Consul-General of Japan in Barcelona, Ms. SHIKATA Akiko, hosted the Spanish representatives of the World Cosplay Summit 2025 at her residence yesterday.

“In both technology and magic, we always have the ability to choose”

This Monday, December 23, Manga Barcelona has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture as one of the cultural entities of reference of 2024. The event has been awarded the Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts, a prestigious award given to important personalities and entities in the cultural field. This great recognition reinforces Manga Barcelona as the reference event of manga, anime and Japanese culture in Spain.

In 1995, the doors of the Saló del Manga opened for the first time at Estació de França. Twenty-nine editions later, and now at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, Manga Barcelona will celebrate its thirty editions demonstrating, as Meritxell Puig, director of the event, has assured: “that manga and anime have ceased to be a niche interest to be part of the cultural mainstream”. It has been evident for years that manga is one of the forms of comic with the most appeal for public of all ages, or that anime is an option like any other within the audiovisual panorama, and all this is evident in the success of the success that usually accompanies Manga Barcelona. At this point, with tickets sold out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, everything seems to guarantee a massive anniversary celebration, seasoned with the joy and enthusiasm that usually characterizes the event, thanks to an always dedicated audience.

The Japan Association for the World Expo 2025, the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, will be present at 30 Manga Barcelona that will be held from December 5 to 8, 2024 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via. Therefore, MYAKU-MYAKU, the amazing mascot of the expo, will be visiting Spain for the first time.

The ephemeral store will feature exclusive merchandise from the official stores in Tokyo and Osaka. Nintendo, once again a sponsor of this great Japanese cultural event, will have 168 game booths where visitors can enjoy Super Mario Party Jamboree, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Mario & Luigi: Brothership and many more.

From Manga Barcelona we have the great honor and pleasure to announce a new addition to the spectacular list of guests of the 30th edition of Manga Barcelona. It is, no more, no less, than one of the most important manga artists in the history of female manga: Yumiko Igarashi, illustrator of such popular works as Candy Candy or Georgie!, among others.

The talent of Naoki Urasawa represents 30 Manga Barcelona

The 30th edition of Manga Barcelona will be a very special year for all manga and anime fans, as our MANGA BARCELONA celebrates 30 editions! In the planning of its activities we will enjoy great surprises and variety. Nevertheless, it will be an edition that will undoubtedly stand out for the visit of great mangakas. Among them is the author Naoki Urasawa, this year's guest of honor, who has also agreed to lend us his talent for the poster of the thirtieth edition.

One Piece, Haikyu!!, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure’s main artists to feature live performances in Barcelona this December

MANGA BARCELONA will celebrate its 30th anniversary from 5th to 8th December 2024, and the Japanese culture festival will once again shine with top names from the Japanese music scene. These artists will be visiting Spain for the first time, offering exclusive concerts.

The 30th anniversary of Manga Barcelona will be very special for all manga and anime fans. It will host great surprises and diversity in the planning of its activities and spaces. However, it will be an edition that will undoubtedly stand out for the visit of renowned mangakas. Among them, the incomparable Naoki Urasawa.

Naoki Urasawa will be the guest of honor and will illustrate the 30th anniversary poster, with an edition of records in the number of manga authors, activities, square meters and the with the introduction of a new mascot.