Shopping Guide
Popular anime singers Eir Aoi and Luna Haruna performed live on stage together for the first time when the pair appeared as guests of honor at the March 29-30 Sakura-Con anime convention in Seattle.
Aoi and Haruna joined other guests of honor, including Reki Kawahara, a light novel author who is best known for creating Accel World and Sword Art Online.
Aoi and Haruna are both signed to SME Records Inc., and have provided theme songs for the anime TV series adaptation of Sword Art Online and another popular anime series, Fate/Zero.
They also participated in a promotional event for Sword Art Online, a meet and greet event with fans, and other programs.
Sakura-Con is a U.S. Japanese anime-related convention that is also widely known in Japan. It offers various activities, including cosplay and karaoke contests, guest appearances, discussions, live shows, and a charity auction. At least 20,000 visitors annually have attended the three-day convention in the past.
This year, Cowboy Bebop anime director Toshihiro Kawamoto was also invited as a guest of honor.
Aniplex of America Inc. said it acquired the North American rights to Sword Art Online last autumn. It is currently streamed online in the region, but a release date for the Blu-ray and DVD has not been confirmed.
Sakura-Con Official Site:
http:// www.sakuracon.org/
Translated by The Asahi Shimbun from the website Anime Anime.
http://ajw.asahi.com/
