At PAX West this year, T-ONO had the opportunity to play a few rounds of Obakeidoro 2: Catch and Seek with its director, Katsunori Tanaka. With its cute aesthetic and simple yet nuanced gameplay, it was an unsuspecting party game that was able to grab our attention among the bells and whistles of the show floor.
Read more: Interview with Katsunori Tanaka of FREE STYLE Games @ PAX West 2026
Making its third year exhibiting at North America's largest anime convention, Anime Expo, TAKARATOMY introduced a number of new products for the West. We got a chance to sit down with TAKARATOMY Representative Director, President & CEO Akio Tomiyama to discuss how a century of traditional toymaking fits into today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Read about how the toy giant is keeping the spirit of Asobi alive, engineering toys for shorter modern attention spans, and their plans for a massive global rebrand for collectors worldwide.
Read more: The Future of Play: Anime Expo 2026 Interview with TAKARATOMY CEO Akio Tomiyama
After an electrifying performance at FanimeCon’s MusicFest held inside the San Jose Civic, we had the opportunity of sitting down with Leo Imamura, the visionary frontman of the Japanese band ALI (ALIEN LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL). Known globally for their contributions to hit anime series like Beastars, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Golden Camuy, ALI has carved out a unique space in the industry by seamlessly blending hip-hop, jazz, ska, and blues. Leo joined us to share his philosophies on music, his respect for Western musical lineages, and his belief that art knows no borders.
Read more: Music Beyond Borders – ALI Interview @ FanimeCon 2026
Known for his epic, emotionally charged compositions that define global hit anime series like Attack on Titan, Gundam, Fate, and Solo Leveling, Hiroyuki Sawano has become one of Japan’s most popular composers. Through his solo project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], he’s collaborated with numerous vocalists to create a sound that bridges cinematic orchestration and modern rock energy.
As Sawano is preparing for his first concert in Los Angeles on November 14 at the Peacock Theater, we had the opportunity to interview him about connecting with international audiences, preparing for live performances, and his goals for the next decade of his career.
The Akiba Station section brought a vibrant surge of anime culture to the three-day LA Comic Con. A major highlight was the first US convention appearance of Saori Araki, also known as SAO. We sat down with her to discuss her LA Comic Con experience, her debut single, and more. Read the full interview below.
Read more: Interview with Saori Araki SAO @ LA Comic Con 2025
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