Written by James Russell | September 6, 2025

San Japan 2025 breaks attendance record at 32, 073 attendees

San Antonio, TX - Over Labor Day weekend, San Japan returned to downtown San Antonio with its biggest convention to date. Drawing a record-breaking 32,073 attendees, the event surpassed last year’s 28,300 and reaffirmed its place as one of the largest fan-run anime conventions in the South Texas region. Beyond the crowd numbers, San Japan also gave back, collecting 69 units of donated blood and raising $8,500 for the AM Project.

The convention floor offered something for every kind of fan. The Artist Gallery showcased handcrafted works, paintings, and prints in countless styles, giving attendees the chance to take home art connected to their favorite anime. Among the standout contributors was Peitrisha, who designed this year’s official San Japan t-shirt artwork, an instantly recognizable piece that fans wore proudly throughout the weekend. The Dealer’s Room buzzed with collectors chasing Japanese exclusives, rare statues, and hard-to-find figures, while the San Japan Car Show drew crowds outside with its display of custom-wrapped vehicles transformed into rolling anime canvases.

Entertainment ran nonstop throughout the weekend. The Arcade section pulsed with classic machines, while competitive fighting game tournaments drew enthusiastic crowds. Fans of tabletop and trading card games filled entire halls, battling in Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and more. When the sun went down, the energy shifted to the convention’s nighttime rave, where music, lights, and movement carried thousands of fans into the early morning hours, celebrating connection on the dance floor.

Panels added both education and excitement. Attendees learned new skills in 3D prop-making and illustration workshops, while entertainment panels brought lighthearted fun through AMV showcases and cosplay contests, where fans displayed months of dedication and creativity.

San Japan’s story stretches back to 2005, when a group of volunteers organized a one-day event called Zero Day Anime at Our Lady of the Lake University. The gathering drew just over 800 people and sparked the creation of the full three-day convention in 2008, which welcomed 3,500 attendees. Growth was steady through the following years, leading to San Japan’s move in 2012 to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and Grand Hyatt Hotel, where it remains a permanent Labor Day tradition. Today, the convention has grown to nearly 30,000 annual attendees, with commitments to remain downtown through 2030.

At its core, San Japan has always been about more than entertainment. Its mission is to provide a safe, welcoming space where cultures and fandoms come together in appreciation of Japanese animation and beyond. In 2025, that mission was felt everywhere. From the art halls to the car show, from the panels to the rave. With record attendance, heartfelt contributions, and unforgettable creativity, San Japan continues to grow not just in size, but in spirit.