Kodansha House and Anime Expo 2026 Partnership: A Manga Breeze Will Blow in Los Angeles!
Manga industry giant Kodansha has signed a massive collaboration that will excite its fans. Partnering officially with Anime Expo, the largest anime event in North America, the publisher will host the KODANSHA HOUSE 2026 event in the historic Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles from July 2 to 12. This move marks Kodansha's first major showcase on the West Coast following its successful pop-up events in New York.
The biggest surprise of the event is the guest list. The creators of the global phenomenon football manga Blue Lock, Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, along with the author of the award-winning fantasy series Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Boushi no Atelier), Kamome Shirahama, will meet with fans at both KODANSHA HOUSE and Anime Expo. Visitors will be able to take penalty kicks in the Blue Lock-themed "Ego Arena" or participate in the "A World In Layers" interactive experience that reflects the enchanting world of Witch Hat Atelier.
This massive event holds special significance for Witch Hat Atelier fans. The highly anticipated anime adaptation, produced by Bug Films, premiered in April 2026 following a delay to ensure quality. Kamome Shirahama's Eisner and Harvey award-winning work has become a modern classic, selling over 7.5 million copies. With such physical events, Kodansha aims to prove that it is not just a publisher, but an "experience brand" where fans can step into the worlds they love.
Kodansha's strategic expansion demonstrates how critical the manga and anime market outside of Japan has become. Thanks to a retail partnership with Kinokuniya USA, fans will also be able to access limited-edition products exclusive to this event. In the summer of 2026, Los Angeles will become the global hub of anime and manga culture, both with Anime Expo's more than 400,000 attendees and the in-depth content offered by KODANSHA HOUSE.
