Hey there, fellow anime enthusiasts and fans of Japanese pop culture! If you’ve been counting down the days, here’s some exciting news for you – Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023, also known as #AFASG23, is coming back to the Suntec Singapore Convention Centre from the 24th to the 26th of November, and it’s going to be a spectacular ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) extravaganza like never before!

From humble beginnings in 2008 with just 30,000 attendees, Anime Festival Asia has grown fivefold, hosting a whopping 145,000 attendees in 2022. It’s clear that anime has transcended niche interests to become a mainstream sensation. And in 2023, the festival is all set to return to its pre-COVID glory, promising the most popular and trending content in the market right now. Get ready to celebrate 15 incredible years of Anime Festival Asia!

Now, let’s dive into the highlights of this year’s event:

Three Star-Studded Nights of Concert Entertainment

From the 24th to the 26th of November, music and anime fans are in for a treat with three nights of entertainment featuring over 20 incredible artists and groups. Tickets are selling like hotcakes, with 25th November’s AFA x hololiveMeet already sold out, but you can still snag a few tickets for AFA x I LOVE ANISONG on 24th November and AFA x SACRA MUSIC FES. on 26th November.

Highlights of the AFA Night Concerts include:

• 24th November: I Love Anisong featuring artists like ASTERISM, Liyuu, May’n, NANO, Survive Said The Prophet, and Tatsuya Kitani.
• 25th November: hololive Meet, featuring a star-studded lineup with the likes of Sakura Miko, Hoshimachi Suisei, Ayunda Risu, and many more.
• 26th November: SACRA MUSIC FES. with artistes like FLOW, ASCA, and a special appearance by Nami Tamaki.

And if you were hoping for a VIP experience, sorry to break the news, but the 3-Day VIP Ticket Packages are already sold out. But fear not; there’s still so much more to look forward to!

Special Collaborations

This year’s festival brings a series of special collaborations that are sure to get your heart racing:

• Bushiroad Expo Asia 2023: Get ready for trading card game tournaments, The Bushiroad Championship Series 2023 Regional Championship, and Shadowverse: Evolve World Invitational 2023 Regional Qualifier. And if you’re new to these games, there are merchandise sales, video game demos, and teaching sessions to help you learn the ropes. Plus, the Japanese women’s professional wrestling group, STARDOM, is set to appear as part of the Bushiroad Expo.
• Ultraman: Brought to you by Tsuburaya Productions, enjoy Ultraman appearances, live stage performances, and booth activities. And you won’t want to miss the life-sized Gomora inflatable only at AFASG23. You can even be the first to play the Ultraman Card Game and get exclusive PR cards!

Day Stage Highlights

The AFA Day Stage, at Hall 406, will be home to a series of screenings, guest talk shows, and more over 24th to 26th November. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store:

• 24th November: Special premieres of “Chained Soldier” and “Tales of Wedding Rings,” with special guests Iori Moe and Shigure Ui.
• 25th November: Seiyuus Ai Kayano, Yumi Uchiyama, and Sumire Uesaka will share their thoughts on the Day Stage.
• 26th November: Seiyuu Soma Saito will be a special guest, and MAPPA will have special guests like Manabu Otsuka, Yuichiro Hayashi, and Mari Okada. Plus, the Cardfight!! Vanguard Talk Stage will feature more exciting guests.

Exhibition: Akiba Town

Get your wallets ready because Akiba Town is the place to be for shopping galore! With over 70 exhibitors showcasing their latest merchandise, some of which are exclusive to the festival, you’re in for a real treat.

Highlights include:

• HoYo FEST 2023: Online and offline events, exclusive merchandise, prizes, and live stage interactions. Take part in web sharing events for in-game rewards and physical prizes.
• Kotobukiya Store: Celebrating its 70th Anniversary, Kotobukiya will bring exclusives like “TRANSFORMERS NEMESIS PRIME LIMITED EDITION BISHOUJO STATUE” and “DARKSTALKERS MORRIGAN LIMITED EDITION BISHOUJO STATUE.”
• Lead Inc.: They’re back with their line of cat plush toys, including gigantic 120-cm plush toys.
• MEDIA LINK: Exclusive merchandise from popular anime like “Oshi no Ko,” “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury,” and “Chainsaw Man.” Plus, special anime Grab Bags from Muse Communication.
• RURUSAMA: Content creator/cosplayer is back with her own merchandise and her BIGGEST booth yet.

Exhibition: Akiba Stage

Housed inside the exhibition areas, AFA’s Akiba Stage will showcase dazzling performances from Japanese and local artistes and talents, including:

• Japanese Idol Group DEAR KISS
• Idol Group Forbidden Equation
• Singaporean Virtual Idol Group SO*DA
• Popular idol group KissBee
• A music showcase by 4 V-Reverie talents
• TikTok Live’s Friday Music Show
• Virtual Talent Audition
• Amelia Khor’s performance
• Pentel ft Manda Dayoyo stage

Creators Hub and Cosplay Hub

Over 120 of the best creators from around the world will be participating in AFA’s highly-anticipated Creator’s Hub. And if you’re a cosplay enthusiast, you’ll be delighted to know that 26 cosplay celebrities are making their way to AFASG23!

Enhanced Visitor Experience

AFAVERSE is back to provide a more immersive game-like experience on-site. Visitors will get NFC-enabled bands to enhance their festival experience and interact with various touch points to earn AFA-Coins for exciting prizes.

But that’s not all! The organizers are making sure your entry experience is smooth and efficient, with advanced redemption times, dedicated entry lanes, and streamlined security checks.

So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to dive into all things J-culture at AFA Singapore 2023 with #AFASG23. It’s a ticketed event, and all AFA tickets are available online via Ticketmaster at https://ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/23_afasingapore. Ticket prices start from just S$28 per day for the exhibition segment.

Stay tuned to the official site or connect on social media for the latest updates on the festival.

Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023

• Dates: 24th – 26th November 2023
• Location: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Levels 3 & 4
• Timing: 10 am – 8 pm

AGet aready for a weekend of anime, music, cosplay,and