Guests of Honor & Featured Panelists
More guest announcements will be coming soon!
Comedians
Uncle Yo
Psst. Hey, you. Yeah, you! Don't look away, or they'll get suspicious. You like stand-up comedy? Don't nod - they'll think you're crazy.Then you should meet Uncle Yo. He's a geek-specific stand-up comedian who's already one his fourth straight year touring conventions and talking about anime, video games, Japanese culture, and all those things you talk about that makes your mother think she dropped you on your head.
Website: http://www.uncleyo.com
Cultural Programming & Martial Arts
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia
Established in 1994, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) is an association of individuals, corporations and organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region. Its mission is to bring the peoples of Japan and United States closer together in understanding, appreciation and cooperation by promoting and encouraging a better understanding of the business, cultural, social, educational and political practices and customs of Japan and the United States.
JASGP is the primary organization in the Greater Philadelphia region devoted to fostering relationships between Japanese and Americans. From networking events to the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival and the Philadelphia-Japan Health Sciences Dialogue, from its Japanese Conversation Club to lectures and seminars, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia offers numerous ways to get involved in the Japanese and American communities in Philadelphia.
Website: http://www.japanphilly.org
Kyo Daiko
Kyo Daiko is a community-based group which is the result of a collaboration between Settlement Music School and the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. The group is directed by Kristopher Rudzinski, who has previously performed with Taikoza and studied with Taikoza's founder, Marco Lienhard. Kyo Daiko regularly performs at school and community events, and has also performed at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC, Stanford University in California, and for ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Website: http://www.kyodaiko.com
PA Jedi
Have you ever wanted to dress up as a Jedi or Sith and wield a Light Saber? Have you ever dreamt of using the Force? Do you wonder if there are restrictions on what to wear? Come and explore PA Jedi, a group of performing artists who use light saber stage combat to prepare our members for public performances and charity events as our way of giving back to the community. Equipped with 35,000 years of stories from the Star Wars Universe and your own imagination we are able to assist you in designing your own PA Jedi character. Our members will help you design your own basic character and the costuming that will bring them to the next level!
Website: http://www.pajedi.com
Samurai Dan & Jillian
The husband and wife team of Daniel and Jillian Coglan are full-time martial art instructors, specializing in 16th century Samurai Arts. When not teaching at their dojo, the Kojokan, they travel the United States performing and teaching the ancient ways of the most famous warriors in history. With a combined 35 years of experience, their show is a unique blend of history, combative skill, and humor, designed to educate and entertain audiences both large and small. Beyond their martial skills, the dynamic duo collaborated to write, direct, host, and star in a 12 episode TV series entitled, The Way of The Samurai. Daniel is also an author, with several martial art articles published, and is currently working on his second full-length novel.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/SamuraiDanandJillian
DJs
DJ Hi5
Hi5 was attending conventions long before he began DJing them. First taking the convention stage at Otakon, he last played the Zenkaikon rave in 2009 and is excited to be back! He attributes DDR as his original gateway to electronic dance music. Following the footsteps of Deadmau5, Porter Robinson, and BT, Hi5 works on his own productions, as well as remixes and instrumentals for other artists. Mashing up classic video game tunes with the latest in electro/progressive is his specialty. If you like high energy dance parties with some of your favorite songs, don't miss him Saturday night!
Website: http://soundcloud.com/hi5djs
DJ Kurono
DJ Kurono is a UK Hardcore/J-Core DJ and amateur hardcore music producer from the East Coast. He started mixing Japanese Happy Hardcore music in early 2009 and the happy tune of the melodies gave him a great interest to take things a step further. Kurono has done several live performances at raves, parties, and conventions, such as AnimeNEXT, Otakon, Kotoricon, and many others. A friendly collaboration with Japanese vocalist Elderberry began in July 2011 and they have produced a number of unreleased anime/video game remixes since they met. One of Kurono's main focuses today is to promote Hard Dance/UK Hardcore/J-Core music and bring it straight to the dance floor with his own flavor of turntable scratching and mixing. Prepare yourself for the wave of Hardcore Sounds!
