AnimeJapan 2026 Concludes with Record Attendance: K-On! Stars Take the Stage
The heart of the anime world beat in Tokyo this weekend! AnimeJapan 2026 managed to break its own record by hosting a total of 156,000 visitors during the dates it opened its doors to the public, March 28-29. Held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, the event was overflowing with fans not only from Japan but from all over the world. This massive turnout surpassed the 2025 record of 152,400 people, serving as the most concrete proof of the momentum the anime industry has gained on a global scale.
One of the most talked-about moments of the event took place during a special panel held for the legendary series K-On!. The series' lead voice actors Aki Toyosaki (Yui Hirasawa) and Yoko Hikasa (Mio Akiyama) appeared before their fans on March 29. The unforgettable members of the 'Hokago Tea Time' group expressed that their love for their characters has never faded, even years after the series concluded. In her speech on stage, Toyosaki moved thousands of fans by saying, "As long as you love K-On!, your youth continues."
Founded in 2014 and celebrating its 13th anniversary this year, AnimeJapan achieved its largest-scale organization in history by covering the East, South, and Rooftop exhibition areas. The fact that classics like K-On!, brought to life by Kyoto Animation and which topped music charts when it was released in 2009, still receive such great interest demonstrates the industry's power to blend nostalgia with innovation. The presence of over 120 booths and the organization of more than 50 stage programs at the event once again showcased the economic scale of the industry.
This year's record attendance is a harbinger of larger projects and international collaborations in the coming period. Fans were not content with just nostalgic panels; they also followed important announcements regarding new productions to be released in the coming seasons. AnimeJapan 2026 has gone down in history as an unforgettable organization that both brought old friends together and shed light on the future of the industry. Let's see how much higher this bar will be raised next year?
