The 17th Annual
Arizona's anime convention
- January 23-25, 2026
- Mesa Convention Center
Locations & Hours
Mesa Convention Center
263 N Center St, Mesa, AZ 85201
Parking Info
Free Parking
Delta Hotels Phoenix Mesa
200 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201
Parking Info
Free Parking
Badge Pickup & On Site Sales Hours
Friday: 10am – 8pm; Saturday 10am – 7pm; Sunday 10am – 3pm
Programming / Event Hours
Friday: 11:30am – 12:30am; Saturday 10am – 12:30am; Sunday 10am – 4:30pm
Vendor Hall Hours
Friday: 12pm – 8pm (Premier Badge & Bundle Badge holders access at 11am); Saturday 10am – 7pm; Sunday 10am – 4pm (last entry at 3:30pm)
Solar Japanese Festival Hours
Friday: 1pm – 5:30pm; Saturday 10am – 5:30pm; Sunday 10am – 3:00pm
Luna Night Market Hours
Friday: 5pm – 9pm; Saturday 5pm – 9pm
About Us.
Taiyou Con is a family friendly 3-day anime convention and Japanese festival at the Mesa Convention Center! We are an introduction to all things Asian pop culture – anime, cosplay, video games, K-Pop, Asian food trucks, and much more with over 300 hours of interactive activities just for YOU.
We started out as an event for people that needed a place to share their common interests with each other. Our first event took place 16 years ago at a school with no admission cost and lasted only a total of eight hours. Now, our event is much bigger and strive to introduce more people to this community by making it easy and affordable, but our mission remains the same… help people make awesome memories with each other.
Oh yeah! You can bring your kids.
Let your kids enjoy browsing through the art in artist alley, eating at the food trucks at the Japanese festival, getting autographs from their favorite anime voice actors and more!
- Kids at 11 years old or younger enter get free admission with a paid adult ticket purchase.
- Up to 2 kids per paid adult ticket purchase.
- Kids must be supervised at all times.
Things To Do
Download the mobile for complete schedule and activities!
Justin Briner
Voice Actor
Justin Briner
Voice ActorJustin Briner is an actor and singer known primarily for his work in anime and video games. Recently, he's started up the third season of My Hero Academia as Izuku "Deku" Midoriya. He can also be heard as Yoo Jinho in Solo Leveling, Mikaela in Seraph of the End, Nova in Space Patrol Luluco, Yukito and Yue in Cardcaptor Sakura, Yoichi in Drifters, Ayanokoji in Classroom of the Elite, Alfonso in GARO: The Animation, Niko in Nanbaka, Ryota Mitarai in Danganronpa 3, Frate in 91 Days, Qwenthur in Heavy Object, Manato in Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions, and many more. Additionally, he has provided voices for games such as Dust: An Elysian Tail, SMITE, Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs, Cibele, and DreadOut.
Emi Lo
Voice Actor
Emi Lo
Voice ActorEmi Lo is a Taiwanese/Chinese-American voice actor and director. They are most well-known for voicing Lucy in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries, Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail, Sawatari in Chainsaw Man, Rena in Higurashi When They Cry, Rinku in D4DJ, Suma in Demon Slayer, Columbina/Damselette in Genshin Impact, Miri in Buddy Daddies, Hei in The Legend of Hei, Destiny in takt op. Destiny, Shuten Douji in Fate/Grand Order, Kate in Shadows House, Mirai in Dr. Stone, and Young Hawks in My Hero Academia, but can be heard in countless other anime and video games. When Emi is not acting, they can be found playing piano, playing video games, cosplaying, napping, working out, eating, or exploring natural and man-made ruins. They also have an absolutely precious but spoiled Siberian cat named Noctis that has never done anything wrong and is incredibly cute and fluffy.
Kaiji Tang
Voice Actor
Kaiji Tang
Voice ActorAn avid lover of gaming and all things food-related, Kaiji Tang has been working as a voice actor in Los Angeles CA since 2007. In the world of video games, he has done such roles as Ichiban Kasuga (Yakuza: Like a Dragon), Eustace (Granblue Fantasy: Versus), Faust (Guilty Gear), Munehisa Iwai (Persona 5), Takatoshi Hijiyama (13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim), Akatsuki (Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle), Owain (Fire Emblem: Awakening), Detective Pikachu (Detective Pikachu 3DS), Jann Lee (Dead or Alive 5), Gaius Worzel (The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel), Gonta Gokuhara (Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony), Fang (Fairy Fencer F), Moma Kumakura (AI: The Somnium Files), and Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage). When it comes to Anime, you can hear him in such roles as Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen), Osamu Dazai (Bungo Stray Dogs), Joe (Megalobox), Sanemi Shinazugawa (Demon Slayer), Guts (Berserk 2016), Ohma Tokita (Kengan Ashura), Archer (Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works), Tsumugu Kinagase (Kill La Kill), Retsu (Baki), Poppo (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day), Bill (Beastars), and Hendricksen (The Seven Deadly Sins).
