Nan Desu Kan

Nan Desu Kan (NDK) is an annual three-day anime convention held during September at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado. The convention is the largest anime convention in the Rocky Mountain region and each one takes eighteen months to plan.[5][6][7] Its name in Japanese roughly means nan desu ka (何ですか), "what is it?".[8] The parent company, Rocky Mountain Anime Association, is a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.[3][4]

Nan Desu Kan
StatusActive
GenreAnime[1]
VenueGaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
Location(s)Aurora, Colorado
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1997
Attendance18,987 in 2017[2]
Organized byRocky Mountain Anime Association[3]
Filing status501(c)(4)[4]
Websitehttp://www.ndkdenver.org/

Programming

The convention typically offers an anime music video contest, art showings and auctions, cultural panels, dances, dealer's room, games, masquerade, musical guests, screenings of anime, and workshops.[1][9][4][10] NDK also hosts a contest for attendees who decorate their atrium hotel rooms, with the winners receiving a free hotel room.[11] The convention has held various fundraisers since 2000 to support organizations that include: American Diabetes Association, American Red Cross, Child's Play, Japan America Society of Colorado, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the United Way Gulf Recovery Fund (2010).[4][11] In 2012, $12,000 was raised for the Aurora Victim Relief Fund and other charities.[3][12] The 2015 charity fundraiser was a poker tournament for Dumb Friends League.[13]

History

Prior to 2000 the convention was known as Nan Desu Kon.[14] Renovations in the hotel were still underway prior to the start in 2003, but did not affect the convention.[15] The convention chose not to move to the Colorado Convention Center due to attendee logistic issues (hotels, money, and parking).[6] The convention instituted an attendance cap of 7,500 per day in 2011 due to event quality and attendee comfort concerns.[6][16] The attendance cap of 7,500 per day continued into 2012 and the convention was a sellout.[3][17] The convention added the Hilton Garden Inn DTC hotel in 2013, occurred during the 2013 Colorado floods, and attendance remained capped at 7,500 attendees.[9][18] Along with the flooding the fire alarm went off, tornado warnings occurred, long lines occurred, and the masquerade had to be stopped due to a medical emergency. The convention also hosted the World Cosplay Summit Mountain Qualifiers with Green Jello Cosplay winning.

