Months of careful preparations an an entire week of excitement culminates with the Henshincon 2015 Main Event at Function Room 5 at the SMX, SM Mall of Asia. As JEFusion’s way of reaching out to its readers and to promote and celebrate the Japanese entertainment and pop culture, they promised a unique opportunity for Japanese Culture enthusiasts to connect, interact and share their ideas with fellow enthusiasts. Those promises were fulfilled in good measure as attendees got to enjoy a day filled with attractions, activities and special guests that truly catered to them. arkadymac.com is proud to be an official media partner for this event as we bring you the highlights of Henshincon 2015.
The excitement that Henshincon brought started a couple days before with an amazing press conference with special guests Red Mask Ryousuke Kaizu and Five Blue Kei Shindachiya as they met up with the media for a press conference not long after their arrival from Japan. The two iconic sentai actors were excited as well headlining Henshincon 2015, one of the biggest gatherings for Filipino tokusatsu fans, our coverage of which can be found here. This was followed up the next day with a classy but roaring launch party at stylish social venue One Esplanade at the Mall of Asia Complex where the honored guests shared an engaging and fun-filled evening with fans who have been yearning to see their heroes in the flesh, our coverage of which can be found here.
Then came the main event where devout fans, enthusiasts and cosplayers gathered since the opening of this unique occasion at the Function Room 5 of the SMX, SM Mall of Asia. They were there to show their support and adoration for the genre and to express how meaningful it had become in their lives.
Quite a number even came in their favorite tokusatsu cosplays. They said it was their way of paying homage to the creators, actors, producers and heroes of tokusatsu shows which they have enjoyed watching and marveled since their childhood. And apparently, love for the genre doesn’t come with age as the young and then young at heart all enjoyed being their heroes through their thoughtfully crafted cosplays.
In store for attendees was a full roster of exciting events, which include local J-music performers showcasing their talents and engaging the crowd with their energetic sets.
There was also the Henshin Hero Karaoke Singing Contest and Henshin Battle of the Bands where participants wowed the crowd with their amazing talent in performing iconic Japanese songs.
Throughout the event there were great booths catering to varied interests and keeping attendees occupied in between the program. The Original Henshin Hero Character Design and the Diorama Contest were also interesting sidelights. Auctions were held throughout the event, and they were particularly engaging as items put up for sale were truly rare, and for some, one of a kind. Posters, calendars and other autographed memorabilia from renowned tokusatsu actors were up for grabs as avid fans bid for precious items. It was all for a good cause as part of the proceeds would go to charity group People Empowerment for Arthritis and Lupus. Besides helping out society, winning bidders got to have their dream treasures home.
The Henshin Hero Cosplay Clash was a highlight of the event, featuring some of the best tokusatsu cosplayers around. The contestants gave their all in action-packed performances that matched the intensity of the original characters and series. After their performances and interviews with the hosts, scores were tallied and Ashley Misaki was named the champion for the Henshin Hero Cosplay Clash.
That afternoon saw the Meet and Greet sessions with veteran tokusatsu actors Red Mask Ryousuke Kaizu and Five Blue Kei Shindachiya. Lucky fans got to fulfill their childhood dreams as they got to meet them in person. They were able to shake hands, have items signed, have selfies, and even share a few words with them much to their delight, of course. It was indeed an experience they won’t soon forget.
The special guests also dropped by the Red Mask and Blue Five booth to promote the merchandise and say hi to the fans. Our Cosplay Model Ashley got to take some photos with them as well.
All in all, Henshincon 2015 lived up to expectations as it delivered an event that brought the fans and then icons together who shared their mutual adoration for the genre. It was an orderly, well-handled event, and we would like to thank JEFusion for making it all happen. Special thanks to Carrotz for accommodating our team with our coverage. We’re already excited for Henshincon: 2016, or something sooner for that matter.
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