Ethan’s Adventure

Kumoricon: Have you heard of it? What about anime or manga? Does Naruto or Dragon Ball Z ring any bells? What about Ponyo or Your Name?

Simply put, anime and manga are the Japanese version of cartoons and comics. And maybe you’ve seen a mass of people together in amazing costumes, at one time or another, in Portland. What were they doing? They were probably at a convention celebrating something they enjoy.

After visiting Kumoricon again this year – held Nov. 8-10 at the Oregon Convention Center – I have much to share from my experiences. 

Coincidentally starting the year, I was born, Kumoricon began in 2003, in Springfield, Oregon, during the Thanksgiving weekend that year.

The now-annual event is a production of Altonimbus Entertainment, a nonprofit organization in Oregon that is devoted to celebrating anime and Japanese culture and runs every year in November. There are all sorts of panels and events at this convention. From a manga library, to karaoke, contests and trivia games, Kumoricon has a plentiful number of events that you can be a part of, along with others.

One of the panels I’ve visited at Kumoricon was a trivia booth for the popular video game, “Genshin Impact.” It was fun being able to participate in answering different types of trivia questions based on a game I enjoy. I’ve even been to a karaoke panel, and was able to listen to a bunch of talented singers who sang their favorite songs, ranging from specific songs used in anime and video games to and popular songs sung by artists.

During my time at Kumoricon, I’ve even helped in running the manga library through volunteering one time. There was a large section of manga to read, and I would often stay in the manga library during the late evenings before going home. The library is a great place to go to take a break from the hustle-and-bustle nature of a convention. If you need a place to relax and rest, I recommend going there.

For anyone who is familiar with conventions, you know that there are usually markets and shops to purchase merchandise. Every time I’ve been to Kumoricon, I visit the shop. At the event, the Kumorimarket has booths that are run by individual companies. This time, there were nearly 40 different booths that contained many different kinds of stuff – whether selling anime figures, manga, posters, food and even cosplay items, there is booth for everyone. I even saw a booth with handmade blankets! In the end, I ended buying anime figures, and a couple posters.

Overall, I’d say my time spent at Kumoricon is an experience I’ll never forget. As someone who loves anime and manga, I can’t fathom how much fun I’ve had there. Even if you aren’t a fan of anime, there are many different events and panels for people who simply like video games, pop culture, or just simply Japanese culture. If you’re going alone or going with friends, you’ll find something that you can enjoy. 

Ethan Oliver