"POKÉMON X KOGEI Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft : A Fusion of Japanese Crafts and Pokemon in Los Angeles

When you hear "Los Angeles," what do you envision?

Perhaps a blue sky, the beach, palm trees, an entertainment industry centered around the movie world, and famous athletes like Shohei Ohtani, who is currently playing for the MLB's Los Angeles Angels.

In fact, Southern California, where Los Angeles is located, has the highest number of Japanese residents living abroad and is the largest gateway for Japanese corporations in North America.

In downtown LA, there's Little Tokyo. This district, thought to be the initial settlement zone for pre-war Japanese immigrants, has a history of over 100 years. As a place that houses the largest population of Japanese-Americans globally, it harbors a deep connection with Japan, making it a very livable area for the Japanese populace.

As a result, Japanese culture has permeated the local scene. Specifically, anime, manga, and games – all part of the pop culture spectrum – have seen a surge in popularity in this area in recent years.

The widespread popularity of Japanese pop culture in the United States

The Anime Expo, which is held during the first week of July each year and primarily features Japanese manga and anime, is hosted by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). It is one of the largest anime festivals in America, attracting around 320,000 attendees over four days. Not just from across America, but anime fans from all over the world flock to this event.