Anime fans, cosplayers, artists, gamers, and curious newcomers will have plenty to celebrate this fall when HizashiCon returns to Pensacola again as part of the Foo Foo Festival.
Now in its third year, HizashiCon is a celebration of anime, Japanese pop culture, cosplay, music, art, and perhaps most importantly, the people who love it all. The Japan America Society of Northwest Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering friendship and understanding between the U.S. and Japan, produces the festival as a way to bring that mission to life through creativity and community. And judging by the response, Pensacola has embraced it. “One of the biggest things that pushed us to do this festival is the overwhelming positive feedback,” says Savannah Mikus, chair of HizashiCon. “We’ve had so many people who have said it was their first convention and they fell in love with conventions because of it.”
That enthusiasm is part of what has kept HizashiCon growing. “There’s overwhelming community feedback and passion for what we put on,” Mikus adds.
That sense of community is at the heart of the convention. Whether someone has been watching anime for years, is discovering the fandom for the first time, or is simply a parent trying to keep up with what their kids are into, there’s a place for them at HizashiCon.
Throughout the three-day event, festivalgoers can browse vendors and artists offering original artwork and fan merchandise, join panels and workshops, play tabletop games, test their anime knowledge with trivia, and learn from fellow fans who are eager to share what they love.
Cosplay is another big part of the weekend, with opportunities for everyone from seasoned costume creators to those trying it for the first time. The cosplay competition includes junior and adult categories, while a noncompetitive fashion walk gives anyone who wants to step onto the stage a chance to show off a costume they’ve created.
New this year is a video competition, inspired by a longtime anime community tradition. Participants can create their own anime music videos by pairing clips from their favorite shows with music and then submit their work to be judged for prizes.
There will also be plenty of music to enjoy live. The convention’s Idol Festival will feature nine idols, including two virtual performers and seven appearing in person. The concert lineup includes Asian American rapper Alan Z, Japanese cover artist and guitarist MonicroMenace, and the returning virtual performance Voca Boca.
Another returning favorite is the Heartstrings Maid Café, which will once again give attendees the chance to step into one of anime and Japanese pop culture’s most recognizable experiences. This year’s café will feature returning senior maids as well as new faces, meaning even repeat visitors can expect something different. “You will never have the same experience at the café,” Mikus says.
One of Mikus’ favorite aspects of the event is the opportunity to put local artists in the spotlight—particularly those working in styles that don’t always find a place in traditional galleries or festivals. “We bring local artists with alternative styles,” she says. “Artists that work in comic book style or animation style that usually aren’t featured in traditional art museums or festivals.”
That emphasis on participation extends to the convention’s programming, too. HizashiCon is intentionally fan-driven, giving attendees the opportunity to propose presentations and activities of their own. This year, for example, one presentation will explore the Japanese trend of itabags—bags with clear panels that fans decorate with pins, keychains, photos, and other pieces celebrating their favorite characters.
Also as part of Foo Foo Festival, the Japan-America Society is partnering with Coastal Cat Café for Cat-Puccinos and Cosplay, a Sunday morning brunch where attendees can dress as their favorite characters while enjoying time with the café’s cats. It’s a perfect extension of what HizashiCon does best: bringing people together around the things they love.
