Japan Expo Marseille is the South of France's biggest event dedicated to Japanese culture and pop culture! With manga, anime, cosplay, music, gastronomy and traditions, the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the Parc Chanot every year.
"Japan Expo Marseille (also known as Japan Expo Sud) is a major convention dedicated to Japanese culture and pop culture in general. It takes place every year over several days at the Parc Chanot in Marseille. It's a not-to-be-missed event for fans of manga, anime, video games, cosplay, Japanese music and traditional cultural activities.
The event offers a festive, immersive atmosphere, blending Japanese traditions and contemporary culture: martial arts, ceremonies, artistic creations, culinary stands, meetings with guests (mangaka, dubbers, youtubers, creators), cosplay competitions, concerts, gaming areas and workshop zones.
Sample program - Examples of activities and events :
Cosplay - Parades, Shows & Gatherings
- Cosplay Shows: dedicated stages where cosplay fans present their costumes and performances inspired by manga, anime or video games.
- World Cosplay Summit: international competition with French qualifiers.
- Themed Cosplay Gatherings (e.g. One Piece, Marvel & Disney, Captain Tsubasa, My Hero Academia...).
Concerts & Musical performances
- Concert ANISONG by Misaki Mori: anime-inspired songs.
- Showcases by musical groups such as ALL IN or BANZAI JAPAN (Japanese music/pop).
- Live concerts by Cookiesan or UK (various musical styles, rap manga, J-pop etc.).
Video games & Gaming
- Japan Expo Game Show: quizzes, challenges, team games and mini-competitions.
- Video game tournaments
o Street Fighter 6, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tekken 8
o Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, Magic or Star Wars Unlimited (cards and formats built or sealed)
- Freeplay areas to test new releases, meet publishers or play freely.
Workshops & cultural events
- Traditional Japanese workshops :
o Origami (paper folding)
o Japanese calligraphy
o Ikebana (floral art)
o Tea ceremony
o Martial arts initiations (aikido, kendo, karate, etc.)
- Various demonstrations (e.g. lightsaber, K-pop dance, web culture).
Meetings, Signings & Conferences
- VIP guests: mangaka, dubbing actors/actresses, youtubers and creators.
o e.g. Yôichi Takahashi, creator of Captain Tsubasa in 2025
- Signing sessions with personalities from the animation and video game industries.
- Talk shows and Q&A with creators or influencers (e.g. Comme à la maison).
Animations & interactive games
- Quizzes, blind tests, anime karaoke and musical entertainment to test your knowledge.
- Interactive zones to play board games, challenge friends or take part in stage activities.
Stands & Food culture
- Japanese street food: ramen, takoyaki, mochi and other Japanese specialties.
- Culinary exhibitors and demonstrations of Japanese cuisine.
Japan Expo Marseille is much more than just a convention: it's a three-dimensional immersion in Japanese culture, from its traditional heritage to its most modern expressions (anime, J-music, gaming, cosplay, web culture)".
The event offers a festive, immersive atmosphere, blending Japanese traditions and contemporary culture: martial arts, ceremonies, artistic creations, culinary stands, meetings with guests (mangaka, dubbers, youtubers, creators), cosplay competitions, concerts, gaming areas and workshop zones.
Sample program - Examples of activities and events :
Cosplay - Parades, Shows & Gatherings
- Cosplay Shows: dedicated stages where cosplay fans present their costumes and performances inspired by manga, anime or video games.
- World Cosplay Summit: international competition with French qualifiers.
- Themed Cosplay Gatherings (e.g. One Piece, Marvel & Disney, Captain Tsubasa, My Hero Academia...).
Concerts & Musical performances
- Concert ANISONG by Misaki Mori: anime-inspired songs.
- Showcases by musical groups such as ALL IN or BANZAI JAPAN (Japanese music/pop).
- Live concerts by Cookiesan or UK (various musical styles, rap manga, J-pop etc.).
Video games & Gaming
- Japan Expo Game Show: quizzes, challenges, team games and mini-competitions.
- Video game tournaments
o Street Fighter 6, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tekken 8
o Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, Magic or Star Wars Unlimited (cards and formats built or sealed)
- Freeplay areas to test new releases, meet publishers or play freely.
Workshops & cultural events
- Traditional Japanese workshops :
o Origami (paper folding)
o Japanese calligraphy
o Ikebana (floral art)
o Tea ceremony
o Martial arts initiations (aikido, kendo, karate, etc.)
- Various demonstrations (e.g. lightsaber, K-pop dance, web culture).
Meetings, Signings & Conferences
- VIP guests: mangaka, dubbing actors/actresses, youtubers and creators.
o e.g. Yôichi Takahashi, creator of Captain Tsubasa in 2025
- Signing sessions with personalities from the animation and video game industries.
- Talk shows and Q&A with creators or influencers (e.g. Comme à la maison).
Animations & interactive games
- Quizzes, blind tests, anime karaoke and musical entertainment to test your knowledge.
- Interactive zones to play board games, challenge friends or take part in stage activities.
Stands & Food culture
- Japanese street food: ramen, takoyaki, mochi and other Japanese specialties.
- Culinary exhibitors and demonstrations of Japanese cuisine.
Japan Expo Marseille is much more than just a convention: it's a three-dimensional immersion in Japanese culture, from its traditional heritage to its most modern expressions (anime, J-music, gaming, cosplay, web culture)".