Website: http://soundcloud.com/djkurono
Musical Guests
The Asterplace
The Asterplace is a Japanese anime rock band based in New York City. The group is composed of Steven Lin (Guitar), Luo Qingyun (Bass), Ji Hoon Moon (Keyboard), Kota Mori (Drums), and Kota Tsukimoto (Vocals/Guitar). They perform original rock numbers and your favorite anime cover songs. In June 2011, they released their first full album, entitled [Moon]. The album features a variety of musical themes – from melodic, fast punk to piano love ballads. Tsukimoto-san lends his heartfelt vocals to a combination of melodic guitars, beautiful piano, groovy bass, and a powerful drum beat. The Asterplace has performed at a number of events including Anime Syracuse, Anime SOHO, Tribeca Film Festival, and the DC National Cherry Blossom Festival. They are very much looking forward to performing at Zenkaikon 2012!
Website: http://www.asterplace.net/
Platform One
Platform one first came together in Rhode Island in 1999. Now based out of New York this band of highly energetic musicians brings together danceable beats, well thought out lyrics, and an appeal that crosses all genres. A combination of pop, gothic and alternative with a side of oontz, Platform one ranges in influence from And One to The Psychedelic Furs, and Peter Gabriel to The Cure. They are currently working on their third full-length album.
Website: http://www.platform-one.com/
Voice Actors
Michele Knotz
You may have heard of Michele Knotz from a little well-known anime series called Pokémon. Now in its 15th season, Michele has returned as the voice of Team Rocket's Jessie and has picked up a few new Pokémon - Woobat, Swoobat, Minccino, and the female Snivy. Before Season 14, Michele voiced May, Nurse Joy, the Pokédex, Piplup, Manaphy, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Chimecho, Beautifly, Masquerain, Dustox, Cacnea, and many others. She also voiced Misty for the Pokémon 10th Anniversary Special, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon. In the Pokémon Special Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate, she voiced Chikorita. Other anime roles include Hajime Yagi in The World of Narue, Takako Kawashima in Shootfighter Tekken, Matsumoto and various additional characters in To Heart, Razali, Cindy, Greta, and The Fairy in The Third, Ogiue Chika in Genshiken, Koyuki Asagiri in Kujibiki Unbalance, Chou'un Shiryuu in Ikki Tousen, Tomoe and Airi in Queen's Blade, and Potaru Tanaka and Inumi in Magical Witch Punie-Chan. In video games, Michele has voiced the Pokémon Trainer, Squirtle and various other Pokémon for the Nintendo Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Piplup and many others in PokéPark Wii - Pikachu's Great Adventure, Snivy, Piplup and many others in PokéPark 2 Wonders Beyond, and various characters in Heathcliff the Fast and the Furriest. Not only does Michele work on anime and video games, but she's also a script adaptor for various dubbing projects and lends her voice to many other types of work. You can see all of Michele's credits, pictures, and listen to her voice demos, on her website.
Website: http://micheleknotz.com/
Sonny Strait
Sonny Strait is most recognized as the voice of Krillin on DragonBall Z, and as an illustrator for the comic book series Elfquest. He has over 20 years of experience in the arts. He has voiced many popular animated characters including Maes Hughes from FullMetal Alchemist, Usopp from One Piece, and Cartoon Network's laid back, robot host Toonami Tom. He has also worked as a writer and director on several TV series including DragonBall Z, Case Closed, and Lupin the Third.
As a comic book artist, he has seventeen published works to date including his self-published series Mr. Average, featured in The Comics Journal, and Elfquest, which was published by both WARP Graphics and DC Comics. He also wrote and illustrated a graphic novel about a reluctant punk rock, faerie princess named Goat. The book, called We Shadows, was published by Tokyopop and was nominated by The American Library Association for Best Graphic Novel in 2008.
Currently, Sonny is reprising his roles in both the new DragonBall Z and FullMetal Alchemist series and plays the title role in the Xbox game S'plosion Man. He also illustrates Marvel Comic's sketch cards for Rittenhouse.
Website: http://sonnystrait.biz/
Writers
CJ Henderson
CJ Henderson is the creator of the Piers Knight supernatural investigator series, the Teddy London supernatural detective series, and many more. He has written some 70 books and/or novels, hundreds of short stories and comics, and thousands of non-fiction pieces. He is beloved around the world for his intriguing prose, his precocious wit, and his ability to go to YouTube every single day to watch Batman Dog and laugh just as hard as he did the first time he saw it. CJ will have a number of new things to show of this year (as always), but the one he is most proud of is the book he just finished with his daughter, Erica, The World Bestiary. Hardback, in color, it lists 100 of the world's most intriguing monsters. He tells us he can not wait to show it off to everyone. He is very excited and eager to meet the attendees of Zenkaikon 2012, both old and new.
Website: http://www.cjhenderson.com