Naka-Kon

Naka-Kon is an annual three-day anime convention held during May at the Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas. The name of the convention comes from the Japanese word for "center/middle".[1]

Naka-Kon
StatusActive
GenreAnime
VenueOverland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center
Location(s)Overland Park, Kansas
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2005
Attendance8,772 in 2015
Organized byNaka-Kon Japanese Cultural Education Association
Websitehttps://naka-kon.com/

Programming

The convention typically offers an Artist Alley, contests, Dealers’ Room, game shows, fashion show, maid cafe, panels, showings, video game rooms, and workshops.[2][3][4][5]

History

Naka-Kon was founded in 2005 by members of the University of Kansas Anime Club.[2][3] The convention moved to the Overland Park Convention Center in 2012.[6] Naka-Kon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] Naka-Kon held a virtual convention in March 2021, a smaller event over Labor Day weekend in September, and in 2022 moved to Memorial Day weekend in May.[9][10][11][12] The 2021 convention had an attendance cap of 2,500, with 2022 having a cap of 6,000.[13]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
April 17, 2005 University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas		300[14]
March 4–5, 2006 University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas		Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, and Caitlin Glass.[15]
March 2–4, 2007 Hilton Kansas City Airport
Kansas City, Missouri		1,529Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Steve Blum, Caitlin Glass, Rob Mungle, Dustin Reudelhuber, and Angela Von Huber.[16]
February 8–10, 2008 Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Kansas City, Missouri		2,091Chris Bevins, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Taliesin Jaffe, Dustin Reudelhuber, Chris Sabat, Sonny Strait, Angela Von Huber, and Kari Wahlgren.[17]
March 13–15, 2009 Hyatt Regency Crown Center
Kansas City, Missouri		3,135Yamila Abraham, Amelie Belcher, Leah Clark, Chuck Huber, K-State Yosakoi, LeetStreet Boys, Kevin McKeever, Brina Palencia, Chris Patton, Dustin Reudelhuber, and Angela Von Huber.[18]
February 19–21, 2010 Hyatt Regency Crown Center
Kansas City, Missouri		4,084Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Shion Francois, Kyle Hebert, K-State Yosakoi, Kojokan Shinbutai, Yumi Kwaguchi, M. Alice LeGrow, Peelander-Z, Wendy Powell, Dustin Reudelhuber, Eric Vale, Angela Von Huber, and Tommy Yune.[19]
February 18–20, 2011 Hyatt Regency Crown Center
Kansas City, Missouri		4,684Alsdead, Amelie Belcher, Samurai Dan Coglan, Gavin Goszka, Clarine Harp, Charlene Ingram, Kojokan Shinbutai, Brina Palencia, Dustin Reudelhuber, Patrick Seitz, DJ Sephiroth, J. Michael Tatum, Angela Von Huber, and Eric Wile.[20]
February 10–12, 2012 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas[6]		Amelie Belcher, Blood Stain Child, Steven Blum, Aleathia Burns, Chris Cason, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Quinton Flynn, Yaya Han, DJ Infam0us, Wendee Lee, Nina Matsumoto, and Take One Productions.[21]
March 15–17, 2013 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Blue Chee's, Christine Marie Cabanos, Richard Epcar, Kyle Hebert, Catherine Jones, Tony Oliver, and Nobuo Uematsu.[22]
March 14–16, 2014 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		7,697Amelie Belcher, Ben Bell, Chaka Cumberbatch, Destrose, Kevin McKeever, Scott McNeil, Atelier Pierrot, DJ Reeves, Revolution Boi, Monica Rial, Michelle Ruff, Team Whatever Cosplay, Travis Willingham, DJ Willis, and Steve Yun.[23]
March 13–15, 2015 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		8,772Greg Ayres, Rev. Barrish, Amelie Belcher, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Shion Francois, Hizumi, Jin, Robert Jones, Takashi Kisaki, Matthew Mercer, Hachioji P, Revolution Boi, Patrick Seitz, Andre "DJ Jinrei" Smith, Micah Solusod, Junko Takeuchi, Jessica Tran, Alexandra Watson, and Greg Wicker.[24]
March 11–13, 2016 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Yoh Asakura, Greg Ayres, Kevin Dooley, The Earthbound Papas, Chihiro Fujioka, Akira Fukaya, Michael Gluck, Jason Hayes, Yoshitaka Hirota, Michelle Jade, Roland Kelts, Timothy Koenig, Eru Matsumoto, Erica Mendez, Momo Hime, Tsutomu Narita, Benyamin Nuss, Michio Okamiya, Pros and Cons Cosplay, DJ Rob Reeves, Arnie Roth, Micah Solusod, Karen Strassman, Austin Tindle, Nobuo Uematsu, Mamoru Yokota, Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata), and DJ Zombie Kitten.[25]
March 10–12, 2017 Overland Park Convention Center
Sheraton Hotel[26]
Overland Park, Kansas		Amelie Belcher, Ben Bell, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Roland Kelts, Showshow Kurihara, Joel McDonald, Max Mittelman, A New World , Rondonrats, and David Vincent.[27]
March 16–18, 2018 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Ben Bell, Steve Blum, Sean Chiplock, Xanthe Huynh, Kabuki, Daniel Kanemitsu, Roland Kelts, Kill Screen, Nao Kurebayashi, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Moderately Okay Cosplay, DJ Chef Nguyen, Atelier Pierrot, Wendy Powell, Mikio Sakai, Masumi Sendou, Ian Sinclair, Strangecat Cosplay, Murata Tam, and Takayoshi Tanimoto.[28]
March 15–17, 2019 Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Satomi Akesaka, Amelie Belcher, Kara Edwards, Ryuzou Ishino, Billy Kametz, Aya Kamiki, Roland Kelts, Kristen McGuire, Yoshinori Natsume, Alejandro Saab, Jad Saxton, and Keith Silverstein.[29]
September 3-5, 2021 Overland Park Convention Center and
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel
at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Morgan Berry and Christina Marie Kelly.[11]
May 27-29, 2022 Overland Park Convention Center and
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel
at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Amelie Belcher, Jessica Calvello, Gavin Goszka, Anairis Quiñones, Eric Roth, Strangecat Cosplay, and Kari Wahlgren.[12]
May 26-28, 2023 Overland Park Convention Center and
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel
at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas		Amelie Belcher, Aaron Campbell, Clifford Chapin, Khoi Dao, Kristen McGuire, Philip "Canvas" Odango, Zeno Robinson, Laura Stahl, Diana Tolin, and Mark Whitten.[30]

