The anime industry’s flagship event, AnimeJapan, concluded its 2024 edition on a high note, drawing an impressive preliminary count of 132,557 visitors over its public days on March 23rd and 24th at Tokyo Big Sight. With the Business Day attendees yet to be tallied, these numbers are poised to climb even higher, underscoring the event’s burgeoning appeal and the anime sector’s vibrant recovery post-pandemic.
Launched in 2014 as a celebration and dissemination of all things anime, AnimeJapan has established itself as a crucial March fixture at Tokyo Big Sight, eagerly anticipated by fans and industry insiders alike. However, the event faced significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to cancellations in 2020 and 2021 and scaled-back versions in the subsequent years.
The 2024 event marked a return to form, utilizing all of Tokyo Big Sight’s East Exhibition Halls (1 to 8) and featuring the “Family Anime Festa” and Business Day in a physical format for the first time in five years. The enhanced presence and engagement at company booths indicated a robust resurgence, culminating in a visitor turnout that surged by 32% from the previous year and matched pre-2019 levels.
This resurgence not only reflects the world’s gradual emergence from the shadows of the pandemic but also captures the ongoing boom in the Japanese anime industry. The early announcement of “AnimeJapan 2025” signals the event’s sustained momentum and its role as a barometer for the anime industry’s health and growth. Scheduled for March 2025, next year’s event promises to continue the tradition, with public and business days designed to cater to fans and industry professionals alike, anticipating another year of heightened interest and participation.
