The Japan Weekend, one of the most popular conventions for manga and anime fanatics, took place last weekend in Madrid. The purpose of this report is to explain the highlights of the event as well as making recommendations for future editions.

Firstly, it is worth mentioning the number of people attending the event since they sold out the tickets during the first 24 hours from the moment they were put on sale. Even if the number of tickets available was slightly lower compared to past years due to the current covid-19 restrictions, the attendance was astounding. The public expressed how eager they were to assist the event after the last couple of years and appreciated the efforts the organization had to keep them safe.

One of the most successful events was the cosplay contest with 30 contestants and over a hundred people as part of the audience. The music and cheers of the crowd lured a lot of people in, so much so that the staff had to go look for more chairs they could sit in. The exhibitions of some of the contestants together with the commentaries of both the host and the judges maintained the public’s interest and excitement.

However, a better signaling was suggested by the members of the public since some of them claimed it was difficult to find some of the conference rooms, stages and booths of the artists. Even though they had maps at every entrance and sings on the roof, they insisted that they had had trouble finding what they were looking for.

I think that handing in paper maps at the entrance could solve some of these problems, but even if that is not possible adding them in more significant places and making bigger and clearer signs could also be a solution. If we consider this for next year, I am sure the public will talk even better of the event.