logo
g Text Version
Auto
Beauty & Self
Books & Music
Career
Computers
Education
Family
Food & Wine
Health & Fitness
Hobbies & Crafts
Home & Garden
Money
News & Politics
Relationships
Religion & Spirituality
Society & Culture
Sports
Travel & Leisure
TV & Movies

dailyclick
Bored? Games!
Postcards
Astrology
Take a Quiz
Rate My Photo

new
Journals
Folklore and Mythology
Business Coach
Marriage
Senior Living
Ethnic Beauty
Adolescence


dailyclick
All times in EST

Low Carb: 8:00 PM

Full Schedule
g
g Japanese Culture Site
Jillian Michelle Williams
BellaOnline's Japanese Culture Editor

g

Japanese Culture at DragonCon 2008

Every year on Labor Day weekend, DragonCon invades downtown Atlanta. Though its main focus is on anything related to fantasy and science fiction, the convention has, for years, also featured a programming track dedicated specifically to anime. For the first time, starting in 2008, the convention added a special segment focusing specifically on Asian culture.

Entitled “Silk Road: Asian Culture,” the track featured panels and demonstrations which focused primarily on Chinese and Japanese cultures. Those interested in Japanese culture could attend classes to learn how to draw manga, make origami, write Haikus, or even to learn basic “survival” phrases for speaking Japanese while traveling to Japan. There were also demonstrations in both kimono and Ningage-ryu, a Japanese martial art, as well as a discussion on Japanese sword-smithing. Asian cinema, drum circle etiquette, the truth about Geishas, and adult themes in Asian culture were all subjects that were also discussed, in their own panels, throughout the weekend.

Con-attendees who were only interested in anime could attend “Anime Programming,” an anime-only track which includes everything from discussions about different types of anime, information on working in the anime business, Q & A sessions with anime voice actors, and an AMV “how-to” demonstration. DragonCon’s anime track also hosts an annual cosplay contest, in which manga, DVD’s, and figurines are given away as prizes to contestants who display the best anime costumes or costuming skills. A special anime video room screens anime movies and episodes of anime series throughout all hours of the entire weekend.

Aside from the programming tracks, two of the most frequented places at DragonCon are the Dealers Room and the Exhibit Hall, where merchandisers are free to sell their products, and anime distributors are not lacking in their presence amongst them. Fans leave having purchased anime plushies, figurines, soundtracks, and posters, in addition to anime and manga.

There’s a little bit of something for everyone if you’re a Japanese culture fan attending DragonCon. If you missed it this year, the convention will be back in Atlanta at the same time next year, so be sure to drop by on Labor Day weekend if you have a love for Japanese culture.

RSS | Related Articles | Previous Features | Site Map

Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Twitter Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Facebook Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to MySpace Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Del.icio.us Digg Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Yahoo My Web Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Google Bookmarks Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Stumbleupon Add Japanese+Culture+at+DragonCon+2008 to Reddit


Content copyright © 2009 by Jillian Michelle Williams. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Jillian Michelle Williams. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Jillian Michelle Williams for details.

g


For FREE email updates, subscribe to the Japanese Culture Newsletter


Past Issues


print
Printer Friendly
bookmark
Bookmark
tell friend
Tell a Friend
forum
Forum
email
Email Editor

g features
Costume Play in Japan

Valentine’s Recipe - Green Tea Chocolate Hearts

Year of the Ox – 2009 – Japanese Zodiac

Archives | Site Map

forum
Forum
email
Contact

Past Issues
memberscenter

jobs
what
job title, keywords
where
city, state or zip
jobs by job search


vote
Growing a Garden
Veggies and Flowers
Veggies Only
Flowers Only
No Garden

g


| About BellaOnline | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Become an Editor |
Website copyright © 2009 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved.


BellaOnline Editor