Nan Desu Kan moved from the Marriott Denver Tech Center to Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in 2015 due to growth and included an expanded dealers room.[19] Nan Desu Kan 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20][21]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
August 30, 1997 Tivoli Student Union
Denver, Colorado		153[22]Rich Arnold, Steve Bennett, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[22]
July 17–19, 1998 Stapleton Plaza Hotel
Denver, Colorado		575[23]Steve Bennett, Kuni Kimura, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[23]
September 24–26, 1999 Sheraton Denver West
Lakewood, Colorado		935[24]Tiffany Grant and Jan Scott-Frazier.[24]
October 13–15, 2000 Sheraton Denver West
Lakewood, Colorado		1,477[14]Hiroshi Aro, Kevin Bennett, Steve Bennett, Juliet Cesario, Matt Greenfield, Hiroki Hayashi, Carl Gustav Horn, Scott Houle, Mari Iijima, Taliesin Jaffe, Shin Kurokawa, Lanelle Markgraf, Panther Comics, Jan Scott-Frazier, Scott Simpson, and Pamela Weidner.[14]
September 21–23, 2001 Holiday Inn Denver International Airport
Denver, Colorado		1,711[25]Steve Bennett, Bob Bergen, Keith Burgess, Newton Ewell, Cynthia Hands, Taliesin Jaffe, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Tristan MacAvery, Scott McNeil, Panther Comics, Deb Rabbai, Jan Scott-Frazier, Nobuyuki Takahashi.[25]
September 20–22, 2002 Holiday Inn Denver International Airport
Denver, Colorado		2,467[26]Steve Bennett, Bob Bergen, Keith Burgess, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Newton Ewell, Crispin Freeman, Cynthia Hands, Mari Iijima, Taliesin Jaffe, Wendee Lee, Tristan MacAvery, Scott McNeil, Nobuyuki Ohnishi, Estevan Olivas, Jonathan C. Osborne, Panther Comics, Deb Rabbai, Susumu Sakurai, Jan Scott-Frazier, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Shawn the Touched, Greg Wicker, Toshifumi Yoshida, and Yume No Senshi.[26]
September 19–21, 2003 Holiday Inn Denver International Airport
Denver, Colorado		2,802[27]Gil Asakawa, Bob Bergen, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Newton Ewell, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Cynthia Hands, Kyle Hebert, Carol Jacobanis, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Vic Mignogna, Panther Comics, Chris Patton, Jan Scott-Frazier, Mike Sinterniklaas, Brett Weaver, and Greg Wicker.[27]
September 17–19, 2004 Holiday Inn Denver International Airport
Denver, Colorado		3,059[28]Akina, Alexandra Carter, Michael Coleman, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Brian Dobson, Michael Dobson, Paul Dobson, Kumiko Kato, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Panther Comics, Susumu Sakurai, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[28]
September 16–18, 2005 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		4,532[29]Emily DeJesus, Trevor Devall, Trish Ledoux, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Hiromi Matsushita, Sean McCoy, Panther Comics, Deb Rabbai, Monica Rial, Carrie Savage, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Brad Swaile, Kazuko Tadano, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[29]
October 6–8, 2006 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		5,218[30]Steve Bennett, Keith Burgess, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Michael Dobson, Lisa Furukawa, Michael Gluck, Darrel Guilbeau, Kyle Hebert, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Masao Maruyama, Seiji Mizushima, Panther Comics, Yuzo Sato, Sean Schemmel, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Spike Spencer, and Takahiro Umehara.[30]
September 14–16, 2007 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		5,218[31]Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Richard Epcar, Lisa Furukawa, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Panther Comics, Wendy Powell, Jan Scott-Frazier, Michael Sorich, Spike Spencer, Ellyn Stern, and Brett Weaver.[31]
September 12–14, 2008 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		6,125[32]Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, Kara Edwards, Caitlin Glass, Noriko Hidaka, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Vic Mignogna, Yuji Mitsuya, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Monica Rial, Jan Scott-Frazier, The Slants, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[32]
September 11–13, 2009 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		7,000[33]Aaron Dismuke, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Rica Matsumoto, Michael McConnohie, Miki Nagasawa, Chris Patton, Michael Powell, Wendy Powell, Jan Scott-Frazier, Melodee M. Spevack, Cristina Vee, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[33]
September 10–12, 2010 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		7,200[34]Chris Cason, Richard Ian Cox, echostream, Rebecca Forstadt, Jerry Jewell, Kazha, Heather Martin, Kevin McKeever, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Patrick Seitz, Cristina Vee, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[34]
September 9–11, 2011 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		Chris Cason, Leah Clark, Todd Haberkorn, Clarine Harp, Lemon Drop Kick, Jamie Marchi, Heather Martin, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Kevin McKeever, Vic Mignogna, Ryuusei Nakao, Tony Oliver, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, Yutaka Yamamoto, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[35]
September 14–16, 2012 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		7,500[17]Chris Cason, Leah Clark, Cynthia Cranz, Clarine Harp, Chuck Huber, Charlene Ingram, Osamu Kobayashi, Lauren Landa, Lolita Dark, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Masao Maruyama, Kevin McKeever, r*k* Milholland, Brina Palencia, Wendy Powell, Jan Scott-Frazier, Patrick Seitz, John Sirabella, Sarah "Sully" Sullivan, J. Michael Tatum, and Steve Yun.[36]
September 13–15, 2013 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		Tia Ballard, Leah Clark, Kara Edwards, Todd Haberkorn, Clarine Harp, Taliesin Jaffe, Lauren Landa, Cherami Leigh, Lotus Juice, Heather Martin, Kevin McKeever, Bryce Papenbrook, Chris Patton, Raj Ramayya, Justin Rojas, Patrick Seitz, David Vincent, Steve Yun, Tommy Yune, Hidenori Matsubara, Tyson Rinehart, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[18][9]
September 12-14, 2014 Marriott Denver Tech Center
Denver, Colorado		Takahiko Abiru, Chris Cason, Ian Condry, Robbie Daymond, Alisa Freedman, Clarine Harp, Hiroyuki Hashimoto, Chuck Huber, Kazha, Lauren Landa, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Kevin McKeever, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Rachel Robinson, Jan Scott-Frazier, Patrick Seitz, Sonny Strait, David Vincent, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[37]
September 4-6, 2015 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Denver, Colorado		Robbie Daymond, Alisa Freedman, Toshio Furukawa, Clarine Harp, Taliesin Jaffe, Carrie Keranen, Jonathan Klein, Lauren Landa, Heather Martin, Jason Martin, Mike McFarland, Kevin McKeever, Scott McNeil, r*k* Milholland, Lisa Ortiz, Jan Scott-Frazier, J. Michael Tatum, Alexis Tipton, and Steve Yun.[38]
September 2-4, 2016 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Denver, Colorado		Chris Bevins, Johnny Yong Bosch, Richard Epcar, Eyeshine, Alisa Freedman, Josh Grelle, Clarine Harp, Roland Kelts, Lauren Landa, Carl Martin, David Matranga, Kevin McKeever, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Rachel Robinson, Tara Sands, Dai Sato, Jan Scott-Frazier, Patrick Seitz, Ellyn Stern, Sonny Strait, Teca, Alexis Tipton, Shinichiro Watanabe, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[39]
September 1-3, 2017 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Denver, Colorado		18,987[2]Dante Basco, Leah Clark, Clarine Harp, Kyle Hebert, Erik Scott Kimerer, Lauren Landa, Jason Marsden, Kevin McKeever, Ryuusei Nakao, Sumi Shimamoto, Ian Sinclair, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune.[2]
August 31 - September 2, 2018 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Denver, Colorado		Zach Aguilar, Sandy Fox, Keiko Han, Megumi Han, Clarine Harp, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Lauren Landa, Lex Lang, Cherami Leigh, Heather Martin, Elizabeth Maxwell, Chris Patton, Patrick Seitz, and Teca.[40]
August 23-25, 2019 Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Denver, Colorado		Dante Basco, Ray Chase, Leah Clark, Robbie Daymond, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Kazha, Heather Martin, Erica Mendez, Max Mittelman, Pannon, Jād Saxton, and Teca.[41]

