Japan Expo Marseille, the meeting place for Japanese pop culture, returns in 2025

Japan Expo Marseille is a meeting place for everyone. While visitors enjoy the festive atmosphere, they also have plenty of opportunities to get up close to the guests, exchange a few words with them at a signing session, or listen to them talk about their work, projects and passions at a conference. 

The party continues on stage: Japan offers a multitude of musical genres to discover and endless sources of inspiration for artists. J-pop rubs shoulders with rock, RnB, electro and even covers of anime and video game music. An eclectic music scene awaits you.

Music has always been part of Japanese culture, and artists with more traditional styles introduce you to the shamisen, koto, sanshin and many other enchanting sounds. 

Japan Expo Marseille is no exception to tradition: in sunny Marseilles, cosplay takes center stage with Cosplay Shows and, for several years now, the French selections of the WCS - World Cosplay Summit, a major international cosplay competition.

Cosplayers present the most breathtaking costumes, made by themselves, from their favorite manga, anime or video games, in unforgettable performances. Just like the stage, the festival aisles are filled with a thousand characters, giving you the chance to see your favorite heroes come to life. 

Discover all the facets of the archipelago thanks to the presence of traditional culture. Numerous associations take part in this effort, with activities and workshops such as ikebana (Japanese floral art), origami, tea ceremony, calligraphy, painting, traditional games and lectures on a variety of themes.

The festival is the perfect place to try out new activities! Workshops and initiations teach you the basics of martial arts, model making, drawing, sewing or DIY for cosplay, and much more.

It's also a full-scale play area! A place where playful culture in all its forms meets the public: quizzes, blindtests, karaoke and many other games. With prizes to be won, of course. 

Games are an integral part of Japanese pop culture, and of course of Japan Expo Marseille. The associations invite you to play numerous games freeplay on the booths, try out the latest releases or take part in tournaments to challenge other visitors. 

An entire area, Budô, is entirely dedicated to martial arts: the principle is simple and allows visitors to discover a wide range of disciplines. Several times during the day, local clubs offer demonstrations and introductions, in compliance with health regulations. Kendo, judo, aikido, karate, shorinji kempo and many others: it's up to you to choose your martial path. 

Shops, artists and creators, webzines, fanzines, institutions, associations: Japan Expo Marseille brings together everyone involved in the manga industry and Japanese culture!

With booths overflowing with cultural products from Japan, manga, new releases and classics, fanzines, goodies of all kinds and games, you're bound to find what you're looking for in the festival aisles.