Go For Broke: The Tale of the 442nd Regimental combat Team by Dame Aznable
May is Asian and Pacific Islander History Month. I appreciate Anime Boston for having historical panels that highlighted the Japanese American experience. It’s one thing to talk about the history and culture of Japan. It’s also another thing to talk about the importance of Japanese folks living in America and understanding their contributions. I appreciated seeing a panel like this after seeing disdain from Anime Expo fans for hosting a panel about Little Tokyo. It’s a shame that a community that loves Japanese culture cannot take time to understand the people and their experience.
This panel hosted by the decorated Dungeon Master Jim, felt like going to a college history class. He had a natural lecture voice and plenty of visuals. This focused on the Japanese Americans that were brought into concentration camps and then enlisted to fight alongside the Allied forces in World War II. He brought up various European campaigns that the 442nd took part in and why they were the most decorated regiment of World War II. If you’re up for some schooling, any panel by Dungeon Master Jim is worth checking out.
Japanese School Girls Want to Kill Me by Jared the Greek
One of the things that sets Japanese delinquents apart is how they express their rebellion. The female yank has had many looks and attitudes over the years. From long skits and weapons to fashion forward paid “friends” there have been some interesting takes on being a female school punk. This panel looked at the different eras and showed them in different anime series. This was a very fun panel and gives insight into the designs of different characters from various anime series. This is a highly recommended panel for those looking to learn more about how Japanese high school life works.
Cosplay Chess by Dame Aznable
Cosplay Games always delivers. Anime Boston’s cosplay chess is my favorite version of this. This is a main stage Sunday event. So when you’re done checking out and don’t have much dealers or artist alley shopping to do, Cosplay Games is an entertaining show.
The board is set with cosplayers from all types of series. In fact, I don’t think anyone was from the same thing giving it variety and laughs. We had Utena, Shinobu, and Makkachin from Yuri on Ice. Yes, the Yuri on Ice dog was on the chess board! The premise is simple. Two cosplayers play chess and once the characters face elimination, they will need to battle against each other on stage.
The finale was everyone coming onto the stage for one dance number. The 00’s hit, “Caramelldansen” was playing and we all felt nostalgic as we raised our jazz hands to our temples and swayed to the earworm. The last of the cosplay games had concluded.
Dealers Hall by Dame Aznable
Anime Boston’s dealers hall was located on the second floor. I didn’t really like this change because it makes more sense to have the dealers hall on the first floor. You did have your usual anime exhibitors. I’m very happy to see booths selling physical media – not one but two local comic book stores had mountains of manga. Several licensing companies were selling blu-rays to complete your collection. It’s very rare that I see legitimate physical media at conventions; Anime Boston is one of the few I have attended.
It did caught me off guard to see a T Mobile, bean bag, and a massage booth in the dealers hall. Yet, I also understand these trade show style booths do bring in revenue for the rental of the Hynes. It didn’t really bother me knowing this for the survival of Anime Boston 2022. Yet, I focused on browsing around my usual go-to’s. I liked that there was a gunpla booth ran by Gundam Pros; it made my partner happy. I picked up a ton of affordable Lolita and jfashion accessories for myself.
All in all, the location will take some time to get used to should it stay on the second floor,
Artist Alley by Dame Aznable
Artisy Alley is another huge draw for attendees. Artists during the pandemic had to find other means to survive be it setting up online sales, partnering with online conventions, or selling at artist focused events in person. Anime Boston’s Artist Alley was a haven for Genshin Impact collectors. I ended up getting a few pins, brooches, charms, and jewelry themed around my favorite characters.
Artist Alley also had a ton of Pride related merch. This was a great place to get your Pride gear and flair for June Pride. I ended up getting bi themed pins, earrings, necklaces, etc. I’ve been to a few Artist Alley’s that did have Pride related products, and in an age of rainbow washing and corporations taking over Pride, it feels so much more genuine when you’re supporting the hard work of artists that care about community.
Anime Boston Museum by Dame Aznable
A small room right next to the quiet room, the Anime Boston museum showcased how Anime Boston began in 2003. Artifacts such as t-shirts, program guides, and badges from previous Anime Boston’s were on display. This also included old decorations such as the signed Godzilla standee.
There was also a memorial shrine to staff, guests, and attendees of Anime Boston’s past that we have lost.
Additionally, we had mysterious 2020 merch that never saw the light of day until now.
Closing Ceremonies by Dame Aznable
One doesn’t just leave the Hynes convention center and call it a day. Not, at Anime Boston. Closing ceremonies allowed attendees to say “see you real soon” to the guests and staff that put on this show together. The guests said their final words before heading back home.
A-chan and B-kun closed out with the 2023 theme reveal of idols. I’m already plotting my Love Live cosplays now!
Of course, closing ceremonies played the AMV winners. While these were also shown at masquerade, seeing the winners with an audience to close off the convention was quite an experience. We all laughed at the one where Ein trips out on shrooms, we had feels when Nezuko attacked and protected, we got a kick out of a White Woman’s Instagram, and we had a trip down memory lane to the Best of Show winner here:
Anime Boston came to a close. Yet, it was still May. Jay and I wandered around the Hynes to find that cosplayers were still roaming the mall and the open atrium. We waited three years to come home and it sure feels good to be back.