When you’re going to a convention, it’s very likely that related companies will hold offsite events that don’t necessarily require a show badge for entry. The Kodansha House is certainly one of those events which showcased the wide breadth of publisher Kodansha’s IP catalog.
I had the pleasure of going to the instance they held during the 2024 New York Comic Con and they offered photo ops with Kaneda’s motorcycle from Akira, an Attack on Titan cityscape where you can pretend to be a titular-titan. During the residency, the location featured visits from mangakas as well as a pop-up shop powered by Kinokuniya Books. The house also made an appearance in New York during 2025 as well.
The returns must’ve been sufficient enough, because the publisher will be taking the setup to the West Coast, during arguably the largest anime convention in the US, Anime Expo (AX). From July 2-12 (Anime Expo is from July 2nd to the 5th), fans can visit the Little Tokyo neighborhood to check out the publishers’ offerings and meet with the creators of Blue Lock and Witch Hat Atelier! Once again they will be tapping Kinokuniya to manage the retail aspect of the house where they will be offering exclusive merchandise. While you don’t need an AX badge to set foot onto the premises, having one will unlock special benefits of which will be revealed as the opening date draws near.
So the Kodansha House has finally made it out West, where will they end it’s anyone’s guess. However if you want the heads up I’d recommend you follow the company’s various social media accounts such as Facebook; Instagram; TikTok; X; and YouTube, if you want to be in the know!