Ohayocon

Ohayocon is a three-day anime convention typically held during January in Columbus, Ohio, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Ohayocon's name is derived from the similarity between "Ohio", the convention's location, and Ohayou (おはよう), which means "good morning" in Japanese.[1][3][4]

Ohayocon
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Manga, Video Gaming[1]
VenueHyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Location(s)Columbus, Ohio
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2001
Attendance13,000 paid (est.) in 2023[2]
Websitehttp://www.ohayocon.org/

Programming

The convention typically offers an anime music contest, an artists' alley, concerts, costume contests, a dealers' room, a formal ball, a masquerade, musical events, panel discussions, a rave, table-top games, tournaments, video gaming, and workshops.[1][4][5][6][7][8][9]

History

In 2007, the Midwest premiere of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles occurred at the Arena Grand Theatre during Ohayocon.[10] In 2010, crowding was a problem during the rave due to space issues. The convention shared the Columbus Convention Center with other events and only used about one-fourth of the available space.[5] The convention's dance was moved to the convention center ballroom in 2012 to alleviate crowding issues.[7] Ohayocon began using wristbands instead of badges to control unpaid attendance in 2014.[11] During Ohayocon 2015, a transgender teen disappeared during the rave on Saturday night. The teen was attempting to run away and was later found safe in downtown Columbus on Tuesday.[12][13][14] The Columbus Convention Center was undergoing construction during Ohayocon 2017, and the convention continued to use wristbands instead of badges.[15]

