27,060 Attendees: Kochi City Turns into an Anime Hub!

As part of the 'Kochi Anime Creator Sacred Site Project' promoted by Kochi Shinkin Bank (Chairman: Kurumi Yamazaki) in collaboration with Kochi Prefecture and several local cities, the 'Kochi Anikuri Festival 2026' was held in Kochi City over two days, April 11-12. The event saw 27,060 attendees (111% compared to the previous year). Centered around the Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium, the entire city buzzed with excitement, featuring venues like the Obiyamachi Shopping Street and the Kinema M cinema. This year's production experience corner was upgraded, featuring animation, 3D CG, and Kaiyodo figure-making workshops. Booth A offered animation production experiences, including sessions led by legendary professionals who worked on films like 'The Boy and the Heron' and 'SPY×FAMILY.' Booth B focused on 3D animation, allowing participants to customize dinosaur figures and experience 3D animation workflows. Booth C, in collaboration with Kaiyodo, offered clay modeling and stop-motion animation workshops. The main venue featured popular anime exhibits and merchandise, including a booth for 'Pan Dorobou' by Kochi-born illustrator Keiko Shibata. The character 'Taroman' also entertained fans throughout the event. The 'Pokemon Frienda' booth was a massive hit, with wait times reaching up to 60 minutes. The Obiyamachi Shopping Street hosted a cosplay parade led by a local high school marching band, while the 'Touken Ranbu ONLINE' official pop-up shop displayed historical swords. Kochi Shinkin Bank continues to promote this project as part of its 100th-anniversary initiative to revitalize the region through anime.