Other events

On August 8, 2004 the convention held a CosPlay Dance Party at the Rock Island Night Club in Denver, Colorado.[42] In 2011, Nan Desu Kan organized a benefit for the Japanese Red Cross named Rave2Save. The event was held on Saturday April 30, 2011 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center, which donated the Evergreen Ballroom, and funds raised at the event were matched by the Rocky Mountain Anime Association.[43] The event raised $13,440.[16]

References
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  2. "Nan Desu Kan 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  3. "Nan Desu Kan anime showcase back in Denver for 16th year". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  4. "Nan Desu Kan announces second round of guests". AnimeCons.com. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  5. "NDK: Nerds conquer Denver!". CNN iReport. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  6. "Mile High Anime". Otaku USA. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  7. "Scenes from Nan Desu Kan". The Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  8. "Turning Japanese - Japanese cartoons will be center stage at the Nan Desu Kan 6 convention". Denver Westword. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  9. "Nan Desu Kan 2013". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  10. "A n00b's first Nan Desu Kan anime convention experience". Denver Westword. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  11. "Nan Desu Kan brings Japanese pop culture to the DTC". AsiaXpress. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  12. "Nan Desu Kan 2012: Next level anime convention awesomeness". Denver Westword. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  13. Kemmerly, Karah (August 31, 2015). "Our Top Charitable Picks for August 31-September 7". 5280 The Denver Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  14. "Nan Desu Kan 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  15. "Nan Desu Kan 2003 Overview". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  16. "Nan Desu Kan Raises $13,440 for Japan, Announces First Round of Guests". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  17. "A Visit to Nan Desu Kan Anime Convention Spotlights Cosplay". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  18. "Nan Desu Kan 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  19. Chianese, Evan (September 9, 2015). "Nerd culture converges in hotel: Nan Desu Kan". Metropolitan State University of Denver. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  20. "Nan Desu Kan". Nan Desu Kan Facebook. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  21. "Nan Desu Kan 2020 Convention Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  22. "Nan Desu Kon 1997 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
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  31. "Nan Desu Kan 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
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  33. "Nan Desu Kan 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  34. "Nan Desu Kan 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  35. "Nan Desu Kan 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
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  38. "Nan Desu Kan 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  39. "Nan Desu Kan 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  40. "Nan Desu Kan 2018 Convention Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  41. "Nan Desu Kan 2019 Convention Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  42. "Nan Desu Kan announces Cosplay Dance Party". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2014-08-26.
  43. "NDK's Rave2Save for Japanese Disaster Relief: 4/30/11". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-09-23.

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