Ohayocon 2021 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a virtual event was held in its place.[16][17][18] The 2022 convention had an attendance cap of 17,000 and events like the dance were not held.[18] Ohayocon also had COVID-19 policies that included masks and testing or vaccination.[19] The dance and formal ball returned in 2023. Ohayocon continued to have COVID-19 protocols that included masks and testing or vaccination.[20]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
January 26–28, 2001 Sheraton Airport Hotel
Cleveland, Ohio		800Michael Brady, Izzy Burger, Jessica Calvello, Juliet Cesario, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Jei Fubler Harvey, Neil Nadelman, Jonathan C. Osborne, Jan Scott-Frazier, Scott Simpson, Kazuko Tadano, Brett Weaver, and Greg Wicker.[21]
January 11–13, 2002 Holiday Inn Cleveland-South
Independence, Ohio		1,200Rodney "Largo" Caston, Tiffany Grant, Jonathan C. Osborne, Debora Rabbai, Jan Scott-Frazier.[22]
January 10–12, 2003 Hilton Columbus
Columbus, Ohio		2,061Steve Bennett, Kei Blue, Keith Burgess, Robert DeJesus, Brad DeMoss, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Shimpei Itoh, Vic Mignogna, Yad-Ming Mui, Stephanie Nadolny, Dominic Nguyen, Mio Odagi, Jonathan C. Osborne, Chris Patton, Debora Rabbai, Monica Rial, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Jeff Thompson, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[23]
January 23–25, 2004 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus, Ohio		3,042Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Blood, Keith Burgess, Austell "DJ Asu" Callwood, Richard Ian Cox, Robert DeJesus, Brad DeMoss, Tiffany Grant, Jason Lee, Scott McNeil, Jillian Michaels, Yad-Ming Mui, Monica Rial, Jan Scott-Frazier, Jeff Thompson, David L. Williams, Amanda Winn-Lee, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[24]
January 14–16, 2005 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		4,051Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Keith Burgess, Steve Conte, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil, Vic Mignogna, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, Mike Sinterniklaas, Doug Smith, Jeff Thompson, and David L. Williams.[25]
January 6–8, 2006 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		4,423Greg Ayres, Laura Bailey, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Michael Dobson, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil, Dave Merrill, Shaindle Minuk, Peelander-Z, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, The Spoony Bards, Jeff Thompson, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[26]
January 5–7, 2007 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		6,240Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Caitlin Glass, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Clarine Harp, Brittney Karbowski, Jason Lee, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Doug Smith, The Spoony Bards, Amanda Winn-Lee, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[27]
January 4–6, 2008 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		7,000
(est)		Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Eyeshine, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Clarine Harp, Brittney Karbowski, Jonathan Klein, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, r*k* Milholland, Monica Rial, Antimere Robinson, Chris Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Voices For, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[28]
January 30 – February 1, 2009 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		8,093Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Caitlin Glass, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Jerry Jewell, Dave Lister, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Ananth Panagariya, Chris Patton, Antimere Robinson, Rikki Simons, Mike Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, Brett Weaver, David L. Williams, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[29]
January 29–31, 2010 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		10,120Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Jonathan Coulton, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Illich Guardiola, Carl Gustav Horn, Jerry Jewell, Bruce Lewis, Dave Lister, Jamie McGonnigal, Lisa Ortiz, Wendy Powell, Jan Scott-Frazier, Stephanie Sheh, Rikki Simons, Mike Sinterniklaas, Doug Smith, J. Michael Tatum, Richard Townsend, Shannon Townsend, Voices For, Tom Wayland, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[30]
January 28–30, 2011 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		11,000Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Kevin Bolk, Robert DeJesus, Kaja Foglio, Phil Foglio, Bruce Lewis, Mundee Lewis, Mike McFarland, Jamie McGonnigal, Carli Mosier, Brina Palencia, Rawly Pickens, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Patrick Seitz, Rikki Simons, Doug Smith, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[31]
January 27–29, 2012 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		12,500Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Fred Gallagher, Ryan Gavigan, Todd Haberkorn, Mari Iijima, Trish Ledoux, The Pillowcases, Carrie Savage, Rikki Simons, Brad Swaile, SWEK, J. Michael Tatum, Amanda Winn-Lee, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, Toshifumi Yoshida, and Steve Yun.[32]
January 18–20, 2013 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Robert DeJesus, Brian Dobson, Junko Fujiyama, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Darrel Guilbeau, Kyle Hebert, Richard Horvitz, Kazha, Kevin Lillard, Dave Lister, Jamie McGonnigal, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Spike Spencer, Amanda Winn-Lee, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and YTCracker.[33]
January 24–26, 2014 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Tia Ballard, Jessica Calvello, Justin Cook, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Illich Guardiola, Richard Horvitz, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Michele Knotz, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Lisa Ortiz, Rikki Simons, Ian Sinclair, Brad Swaile, J. Michael Tatum, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[34][35]
January 30 – February 1, 2015 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Dino Andrade, Dr. Awkward, Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Jessica Calvello, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Jessie James Grelle, Greg Houser, Jerry Jewell, Michele Knotz, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Shin Kurokawa, Cynthia Martinez, David Matranga, Helen McCarthy, Carli Mosier, Rob Mungle, Nylon Pink, Project BECK, Xero Reynolds, Bill Rogers, Brad Swaile, and Greg Wicker.[36]
January 15–17, 2016 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Dino Andrade, Greg Ayres, Jessica Calvello, Emily DeJesus, Joe Digiorgi, Greg Houser, Chuck Huber, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Shin Kurokawa, David Matranga, Carli Mosier, Rob Mungle, Bill Rogers, John Swasey, Veronica Taylor, Jessica von Braun, Brett Weaver, David L. Williams, and Lex Winter.[37]
January 13–15, 2017 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Yuu Asakawa, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Joe Digiorgi, Kyle Hebert, Shin Kurokawa, Kirby Morrow, Yad-Ming Mui, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Lisa Ortiz, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Shadow Clone, Rikki Simons, Mike Sinterniklaas, John Swasey, Shinichi Watanabe, E. K. Weaver, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[38]
January 26-28, 2018 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Automaton, Chris Bevins, Kevin Bolk, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Diana Garnet, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jerry Jewell, Shin Kurokawa, Jamie Marchi, Brandon McInnis, Carli Mosier, Chris Moujaes, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Chris Patton, Professor Shyguy, Monica Rial, Rachel Robinson, Shadow Clone, Rikki Simons, Mike Sinterniklaas, Brad Swaile, J. Michael Tatum, Thousand Faces Cosplay, Vitamin H Productions, Shinichi Watanabe, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[39]
January 11-13, 2019 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Beau Billingslea, Kevin Bolk, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Bill Farmer, Diana Garnet, Caleb Hyles, Jeremy Inman, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jerry Jewell, Mika Kobayashi, Shin Kurokawa, Jason Marsden, Mike McFarland, Brandon McInnis, Jake Paque, Rikki Simons, Mike Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, Vitamin H Productions, Shinichi Watanabe, Sarah Wiedenheft, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[40]
January 10-12, 2020 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Steve Blum, Jessica Calvello, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Melissa Fahn, Fred Gallagher, Diana Garnet, Matt Greenfield, Richard Horvitz, Caleb Hyles, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Hirokatsu Kihara, Shin Kurokawa, Briana Lawrence, Jason Marsden, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Daman Mills, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Lisa Ortiz, Wendy Powell, Alejandro Saab, Carrie Savage, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, Jessica Walsh, Shinichi Watanabe, Amanda Winn-Lee, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[41]
January 22-24, 2021[16] Online convention
February 11-13, 2022 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center[18]
Columbus, Ohio		Cynthia Cranz, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Cole Feuchter, Shin Kurokawa, Jason Marsden, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Alexander Polinsky, Wendy Powell, Michael Sinterniklaas, John Swasey, Kiba Walker, Kent Williams, and Barry Yandell.[42]
January 19-22, 2023 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		13,000 paid (est.)[2]Kevin Bolk, Bill Butts, Jessica Calvello, Cynthia Cranz, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Richard Epcar, Cole Feuchter, Chad Hoku, Shin Kurokawa, Lauren Landa, Xander Mobus, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Trina Nishimura, Philip "Canvas" Odango, Keith Silverstein, Michael Sinterniklaas, Ellyn Stern, Kiba Walker, Shinichi Watanabe, and Kent Williams.[2]
January 18-21, 2024 Hyatt Regency Columbus
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio		Dragon Phoenix Wushu Team, Richard Epcar, John Gremillion, Helen McCarthy, Ellyn Stern, Kiba Walker, and Michael "Knightmage" Wilson.[43]