Lex Lang
Voice Actor
Lex Lang
Voice ActorGet ready, Taiyou Con, because legendary voice actor Lex Lang is coming to Arizona! With over 500 credits to his name, Lex has brought to life a wide assortment of fan-favorite characters in Anime, Video Games, Animation, and TV. In anime, Lex is widely recognized as Suguru Geto in the smash hit Jujutsu Kaisen, but his other notable roles include Wargreymon in Digimon, Goemon in Lupin the Third, Teuchi, the Ichiraku Ramen Guy, and Hayate in Naruto, Sanosuke Sagara in Rurouni Kenshin, Jagged Stone in Miraculous Ladybug, and Goku in the Toonami Asia release of Dragonball Super. Video game fans will recognize him as Dr. Neo Cortex in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, Kiljeaden in World of Warcraft, The Stone and Fire Trolls in God of War, Charr Male in Guild Wars, and Han Solo, Poe Dameron and Stormtroopers in Star Wars Video Games. Lex has also made his mark in mainstream animation and TV shows, voicing several Warner Bros and DC characters, such as Batman, Dr. Doom, Captain Cold, Clayface, and Captain Atom on shows like Batman Brave and the Bold, Justice League, and Legion of Superheroes. He is also The Doorman and his dog Hundley on Curious George, Barry on The Regular Show, Major Vonreg on Star Wars Resistance, and The Candlemaker on Doom Patrol. Make sure to catch Lex Lang at [event name] and get your Pops, prints, collector's cards, and action figures signed by one of the busiest and nicest voice actors in the industry!
Adam McArthur
Voice Actor
Adam McArthur
Voice ActorAdam McArthur is best known as the voice of main protagonist, Yuji Itadori, in the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime of the Year, “Jujutsu Kaisen”. His voice can be heard in numerous anime including Reno in "Kaiju No. 8", Chifuyu in "Tokyo Revengers", Trumpet in "My Hero Academia", Roma in "Goodbye DonGlees" and Patrick and Ricky in "Shadows House". He was also the voice of Marco Diaz on the hit Disney show, “Star vs. The Forces of Evil,” and has voiced in tv shows and video games, including "Big City Greens", "Star Wars: The Clone Wars", "Ghostwire Tokyo", and "Far Cry 5". Adam can also be heard as the “voice” of Disney XD.
Nazeeh Tarsha
Voice Actor
Nazeeh Tarsha
Voice ActorNazeeh Tarsha is a MENA/SWANA voice actor whose passion for acting is rivaled only by his love of cheese. Notable roles include Kafka Hibino aka Kaiju No. 8 in the popular anime, Kaiju No. 8, Alhaitham in Genshin Impact, Chobei in Hell’s Paradise, Third User in MHA, Raihan in Pokemon Twilight Wings, Gilgamesh in the video game Smite, and many many more!
Katelyn Barr
Voice Actor
Katelyn Barr
Voice ActorKatelyn Barr has been working in anime since 2013. She is best known as the voice of Mina Ashiro in Kaiju No. 8, Himeno in Chainsaw Man, Ryuko “Ryukyu” Tatsuma in My Hero Academia, Yami/Golden Darkness and Tearju Lunatique in To Love Ru, Baby 5 in One Piece, and Nikki Hanada in Dr. Stone. Some personal favorite roles of hers are Anna Yamada (The Dangers in My Heart), Shoukaku (Azur Lane), Ren Soma (Fruits Basket), and Chiaki Ogaki (Laid-Back Camp). Katelyn currently resides in Dallas, TX where she records projects from her home studio, plays drums, and collects Halloween décor.
