Kochi Anicri Festival 2026 Attracts 27,060 Visitors

Kochi Shinkin Bank, led by President Kurumi Yamazaki, is advancing the "Kochi Anime Creator Holy Land Project" with the goal of creating employment and stimulating regional economic activity by establishing a hub for anime creators and related businesses in Kochi Prefecture. As an integral part of this initiative, the "Kochi Anicri Festival 2026," an event designed to bring together anime creators and fans in Kochi, took place on April 11 (Saturday) and April 12 (Sunday). The festival recorded a total attendance of 27,060 over the two days, representing a 111% increase compared to the previous year's 24,300 attendees. Specifically, 11,380 people attended on April 11, 2026, and 15,680 on April 12, 2026. The event spanned multiple locations including the Kochi Prefectural Citizens' Gymnasium, Central Park, Dot Com Plaza, and Kinema Museum, with additional activities in downtown areas like Otemachi Shopping Street to generate broader community engagement. Preceding the main festival, the "Anitama Summit" was held on April 10, where domestic anime industry stakeholders, including publishers and anime studios, convened to discuss strategies for revitalizing Kochi's anime industry. An "Anicri Social Gathering" for creators and judges was also held on April 11. The festival was free to enter and organized by the Kochi Anime Creator Holy Land Project Executive Committee, co-organized by Kochi Prefecture, Kochi City, Nankoku City, Susaki City, and Shinkin Central Bank, and supported by Kochi Shinkin Bank and the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Regional Future Foundation.