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Tobias McCurry attended his first Sakura-Con convention almost 20 years ago. Now the director of publicity for the convention’s presenting sponsor, the nonprofit Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association (ANCEA), McCurry attends upwards of 30 conventions across the country each year.

“It is one of the only conventions where I have the opportunity to talk with every gamut of the social ladder,” he says. “You have the people who are there to be silly and have a good time cosplaying, and the opportunity to talk with industry professionals all the way up to people who run the show and put things together.”

Sakura-Con makes its annual stop in Seattle this weekend from March 29 through March 31 at the Seattle Convention Center. From modest beginnings in 1998 with about 300 guests, the event — the Pacific Northwest’s oldest anime convention — has exploded in popularity. More than 25,000 fans are expected this year. 

Sakura-Con provides a space for people across fandoms to make friends, learn from one another, and continue to promote understanding around Asian culture. 

The convention features a mix of events, including a scavenger hunt where participants can explore the natural beauty of Japan, panels, reading and gaming rooms, and even a cosplay repair station. There are several themed dance parties featuring different DJs and panels ranging from “Why Your Waifu is Trash,” “Dubs vs Subs,” and “Is this an Isekai?! How to Survive an Anime Convention.” 

You can also find anime-related merchandise from the United States and Japan and participate in numerous role playing games.

Mich Chan, a regular attendee since 2019 and a panel host since 2022, carefully plans their convention schedule, including scheduled meal breaks, to ensure they catch all must-see events. Chan will travel from Vancouver, B.C., for this year’s conference.

“In some cases, it means having to pick between two interesting panels happening at the same time,” Chan says. 

It will be a busy weekend in Seattle, as the Mariners also kick off their 2024 MLB season with a four-game homestand against the Boston Red Sox March 28.

Sakura-Con’s economic impact is estimated at $15 million. 

“What I love about Sakura-Con specifically is that it is very much community grown from the ground up, and it became something much greater than it intended to be,” McCurry says.