References
  1. Gearino, Dan (2011-01-30). "Anime fans find fun in dressing up in character". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  2. "Ohayocon 2023 Convention Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  3. "Ohayocon brings cosplay to Ohio". The News Record. 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  4. Siegel, Jim (2014-01-26). "Ohayocon fans come dressed in elaborate costumes for convention". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  5. Kopf, Ryan (2010-01-31). "Ohayocon Celebrates 10th Year in 2010". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  6. Kopf, Ryan (2011-02-02). "Ohayocon 2011 Review: Some kind of difference". UpcomingCons.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  7. Kopf, Ryan (2012-02-10). "Ohayocon 2012 Review". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  8. Stabile, Kaitlyn (2014-02-02). "Ohayocon a great way to meet people". The Eastern Echo. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  9. Thompson, Erica (January 24, 2018). "Community feature: Eclectic Ohayocon community returns to Short North". Columbus Alive. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  10. Ball, Ryan (2007-01-04). "Robotech Movie Premieres in Midwest". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
  11. Reed, Stephan (2014-01-24). "Ohayocon Changes and Constants". CityScene. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  12. Decker, Theodore (February 4, 2015). "Missing transgender teen found; runaway knew about search". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  13. McEntyre, Glenn (February 3, 2015). "Teen Reported Missing From Columbus Convention Found Safe". WBNS-TV. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  14. Bowersock, Mike (February 3, 2015). "Transgender Teen Found, Talks To NBC4". nbc4i. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  15. Kramer, Cheyanne (January 24, 2017). "Anime fans gather for Ohayocon 2017". The Oakland Post. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  16. "Ohayocon 21 is going digital!". Ohayocon Facebook. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  17. "Ohayocon 2021 Convention Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  18. Quamme, Margaret (February 3, 2022). "Japanese anime, culture and cosplay come to Columbus as Ohayocon returns live". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  19. Jones, Kathleen (2 February 2022). "Ohayocon to bring Japanese culture, anime to Columbus". The Lantern. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. Quamme, Margaret (January 19, 2023). "Anime fans and cosplayers to converge on Columbus for Ohayocon". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
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