Otakuthon (August 2 to 4, 2024)
Otakuthon, Montreal's largest annual Japanese pop culture convention, took place at the Palais des Congrès from August 2 to 4. The event drew over 36,000 enthusiasts of Japanese anime, manga, and video games. The event featured notable guests from Japan, including creators, voice actors, and musicians. The Consulate General of Japan set up a booth to promote the JET Programme and MEXT Scholarships and introduced Japanese traditional culture with tea ceremony workshops organized by the Montreal Association Chado Urasenke Tankokai, Japanese folk song and dance activity presented by Komachi Montreal, and a judo demonstration by Shidokan judo club.
The convention also offered a variety of workshops, including a lecture on tourism in Japan, giving participants a golden opportunity to dive into the many facets of everything Japan has to offer. Additionally, Consul General Uchikawa presented the "Consul General's Award" to one of the 50 competing teams in the Masquerade cosplay competition. The exceptional quality of the cosplays and the creative talent, which reflected a genuine passion for Japanese pop culture, made a lasting impression.