Anime Expo season always brings surprises, but this year, Kodansha decided to drop a crossover event worthy of its own manga panels. The legendary publisher, home to classics like Akira, The Ghost in the Shell, and Attack on Titan, is partnering with Anime Expo to finally bring fans what they’ve been asking for: Kodansha House, a fully immersive pop‑up fan experience.
It will also make its first-ever visit to the West Coast, in the heart of Little Tokyo, July 2-12, with an ideal overlap with Anime Expo 2026 (July 2-5) at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Should you find yourself anywhere in downtown LA at that time, then you would be practically stepping into a manga multiverse.
A Creator Lineup That Is Not Coming To Play
This is not a drill: Kodansha is officially bringing the biggest manga creators to Los Angeles
- The legendary duo of the global hit, Blue Lock, Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura. Lock in now.
- The author and artist of Witch Hat Atelier, which is currently being adapted into a long-awaited anime series, is Kamome Shirahama.
All three creators will also appear as official guests at Anime Expo, hosting panels and autograph sessions at both Anime Expo and Kodansha House. Details on how to attend these events are coming soon, but do expect high demand.
And yes, Anime Expo badge holders will unlock special perks at Kodansha House, with more info on those bonuses on the way.
Kodansha House is more of a manga portal than a pop-up:
Kodansha House is an immersive experience, allowing you to enter the world of your favorite manga characters, hang out, explore, and even get lost.
Inside, attendees can expect:
- A manga gallery
- A themed café
- A cozy lounge
- A curated library
- Daily programming, including creator talks, screenings, panels, and more
You walk into a store just to browse, and before you know it, 2 hours have passed, and you are walking out with merchandise that you never planned on buying.
Speaking of exclusives, Kinokuniya USA is returning as the official retail partner, which means limited‑edition items will be available only at Kodansha House and select Kinokuniya stores.
Wallets and bank accounts, please prepare yourselves and gather for a moment of silence.
The Countdown to AX Just Got Even Bigger
Kodansha House is open for 10 straight days, so fans attending Anime Expo or simply enjoying the energy of Little Tokyo can fully immerse themselves in the experience.
Anime Expo 2026 badges are available now at anime-expo.org.
Anime Expo 2026 is about to be one of the biggest years ever if this is just the first announcement of the season.
