WasabiCon 2022

WasabiCon is an annual anime convention held in the Jacksonville area, that celebrates the ever-growing anime and cosplay community. It has grown from a small convention in a hotel’s lobby, into this massive 2-day experience that has built itself upon the grassroots backs of the fandoms and communities that continue to frequent the convention. I truly see it as the “little convention that could” now all grown up. WasabiCon has hit its stride and now can run with the other conventions that also come and go throughout the year in Jacksonville. The expansion in attendance and popularity has not gone unnoticed. They have needed to move away from the hotel conference centers and lobbies, and now they have amassed an audience that can take over the Prime F. Osborn convention center in downtown Jax. We here on The Block actually got our start at covering conventions and running panels at WasabiCon. So, why not head back there to cover all of the festivities this year when we are kickstarting everything back off once again in this space. I know that I’m a bit older now, and that is why I sent out a correspondent to the Con this year. My assistant and newest member of the Block Family is Nigel “Senpai” Griffin. He is just as passionate and excited to cover things as I was at his age. He is just getting into the convention life and scene so, hearing about his experience from his first solo coverage is definitely going to be exciting to read. Well, I think I have talked enough, this isn’t my coverage today.

Yoooo, Senpai here. I have a lot to cover, but I just want to say that Wasabicon this year took me by surprise. The more chances I get to frequent this Con, the better it gets. As well, better cosplayers and in general a much more passionate crowd really shows how much our community means to the overall nerd and geek lanscape of Duval. We have somewhere to be ourselves without being judged or criticized as being weird and there is never any conflict. The best part is, everyone is genuinely nice and has a good head on their shoulders. People respect each other and don’t want any trouble. You can dance in the open and nobody bats an eye. Wasabicon is a world that I would like to live in all year-round.

I got the chance to see so many creative cosplays at the convention, some I have never seen before They sometimes don’t have the exact depiction of the character with their cosplay. They create it in own their style. Cosplay has no discrimination of gender or judgment in this space. There is no such thing as “bad” cosplay, only appreciation and no room for uptight criticism. The vendors and artist alley of this Con are also no joke, they have plenty of variety of products and crafts that are not store-bought, they are HAND MADE, that’s right people. All of the vendors and creators I met are incredible, they put their heart and soul into doing what they love. There is such a grand sense of community at Wasabicon, nothing but love and good vibes. We are a community who have each other’s backs no matter your age, or background. I hope that never changes.

I also got to attend a panel or two. I really got in the full Con life experience. Finally, my hat goes off to all of the cosplayers, vendors, and artist booths who gave me inspiration for this post. Let’s give some shoutouts

Cosplayers: nope.whocares, goku Jackson ZEEHEE, bilake, pyraleanfire1, Thicc3dPrints, and gabymenike.

Vendors/booths: Ranelynn Graphics, Boxwood, Baba Yaga’s Bits and Bobs, The Threaded Scale, Closet Geek LLC, mojo 97, Savannah Animazing con, Honey Herds, and Space Ninja Sabers.

Check everyone out on social media and find their various sites and crowdfunding to help them. There were so many other people I wanted to get around and talk with, this was only the tip of the iceberg. I can’t wait to get back out there and venture out to my next Con. Until then, see you guys around on the