Japan Expo USA is just around the corner and the organizers have just released an update to their autograph policy. Japan Expo also has an exciting lineup of guests that fans are clamoring to get their autographs. It is refreshing to see many of the rules Japan Expo has implemented is intended to curve repeaters and to allow for as many different people to get autographs as possible each day. As to how smoothly this will be in practice remains to be seen, as this will depend on the number of first come first serve coupons available and the number of attendees trying to get autographs each day.

Unfortunately, we've seen our fair share of people missing out on autograph session due to a simple miscommunication or misinterpretation. 

To help out, we've outlined the key points to the best of our understanding below.

 Key points adapted from Japan Expo website: http://japan-expo.org/art-1363-en-autographs.html

• All autograph sessions require a confirmed coupon [ticket].
• Confirmed coupons may be obtained from the Autograph Desk.
• Morning autograph sessions tend to be first come first serve basis. (http://japan-expo.org/art-1410-en-schedule.html)
• Afternoon autograph sessions tend to be lottery based. (http://japan-expo.org/art-1410-en-schedule.html)
• You may only enter the lottery once per day per guest.
• You may only get one autograph per guest; you may not line up for the same guest again on a different day.
• Many guests have more than 1 autograph sessions a day.

 Exceptions

• Premiere attendees may retry the lottery multiple times (if failed) for a guest using their premiere coupons.
• Premiere attendees have a total of 15 coupons. (http://japan-expo.org/art-1326-en-ticketing.html)
• Exhibitors, media/professionals, and amateur artists/young creators are not eligible for either of these [autograph session] methods. 

08/23/2013 edit: updated the rules and added an extra picture