Tekko (convention)

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Tekko
Tekkoshocon 2010 areas 005.JPG
Tekkoshocon 2010
Status Active
Genre Anime, Manga, Japanese popular culture[1][2]
Venue David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Location(s) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Inaugurated 2003
Attendance 5,983 in 2015[3]
Organized by Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society (PJCS)[2][4]
Website
http://www.teamtekko.us/

Tekko (formerly Tekkoshocon) is an annual anime convention held during April at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[5] The convention has been held in various locations around the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and is run by a non-profit organization, the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society (PJCS).[1][2][4] Tekkoshocon's name was a blend of the Japanese word tekkosho, meaning steel mill (a reference to Pittsburgh's industrial steel-producing history), and adapting the suffix "-con" (from convention), which is a common nomenclature archetype among such conventions.[6]

Programming

The convention typically offers an AMV contest, anime viewings, concerts, cosplay masquerade, costume competitions, dance/rave, dance competition, dealers' room, fashion shows, gaming, karaoke room, panels, video game tournaments, and workshops.[2][4][7][8][9][10] Tekko has held charity events since 2006 supporting organizations such as the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and in 2011 the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Gackt's "Show Your Heart" charity, and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.[6][8][11] The concerts at Tekko have drawn significant attendees, with over 900 for the Rampant concert in 2011, over 1,000 for Exist Trace in 2012, and 1,100 for Dazzle Vision & Cantoy in 2013.[12][13][14] Tekko contributed almost three million dollars to the Pittsburgh economy in 2014.[15]

History

In 2002 the first attempt to hold an anime convention in Pittsburgh, Takocon, failed due to a booking problem at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center and the lack of time to acquire additional space.[16] In 2003, the first Tekkoshocon was organized by Rebecca Roach and occurred at the Wyndham Pittsburgh Airport.[7] In 2004, the convention moved to the Pittsburgh Marriott North and became three days. From 2005 to 2007 Tekkoshocon was held in the Pittsburgh ExpoMart/Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh, but due to unexpected demolition work, Tekkoshocon moved to the Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree for 2008.[17][18]

Tekkoshocon moved to the larger David L. Lawrence Convention Center in 2009 and for 2010 expanded into a four-day convention.[19][20] In 2011 due to the lack of available space at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the convention moved to the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown (formerly Pittsburgh Hilton).[1] The convention celebrated its tenth anniversary and remained at the Wyndham Grand for 2012 while adding a fifth evening of events offsite at the Hollywood Theater Dormont.[7][21] Due to various issues (crowded staircases, hotel issues, noise complaints including an early shutdown Sunday morning), the convention announced that it would not be returning to the Wyndham Grand for 2013.[9] Tekkoshocon Inc. transferred its property to the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, a non-profit organization, in September 2012.[2] The convention returned to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center starting in 2013, with the name shortened to Tekko for 2014.[2][5][22] Tekko added dressing rooms for cosplayers, non photo cosplay locations, Japanese cultural/educational programming (Tekko Gakkou), and expanded the game room by 50 percent in 2015.[4][15][22]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
March 29–30, 2003 Wyndham Pittsburgh Airport
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
600[23] Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, Debora Rabbai, Monica Rial, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Greg Wicker.[23]
March 12–14, 2004 Pittsburgh Marriott North
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Bob Bergen, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Vic Mignogna, Otaku Duet, and Greg Wicker.[24]
April 8–10, 2005 Pittsburgh ExpoMart
Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
1,400[6] Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Michael "Piano Squall" Gluck, Richard "Pocky" Kim, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Jeff Thompson, and Greg Wicker.[25]
March 31-April 2, 2006 Pittsburgh ExpoMart
Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
1,771[26] Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Caitlin Glass, Michael "Piano Squall" Gluck, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Hilary Hatch, Kyle Hebert, Michael Poe, and Greg Wicker.[26]
April 13–15, 2007 Pittsburgh ExpoMart
Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
2,457[27] Greg Ayres, Hilary Hatch, Kyle Hebert, Mari Iijima, Vic Mignogna, Michael Poe, Carrie Savage, Brett Weaver, and Greg Wicker.[27]
April 11–13, 2008 Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Robert Axelrod, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Sandy Fox, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, The Hsu-nami, Mari Iijima, Lex Lang, Mike McFarland, and Carrie Savage.[17]
April 3–5, 2009 David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3,239[28] Greg Ayres, Battlecake, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Eyeshine, Freezepop, Hilary Hatch, Jonathan Klein, Otokage, Michael Poe, Derek Stephen Prince, Stephanie Sheh, Uncle Yo, and Stephanie Young.[28]
April 8–11, 2010 David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3,522[29] Robert Axelrod, Greg Ayres, Johnny Yong Bosch, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Eyeshine, Barbara Goodson, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, Mari Iijima, LeetStreet Boys, Luzmelt, Vic Mignogna, Wendy Powell, Derek Stephen Prince, Carrie Savage, Christopher Corey Smith, Dan Southworth, Suicide Ali, Uncle Yo, and Tommy Yune.[29]
March 31-April 3, 2011 Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
4,000 (est)[7] Steven Blum, Richard Epcar, lix, Kevin McKeever, Mega Ran, Reni Mimura, Rampant, Ellyn Stern, and Tommy Yune.[30]
March 21–25, 2012 Hollywood Theater Dormont (21st)[21]
Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3,600 (est)[2] Exist Trace, David J. Fielding, Todd Haberkorn, Kevin McKeever, Mega Ran, SoundWitch, Uncle Yo, and Travis Willingham.[31]
April 4–7, 2013 Hollywood Theater Dormont (4th)[32]
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cantoy, Chris Cason, Dazzle Vision, David J. Fielding, Initial P, Tony Oliver, Chii Sakurabi, Uncle Yo, Cristina Vee, and Tommy Yune.[33]
April 4–6, 2014 David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5,111[34] Charles Dunbar, Gacharic Spin, Caitlin Glass, Brittney Karbowski, Lolita Dark, Uncle Yo, David Vincent, and Greg Wicker.[34]
April 16–19, 2015 David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5,983[3] Jerry Jewell, Nancy Kepner, Jamie Marchi, RinRin, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, J. Michael Tatum, Tune in Tokyo, and Uncle Yo.[3]

