Cosplay, contests, special guests, artists and vendors highlight the event from February 23rd to 25th
Matt Van Helwaarden is a man who wears many hats throughout the year and is best known as the man who wears a hat during the three days of Tsukino-Con.
He serves as vice president and is a longtime volunteer at the nonprofit organization, which hosts an annual convention celebrating Japanese anime and culture.
“I like running conventions and being able to put something on for a lot of people to enjoy. It’s definitely interesting to be a part of,” he said.
Tsukino-Con has existed several times over the course of about 20 years, and Van Helwaarden believes the reason for its longevity is that it is run by volunteers.
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Local experts on Japanese culture for the 2024 competition will be Hitomi Harama, a kimono expert who has a deep passion for preserving traditional customs, traditions and craftsmanship, and has been practicing Iaido for about 25 years. Chris Tooley, who teaches several classes in Greater Victoria. .
Kyle McCarley and Ben Diskin, American voice actors known for their work in video games, anime, and comics, will also appear. Actors sometimes draw guests from all over North America and even abroad because local conventions do not charge a fee to meet with guests and attendees only have to wait in line.
Every year, approximately 2,000 people from as far away as Japan gather at Victoria University for Tsukinocon.
Volunteers also organized a cosplay repair station where experts handled everything from sewing machines to glue guns.
“There are a lot of people who cosplay,” Van Helwarden said. “We’re working with a group in Seattle. They’ve set up a little booth to help people who need stitches or get their wigs fixed.”
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The convention also hosts several popular contests, including a cosplay contest, a late-night swimsuit showdown (with age restrictions), and a music video contest, so emergency repairs can be critical.
Although the showdown is adults only, the rest of the event is family-friendly and encouraged as is immersion in the event.
“We encourage cosplay. It’s not just for anime people (but) there’s video games, there’s Japanese culture,” Van Helwaarden said.
The three-day event will fill three UVic buildings, including the Elliott Building, with artists and vendors selling everything from mystery boxes and figurines to clothing and comics.
That’s where Van Herwaarden hats come into play.
He has a tradition he started about 10 years ago of browsing through sellers looking for a single item.
“I like to see something that catches my eye and always stick it in my hat,” he said. “It’s recognizable. It’s full of pins and buttons and things like that.”
Tsukinocon will be held at UVic from February 23rd to 25th. Tickets and competition details are available online at tsukinocon.com.