Kodansha House 2026 will make its Los Angeles debut in Little Tokyo July 2-12th, in partnership with Anime Expo. Fans can expect guest appearances from Blue Lock’s Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, and Witch Hat Atelier’s Kamome Shirahama!
Kodansha House 2026: The Ultimate Manga Pop-Up Debuts in Los Angeles
Kodansha, the creative force behind the iconic pop culture properties of Akira, The Ghost in the Shell, and Attack on Titan, will partner with North America’s flagship anime convention, Anime Expo, to bring the wildly popular and immersive Kodansha House event to Los Angeles this summer!
The pop-up fan event will make its West Coast debut over the summer on July 2nd-12th in the Little Tokyo neighborhood, while Anime Expo runs concurrently at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 2nd-5th.
Partnering with Anime Expo, North America’s flagship event, is a massive power move. If you’re weighing the costs of travel for these major dates, our past reports like The Best of Anime NYC 2025: Panels, Cosplay, and Is It Worth the Ticket? offer a great blueprint for maximizing your experience.
Guest Spotlight: Blue Lock and Witch Hat Atelier Creators in Little Tokyo
Kodansha House Los Angeles will include guest appearances from the creators of this year’s biggest manga hits:
- Writer Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Illustrator Yusuke Nomura, the creative team behind the internationally beloved soccer manga series, Blue Lock
- Kamome Shirahama, the writer and artist of one of the spring anime season’s most anticipated magical fantasy manga adaptations, Witch Hat Atelier
With creators Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura making the trip to LA, there’s no better time to revisit the high-stakes chaos of the series. Check out our deep dive into the Pure Insanity – Blue Lock Ep 1 Review to see how the “Egoist” philosophy began.
Similarly, for those captivated by Kamome Shirahama’s intricate art, we’ve broken down the technical side of her world-building in The Magic Pen is Mightier: Witch Hat Atelier Episode 1 Review – Sigil Logic and Magic Gatekeeping.
In addition to their Kodansha House appearances, mangaka Kaneshiro-sensei, Nomura-sensei, and Shirahama-sensei will appear as official guests of Anime Expo, where they will hold separate panels and signing events.
Details of how to attend these coveted appearances at both Kodansha House and Anime Expo will be announced soon. AX Con attendees can also unlock special benefits at Kodansha House with their badges, with more details forthcoming. If you are interested in attending Anime Expo 2026 and haven’t purchased a badge yet, you can visit their official website for more information.
Beyond the Booth: Immersive Galleries, Cafes, and Kinokuniya Exclusives
Kodansha will work with Kinokuniya USA again as its official partner for retail operations during the LA pop-up event. Look out for future announcements regarding exclusive merch that can only be purchased at Kodansha House and Kinokuniya bookstores.
Kinokuniya remains the gold standard for retail operations at these pop-ups. If you can’t make the West Coast debut, you can still find that same immersive energy at their flagship locations – read our thoughts on why Kinokuniya NYC is a Great Place to Experience Japanese Pop Culture.
The 2026 Roadmap: NYC Fall Return and Satellite Booths at SDCC & Anime NYC
Kodansha is also excited to announce a return to its traditional home base in New York City for its fall installment of Kodansha House later this year, in addition to satellite booths appearing on the convention floors of San Diego Comic-Con in July, and Anime NYC in August. Further details, including guest information, will be released in time.
Kodansha House has become more than just a manga event; allowing fans to enter a portal that takes them into dynamic, interactive spaces to connect with, and celebrate the stories they have come to love.
Kodansha House has a storied history of bringing legendary mangaka to the States. For a look at what to expect from the immersive atmosphere and exclusive Q&As, revisit our Atsushi Ohkubo Q&A & Exclusive Photos: Kodansha House 2025 NYC Manga and Anime Pop-Up Review or our earlier coverage Meeting Vinland Saga Creator Makoto Yukimura: Kodansha House NYC 2024 Event Recap.
The Kodansha House pop-up event is a vibrant meeting place where the world of manga crosses over into real life, and fans can spend leisure time meeting and making new friends, hang out in a manga gallery, lounge, cafe, and even a library.
With daily programming to include exclusive manga creator appearances, panel discussions, anime screenings, and more, Kodansha House 2026 has positioned itself as the perfect pop-up for manga enthusiasts, both new and seasoned, to mingle and deep dive into the eternal magic of manga.
For announcements and upcoming details on future events, follow Kodansha USA on their Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube social media accounts.
Note: The information above was sourced from a press release.
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