JAFAX

JAFAX is an annual three day anime convention held during June/July at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The convention's full name stands for Japanese Animation Film and Art Expo. JAFAX was previously a two-day event held at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and was organized by the university's anime club (Otaku No Anime) and tabletop gaming club (AltReal).[2][5][6]

JAFAX
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Manga, Gaming[1][2]
VenueAmway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place
Location(s)Grand Rapids, Michigan
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1996
Attendance3,500 in 2016[3]
Organized byJAFAX[4]
Websitehttp://www.jafax.org/

Programming

The convention typically offers anime screenings, an artist alley, dance, fashion shows, game shows, guest speakers, maid cafe, masquerade, music video contest, panel discussions, tabletop gaming, vendors, and video games.[2][4][5][6][7]

Charity events in 2016 included the 100 Tables Project and a Blood Drive.[4]

History

The event was started in 1995 by Rob Grimes, to spread anime in West Michigan.[2][5] JAFAX for its first two years was held at the Kendall College of Art and Design, before moving to Grand Valley State University.[2] No 2015 convention was held due to outgrowing Grand Valley State University, the search for a new venue, and organizational changes.[8] The event was free until the 2016 move.[7][9][10]

JAFAX moved to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place in 2016.[4][10][11] Registration experienced issues and the convention shared its hotel with several weddings.[10] JAFAX 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
June, 1996 Kendall College of Art and Design
Grand Rapids, Michigan		150[14]
June 21–22, 1997 Kendall College of Art and Design
Grand Rapids, Michigan		350[15]
June 27–28, 1998 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		500Robert DeJesus[16]
June 19, 1999 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		750[17]
June 24–25, 2000 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		800Robert DeJesus[18]
June 24–25, 2001 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		900Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, and Doug Smith.[19]
June 22–23, 2002 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		1,300Steve Bennett, James Dawsey, Robert DeJesus, Nickey Froberg, Amy Howard-Wilson, and Doug Smith.[20]
June 21–22, 2003 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		1,500James Dawsey, Robert DeJesus, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith.[21]
June 26–27, 2004 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		2,200Michael Coleman, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Newton Ewell, Nickey Froberg, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Kevin Lillard, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith.[1][22]
June 25–26, 2005 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		Michael Coleman, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Trevor Devall, Nickey Froberg, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[23]
June 24–25, 2006[24] Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan
June 24–25, 2007 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		2,500[25]
June 21–22, 2008 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Mundee Lewis, Joseph Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, Bruce Lewis, and David G. Wilson III.[26]
June 27–28, 2009 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		Mark Crilley, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Mundee Lewis, Joseph Onyskow, Jeremy Robinson, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, and David G. Wilson III.[27]
June 26–27, 2010 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		3,000Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Joseph Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith.[28]
June 25–26, 2011 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		3,200James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Kyle Hebert, Michael House, Dan Houser, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith.[29]
June 23–24, 2012 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		3,500Mark Crilley, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Jeremy Robinson, Salia, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, and David G. Wilson III.[30]
June 22–23, 2013 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		3,800Yunmao Ayakawa, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Comfort Love, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, David G. Wilson III, and Adam Withers.[6][31]
June 21–22, 2014 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan		5,500James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Darrel Guilbeau, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Chris Rager, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Lisle Wilkerson, and David G. Wilson III.[32]
June 24–26, 2016 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place
Grand Rapids, Michigan		3,5002D6, James Dawsey, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Brittney Karbowski, Comfort Love, Jake Paque, Tyson Rinehart, David G. Wilson III, and Adam Withers.[3]
June 16–18, 2017 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place
Grand Rapids, Michigan		Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Charles Dunbar, Kristie Good, Kyle Hebert, Dan Houser, Andrew Love, Comfort Love, J. Michael Tatum, and David Vincent.[33]
June 29 - July 1, 2018 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place
Grand Rapids, Michigan		Zach Aguilar, Justin Briner, Clifford Chapin, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Charles Dunbar, Todd Haberkorn, Comfort Love, and Adam Withers.[34]
June 7-9, 2019 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place
Grand Rapids, Michigan		Steve Blum, Luci Christian, Charles Dunbar, Cherami Leigh, Comfort Love, Jamie Marchi, and Adam Withers.[35]

References
  1. "Celebrating Japanese Animation". Grand Valley State University. June 25, 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  2. Phillips, Ellie (July 7, 2013). "Modern expo also offers traditional Japanese entertainment". Grand Valley Lanthorn. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  3. "JAFAX 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  4. "A Pokemon Professor, a Parasite and a Titan Walk Into a Convention..." Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  5. Odette, Linda (June 24, 2010). "JAFAX, Grand Rapids anime expo, opens Saturday at GVSU". MLive. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  6. Hayden, Jim (June 18, 2013). "JAFAX anime convention teeming with just plain cool costumes". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  7. Hayden, Jim (June 20, 2014). "Annual anime conference JAFAX will bring out creative costumes". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  8. Hayden, Jim (March 18, 2015). "JAFAX anime convention at GVSU cancelled". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  9. Ayakawa, Yunmao (August 2, 2012). "JAFAX Cosplay Takes Over Grand Rapids, MI". Otaku USA. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  10. Kramer, Cheyanne (July 6, 2016). "JAFAX 2016: What's changed?". The Oakland Post. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  11. "JAFAX moves anime expo to DeVos Place". WXMI. June 24, 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  12. "JAFAX 2020 Cancellation". JAFAX. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  13. "JAFAX 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  14. "JAFAX 1996 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  15. "JAFAX 1997 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  16. "JAFAX 1998 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  17. "JAFAX 1999 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  18. "JAFAX 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  19. "JAFAX 2001 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  20. "JAFAX 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  21. "JAFAX 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  22. "JAFAX 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  23. "JAFAX 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  24. "JAFAX 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  25. "JAFAX 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  26. "JAFAX 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  27. "JAFAX 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  28. "JAFAX 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  29. "JAFAX 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  30. "JAFAX 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  31. "JAFAX 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  32. "JAFAX 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  33. "JAFAX 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  34. "JAFAX 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  35. "JAFAX 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.

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