuck Huber, Michele Knotz, KyoDaiko, Jamie McGonnigal, Scott A. Melzer, The Ricecookers, Ian Rubin, Sonny Strait, Uncle Yo, Lisle Wilkerson,[25] K-Ble Jungle, Ciro Nieli, and Ted Williams.[26]
January 8–9, 2016 Rowan College at Gloucester County
Sewell, New Jersey		1,374The Asterplace, James Carter Cathcart, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Patrick Drazen, Charles Dunbar, Hoh Daiko Taiko, Kazha, Michele Knotz, Reuben Langdon, Jamie McGonnigal, Brandon Jay McLaren, "Trailer" Drake McWhorter, Scott A. Melzer, Daman Mills, Ian Rubin, Uncle Yo, and Greg Wicker.[27]
January 6–7, 2017 Rowan College at Gloucester County
Sewell, New Jersey		1,110+2 Comedy, The Asterplace, James Carter Cathcart, COMezik, Charles Dunbar, Tiffany Grant, Hoh Daiko Taiko, Michele Knotz, Jamie McGonnigal, Scott A. Melzer, Daman Mills, Sarah Palmer, Uncle Yo, Greg Wicker, and Stuart Zagnit.[28]
January 5–6, 2018 Rowan College at Gloucester County
Sewell, New Jersey		1,020+2 Comedy, The Asterplace, James Carter Cathcart, Hoh Daiko Taiko, Natalie Hoover, Kazha, Michele Knotz, Michaela Laws, Jamie McGonnigal, Scott A. Melzer, Daman Mills, Alejandro Saab, and The Slants.[3]
January 11–12, 2019 Rowan College at Gloucester County
Sewell, New Jersey		James Carter Cathcart, Gelatine, Hoh Daiko Taiko, Kiba, Michele Knotz, Jamie McGonnigal, Scott A. Melzer, Daman Mills, Megan Shipman, Paul St. Peter, Brad Swaile, and Uncle Yo.[29]
January 10–11, 2020 Rowan College at Gloucester County
Sewell, New Jersey		Charles Dunbar, Hoh Daiko Taiko, Jamie McGonnigal, Scott A. Melzer, Show Us Your Pokeballs, and Uncle Yo.[30]

See also

References
  1. Rearick, Kristie (January 7, 2011). "Second KotoriCon planned on GCC's campus". Gloucester County Times. NJ.com. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  2. Carr, Robert (January 15, 2011). "KotoriCon 2011 Kicks Off With Game Night". WestDeptfordPatch. Patch Media.
  3. "KotoriCon 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  4. "Kotoricon returns for sixth year to Rowan College at Gloucester County". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. December 10, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  5. "Gloucester County College to become Rowan College at Gloucester County". NJ.com. January 11, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  6. Roncace, Kelly (January 12, 2013). "Gloucester County College hosts fourth annual KotoriCon anime convention". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  7. Nagle, Aubrey (January 8, 2015). "Anime convention lands in South Jersey". Philly Voice. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  8. Barna, John (December 24, 2011). "Gloucester County College to host KotoriCon". Gloucester County Times. NJ.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  9. "Kotoricon Final". Retrieved January 23, 2020 – via Facebook.
  10. O'Reilly, David (December 12, 2014). "Gloucester County - Anime festival at county college". Philly.com. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  11. Biagi, Olivia (January 17, 2011). "Costumes, Cartoons and Good Causes at KotoriCon". WestDeptfordPatch. Patch Media. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  12. Davis, Phil (February 20, 2012). "Gloucester County College anime and gaming club gives back to mothers in need". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  13. Laday, Jason (January 13, 2013). "'Little anime convention' draws 1,000-plus to Gloucester County College". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  14. Avril, Tom (January 13, 2014). "Halloween in January? No, anime". Philly.com. Interstate General Media LLC. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  15. "Rowan College hosts annual anime convention Kotoricon (PHOTOS)". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. January 8, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  16. Mazziotti III, Anthony J. (January 9, 2019). "RCGC set to host 10th annual KotoriCon". The Sun Newspapers. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  17. Driscoll, Jessica (January 4, 2012). "Gloucester County College to host KotoriCon anime convention". Gloucester County Times. NJ.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  18. "2010 Guests". KotoriCon. 2012. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  19. "KotoriCon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  20. "KotoriCon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  21. "KotoriCon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  22. "KotoriCon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  23. Davis, Phil (January 11, 2014). "KotoriCon at Gloucester County College celebrates anime, video game and 'geek' culture". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  24. "KotoriCon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  25. "KotoriCon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  26. Pritche, Kristina (January 9, 2015). "KotoriCon: 5 things to see while attending the two-day conference". South Jersey Times. NJ.com. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  27. "KotoriCon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  28. "KotoriCon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  29. "KotoriCon 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  30. "KotoriCon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
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