Your child may want to come to Akumakon, but you might not have heard of us before.
If so, we would like to start by giving you some information about Akumakon.
Akumakon is a non-profit, student run convention in the heart of the University of Galway.
We offer a place where people of all ages can come to enjoy not only Japanese Anime, Manga and Japanese Culture as a whole, but also Video Games and Cosplay (the practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game).

Everyone organising the convention is a volunteer, with each and every one of us wanting to provide
a place to celebrate all things Japanese, and pass on a love of Japanese culture to others.

Every year, we take the opportunity to fundraise for charity, with €15,000 being raised last year for AMACH! LGBT Galway. Meaning that since our first convention in 2010, we've raised over €28,000. This year will be no different, and the hope is to beat last year's number.

At the convention, there are Anime screenings, best Cosplay competitions, Panels (interactive discussions or Q&As) run by Special Guests and members of the public, Video Game Tournaments and Special Events (previous years have seen Kendo demonstrations and Fire Shows).

There is also a Trade Hall and Artist Alley, where attendees can purchase original drawings,
paintings, and posters done by the artists there, along with memorabilia and treats difficult to find in your typical Irish shops.

With regards to your child, we take every precaution to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
We do require that children be accompanied be an adult. However, we will of course have security and staff on the lookout for any issues. All cosplayers will be in child-friendly costumes.
All of our panels are checked prior to the convention for any 18+ material, and any panel or screening that isn't child-friendly will require ID at the door, before we allow an attendee entry.

We hope we've given you a better understanding of what Akumakon is,
and reassured you on the safety of your child at our convention.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Our email is akumakon@socs.universityofgalway.ie. 

We'll see you at Akumakon 2024!

Cheers,
The Akumakon Team