Comic Con Africa with Capitec is the ultimate home of Japanese culture in South Africa. The con’s Otaku Town feature area blends pop culture with Japanese culture. It’s Johannesburg’s anime central, where the East meets Africa. The festival offers loads of exciting Otaku activities, anime content, and Japanese art, cuisine, and products. It’s the only place to be to celebrate Japanese culture over the upcoming Heritage Day long weekend, from 24 to 27 September.

Street Fighter Free-to-Play

Toshiba is bringing Capcom’s Street Fighter free-to-play zone to Comic Con Africa. Con-goers will have the opportunity to battle it out in this one-on-one style fighting game. Established in Japan, Street Fighter is one of the highest-grossing video game franchises in the world. One daily winner will walk away with a Toshiba TV.

Japanese Idol Performance

Travelling to South Africa all the way from Kyoto, Japan, Japanese idol and J-Pop singer Marina Kojima will be performing for the first time in South Africa, only on the Comic Con Africa Outdoor Stage. She is the voice behind MIRAISKIRT+, a solo Idol project which blends the graceful, traditional Hannari style from Kyoto with vibrant pop energy. Marina is a captivating and dynamic live performer. After her performance on Friday 26 September, Marina will meet fans and sign copies of her albums.

PopTaku Stage

Otaku Town features its own stage, which is one of five stages at the con. There are many highlights on the PopTaku stage, including Manga workshops and fast-paced, hands-on language lessons from the Japanese Language Club of South Africa. Culinary demonstrations from official One Piece and Studio Ghibli cookbooks bring iconic dishes from beloved anime series to life. There is the Guess That Anime game show, and Dub It Out where fans get the opportunity to re-do the voiceovers of iconic series and games – they must follow the script, but bring their own flavour to the characters. Master calligraphers will teach Japanese Calligraphy, and con-goers can learn more about how to study and teach in Japan.

Check out the full programme here: https://comicconafrica.co.za/programme/

Pop Up Cinema, in Partnership with CineCentre

Otaku Town has its own cinema which will be screening a variety of anime and pop culture films. Among others, fans can watch A Samurai in Time, Panda and Friends, and The Boy and The Beast. The Kagurabachi Anime World Tour will also be screening an exclusive special, Episode 1 of their anime planned for release in 2027, at Comic Con Africa.

Super Japan Pavilion

JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organisation, is bringing a Super Japan Pavilion to Comic Con Africa. This is a Japanese business-focussed feature aimed at connecting Japanese and South African businesses to encourage trade. While anime is one of Japan’s most recognized cultural exports, Japan has much more to offer. The Super Japan Pavilion will showcase a wide range of Japanese industries and cultural strengths, including gaming, music, food and beverage, art, entertainment, technology, mobility, lifestyle, traditional culture, and of course, anime and manga.

Gunpla Model Kits

Official Bandai Gunpla model kits will be retailed at the con. Their popularity in Japan is quickly spreading to the rest of the world. Gundam is the Bandai Spirits fictional multiverse upon which the models are based. Gunpla models are a favourite of anime and manga fans and seeing them at the con will delight local otakus.

Otaku Town at Comic Con Africa is the only destination for fans of anime and Japanese culture. Comic Con Africa with Capitec takes place from 24 to 27 September at the Joburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, from 9am to 6pm daily. Tickets are selling out fast, but there’s still time to get yours.