References
  1. Ralph, Justin (24 March 2016). "Nak-Nak-Nakin' at Naka-Kon". The Vantage. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  2. "Naka-Kon books Blood Stain Child as musical guest for 2012" (Press release). AnimeCons.com. 2011-12-29. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  3. Farr, Courtney (2006-03-03). "U. Kansas club hopes to spread Anime fever". University Daily Kansan.
  4. Kim, Sean (2013-03-20). "Naka-Kon a place of growth and diversity". The Current Online. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
  5. Wang, Angela (14 March 2017). "Naka-Kon: A Convention Review". Viewster Blog. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  6. Shain, Nathan (2012-02-10). "Anime fans convene in Overland Park". KSHB. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  7. "Naka-Kon 2020 Cancelled". Naka-Kon. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  8. "Naka-Kon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  9. "Naka-Kon 2021". Naka-Kon. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  10. "Naka-Kon 2021 March Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  11. "Naka-Kon 2021 September Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  12. "Naka-Kon 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  13. Gerian, Charles (April 13, 2022). "Journal-Tribune sets course for Naka-Kon anime convention in May". Blackwell Journal Tribune. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  14. "Naka-Kon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  15. "Naka-Kon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  16. "Naka-Kon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  17. "Naka-Kon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  18. "Naka-Kon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  19. "Naka-Kon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  20. "Naka-Kon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  21. "Naka-Kon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  22. "Naka-Kon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  23. "Naka-Kon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  24. "Naka-Kon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  25. "Naka-Kon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  26. Iaguessa, Joey (5 April 2017). "TMN at Naka-Kon 2017". Truman Media Network. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  27. "Naka-Kon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  28. "Naka-Kon 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  29. "Naka-Kon 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  30. "Naka-Kon 203 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.

38°55′42″N 94°39′19″W

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