AnimeCons.ca Press Releases


May 21, 2008

News for Anime Expo 2008:

Toshihiko Seki to attend Anime Expo 2008

Anaheim, California (May 21, 2008) --Anime Expo® 2008 announces the attendance of the extremely popular and prolific seiyuu (seiyū, seiyuu or seiyu (声優) is a Japanese vocal actor) Toshihiko Seki as an official Guest of Honor to this year's Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3-6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.

Born on June 11 in the Tochigi Prefecture of Japan, Toshihiko Seki first debuted as a voice actor during college in a radio drama series. Mr. Seki's first lead voice actor role was in a television science fiction anime series Akai Koudan Zillion (Red Photon Zillion). Amongst his many roles, Mr. Seki's best known voice acting role is that of Genjo Sanzo from the animation Saiyuki and as Shurato from Tenku Senki Shurato. Mr. Seki also has a long running radio program called Ruby ni Kichizuke (Kissing Ruby-Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, Inc.) and has also appeared in educational television programs as the character Toshi-kun in Fue wa Utau (Recorder Sings-NHK). Mr. Seki was also awarded the Synergy Award for Kamen Rider Denoh in the Seiyuu Awards of 2008.

Mr. Seki has appeared in other major titles including:

  • Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula (Bleed Kaga)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (Duo Maxwell)
  • F (Akagi Gunma)
  • YAWARA! (Matsuda Kosaku)
  • Nintama Rantaro (Doi Hansuke)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (Rau Le Creuset)
  • Angelique (Luva)
  • Mirage of Blaze (Ougi Takaya)
  • Ranma 1/2 Netto-hen (Mousse)
  • Naruto (Iruka)
  • Kamen Rider Denoh (Momotarosu)

Toshihiko Seki joins up and coming director Masahiro Ando, legendary American voice actor David Hayter, famed POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka, the dynamic duo known as Jyukai and the new Japanese "It-Girl" Shokotan in Anime Expo® 2008's amazing line up of Guests of Honor.

Attendees that have pre-registered can also update their information and add on orders for main event tickets via the Anime Expo® 2008 Online Registration Area at www.anime-expo.org.

Free shuttle services for all hotel attendees will be provided. Regular non-hotel attendees will have access to utilize the free shuttle services during designated hours as well. All schedules and routes will be posted in the lobby of each shuttle hotel. Frequency of service is pending local traffic, road conditions and can change without notice. Also, no shuttle service provided to the Holiday Inn City Center and the Figueroa Hotel (both are within walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center).

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video coverage site of the 2007 convention at www.AXBackstage.org.

This year's Red & Black Sponsors are FUNimation and ImaginAsian Television. Platinum Sponsor is Imagi Studios. Gold Sponsor is Digital Manga Publishing. Silver Sponsor is Gaia Online. Patron Sponsors are Central Park Media and COPIC Markers.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation's largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2008 will be held July 3 - July 6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property - Anime Expo®. More information can be found at its website (www.spja.org).

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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