Brian Beacock
Voice Actor
Brian Beacock
Voice ActorBrian Beacock is an actor, writer, producer and musician with a diverse career including voice overs for numerous series and video games including “Digimon,” “Naruto,” “Bleach,” “Durarara,”Monokukma in the “Danganronpa” game series, “Kuroko’s Basketball”,Akutagawa in “Bungo Stray Dogs”, “Blue Exorcist,” “Code Geass,” “Tales of Symphonia,” “Dragon Ball Super,” “Sailor Moon” and more. Television appearances: “Imagination Movers,” “Kath & Kim,” “CSI,” “Passions,” NBC’s “The Rerun Show.” Films include: “Colt Racer,” “To The Beat”, “Mulholland Drive,” “Buying The Cow,” “Globehunters,” “Circuit,” and horror feature “Hollow Scream.
Howard Wang
Voice Actor
Howard Wang
Voice ActorHoward Wang is a voice actor and video game developer. Howard has lent his voice to characters like Xie Lian in Heaven Official’s Blessing, Langa Hasegawa in SK8 the Infinity, Luka in Honkai: Star Rail, Narciso Anasui in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, Kenshin Himura in Rurouni Kenshin (2023), Hajime Kokonoi in Tokyo Revengers, Tsutomu Goshiki and Rintaro Suna in Haikyu!, Haruichi Izumo in Kaiju No. 8, Sandalphon in the Granblue Fantasy franchise, Louis James Moriarty in Moriarty the Patriot, Shihai Kuroiro/Vantadark in My Hero Academia, Piers and Darumaka in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys, Abel Walker in Mashle, Venom in Guilty Gear -Strive-, Whitley Schnee in RWBY, Pelleas in Fire Emblem Heroes, Tatsuya Himuro in Kuroko’s Basketball, Wakiya Murasaki in Beyblade Burst Surge, Vinsmoke Ichiji in One Piece, Hikari in Octopath Traveler II, Aaron Wei in Trails Through Daybreak, Yomi Hellsmile in Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, and many more!
Shawn Gann
Voice Actor
Shawn Gann
Voice Actor
Shawn is a proud Filipino-American ADR Director, Casting Director, Voiceover Artist, and Educator who has voiced roles in Star Wars: Visions, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Super, Attack on Titan, One Piece, Wind Breaker, Fruits Basket, Ranking of Kings, Radiant, Ensemble Stars, Ultraman, and many others. His over 40 (and counting) directing credits include such shows as How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, Requiem of the Rose King, Aoashi, Shadows House, Buddy Daddies, Radiant, The Legendary Hero is Dead, Horimiya, Fruits Basket, Laid Back Camp, The Apothecary Diaries, Kaiju No. 8 and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.
He has also been featured in several video games; most notably, for HoYoverse’s Genshin Impact, GearBox Software’s Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Bandai’s Tales of Luminaria, and NetMarble’s Seven Knights Re:BIRTH. Recently, he wrapped filming for Amazon’s The Dark Places and Firelight Entertainment’s synchronized A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For most of his career, Shawn has been a theatre maker in Dallas-Fort Worth that has performed on most major stages, started several companies, and has been a producing board/company member with many others; he has also toured Nationally and Internationally as an actor which includes performing in Scotland’s 2019 Festival Fringe in Edinburgh.
Kori Oujo
VTuber
Kori Oujo
VTuber
Kōri is a VTuber content creator who is Twitch affiliate and YouTube partner, working to push the boundaries of where VTubing goes in-real-life. As a raccoon that got isekai’d into an ice princess, Kōri displays her passion for storytelling across all mediums, with a silly chaotic flair. Her focus is virtually attending events like anime conventions, raves, sports arenas- or even creating her own live concerts in locations like Las Vegas and aboard a carriership museum! You can find her multistreaming on Twitch and YouTube her point of view at conventions and other IRL events, interacting with attendees and bringing VTubing IRL. Otherwise, she streams a variety of games and activities, such as horror, open-world, or single player narrative focused games.
Kōri is also a musician, creating multiple original music albums. As a woman with an English degree with an emphasis on creative writing, her creativity and storytelling is seen not only in her song lyrics but also in two self-produced visual novel games revolving around Kōri’s lore. Ak the raccoon and Kōri are excited to meet you!
Do you know what's going on?
Stay up to date with the latest news in our Updates section or on social media. You can also check out the mascot stories in the Light Novel menu!
You are reading the official Taiyou Con light novel, Reset!!! We Tried
You are reading the official Taiyou Con light novel, Reset!!! We Tried
You are reading the official Taiyou Con light novel, Reset!!! We Tried
The fun times over the years...