Tekko 1/2

Tekko 1/2 was a one-day anime convention created by the staff of Tekkoshocon that included anime showings, cosplay, karaoke, panels, and video games. Due to growth the event moved from the Carnegie Library to the Best Western Parkway Center Inn in 2008.[35]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
October 1, 2005[36] Carnegie Library Main (Oakland)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 14, 2006 Carnegie Library Main (Oakland)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mandy St. Jean[37]
October 27, 2007[38] Carnegie Library Main (Oakland)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 4, 2008 Best Western Parkway Center Inn
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Battlecake, Carrie Savage, and Uncle Yo.[39]

KuroKiiro Festival

The KuroKiiro Festival is an educational anime festival that includes a carnival, dance, dancing maid cafe, swap meet, talent show, vendors, video gaming, and workshops.[40][41] In 2010, KuroKiiro moved to the Boyd Community Center (former school) in Pittsburgh and formed its own maid cafe group called KuroKiiro Cafe.[42][43] The event returned to the Boyd Community Center in 2011 and was held over Thanksgiving weekend.[43] KuroKiiro again returned to the Boyd Community Center in 2012 and 2013.[40][44] For 2014 the convention moved to the California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center in California, Pennsylvania.[45]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
October 3–4, 2009 Best Western Parkway Center Inn
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Battlecake, Dino Lionetti, Carrie Savage, and The SoftReset.[46]
November 5–7, 2010 Boyd Community Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stephanie Nadolny and Uncle Yo.[42]
November 25–27, 2011 Boyd Community Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Kent Williams[47]
November 16–18, 2012 Boyd Community Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Kyle Hebert[41]
November 1–3, 2013 Boyd Community Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Crispin Freeman and Greg Wicker.[44]
August 29–31, 2014 California University of Pennsylvania, Convocation Center
California, Pennsylvania
Leah Clark, Charles Dunbar, Nancy Kepner, Tyson Rinehart, and Greg Wicker.[45]

Sangawa Project

The Sangawa Project is an 18+ anime event created by the staff of Tekkoshocon geared towards mature fans that includes an AMV contest, cosplay contest, dealers room, panels, and classic video games.[48][49] Sangawa's name comes from the Japanese word for "three rivers", in reference to Pittsburgh's nickname.[50] The event acts as a revenue source, along with the KuroKiiro Festival, for Tekkoshocon.[7] For 2014 the convention moved to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[51]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
December 4–5, 2010 Best Western Parkway Center Inn
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
106 Dan Woren[52]
July 15–17, 2011 Best Western Parkway Center Inn
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Matt K. Miller[53]
July 13–15, 2012[54] Best Western Parkway Center Inn
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Kevin McKeever and Jeff Ryan.[55]
December 5–7, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
300+[56] Monica Rial[51]
December 4-6, 2015 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Charles Dunbar, Nancy Kepner, Vic Mignogna and Sonny Strait.[57]

See also

References

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External links

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