Nadeshicon is a Japanese culture / anime convention held in April in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at the Centre des congrès de Québec convention center since 2019, and initially at Université Laval[2] (Laval University) in the Alphonse-Desjardins and Maurice-Pollack buildings from 2011 to 2018. The convention is run and organized by Club Animé Québec(CAQ), an extracurricular student association and nonprofit organization. It is recognized as one of the main Japanese cultural events in the city. Like most other anime conventions, Nadeshicon's events, attractions and activities include a Dealer's Room and an Artists Alley, anime screenings, panels and workshops, AMV contests, game shows, cosplay events (Masquerade, Fashion Show, etc.), and video games stations (Gaming Room). A part of the convention is also dedicated to cultural Japanese activities.
On August 18, 2023, the Administrative Council of Club Animé Québec has decided to cancel Nadeshicon's 2024 edition, citing severe understaffing for the convention's executive committee.[3] It is not known when the next edition will be, but the anime club will continue to host smaller events and special activities for the fans. A scaled-down version of the convention in a smaller venue has been proposed, but this idea will be discussed and voted on by the new Administrative Council after their election in fall 2023.
Programming
Like most other anime conventions, Nadeshicon's events, attractions and activities include a Dealer's Room and an Artists Alley, anime screenings, panels and workshops, AMV contests, game shows, cosplay events (Masquerade, Fashion Show, etc.), and video games stations (Gaming Room). A part of the convention is also dedicated to Japanese cultural activities.
Art: a Dealer's Room and an Artists Alley
Cosplay events: Masquerade, Fashion Show, etc.
Gaming: Video games stations (Gaming Room)
Merchandise:
Music:
Panels and workshops:
Saturday Night Dance:
Video screenings: Anime music video|AMV
Other attractions:
History
Nadeshicon had its beginnings with a single day celebrating Japanese culture in April 2009, which included a sushi dinner, a Japanese teacher sharing her experiences while living in Japan, and Calligraphy demonstrations. This event was held at the CAQ (Club Animé Québec) located at Université Laval and was followed the following year by the first Nadeshicon festival.
In 2011, soon after CAQ became a non-profit organization, the festival was given its official name, Festival Nadeshicon, which mixes Popular Japanese Culture (ex: anime, masquerade) and Traditional Japanese culture (dance, martial arts, religion, cuisine, calligraphy, etc.).
In 2019, following continued growth in size, Nadeshicon moved to the larger Centre des congrès de Québec convention center near downtown, where it would share the venue with the city's comic book convention, the Quebec Comiccon.
MOON Kana, Orchestre de jeux vidéo, Christopher Macdonald, Geneviève “CelticSakura” La Haye, Marie-Claude Bourbonnais[9][10]
April 17–19, 2015
Laval University Quebec City, Quebec
1,832
Mika Kobayashi, MeltingMirror, WildRose, Puissance Maximale, Luduc, Komachi Montreal[11][12]
April 1–3, 2016
Laval University Quebec City, Quebec
Etienne Desilets-Trempe, Droo, Komachi Montreal, L'orchestre de Jeux Vidéo, Luduc, Miss Messy Mia, David Stephenson, Nienna Surion, Niq van der Aa, Ryunosuke Yamazumi[13]