# JAFAX

JAFAX is an annual three day anime convention held during June/July at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The convention's full name stands for Japanese Animation Film and Art Expo. JAFAX was previously a two-day event held at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and was organized by the university's anime club (Otaku No Anime) and tabletop gaming club (AltReal).

## Programming

The convention typically offers anime screenings, an artist alley, dance, fashion shows, game shows, guest speakers, maid cafe, masquerade, music video contest, panel discussions, tabletop gaming, vendors, and video games.
Charity events in 2016 included the 100 Tables Project and a Blood Drive.

## History

The event was started in 1995 by Rob Grimes, to spread anime in West Michigan. JAFAX for its first two years was held at the Kendall College of Art and Design, before moving to Grand Valley State University. No convention was held in 2015 due to outgrowing the space available at Grand Valley State University, the search for a new venue, and organizational changes. The event was free until moving in 2016 to the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place. Registration that year experienced issues and the convention shared its hotel with several weddings. JAFAX 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| June 22-23, 1996 | Kendall College of Art and Design Grand Rapids, Michigan | 150 | |
| June 21–22, 1997 | Kendall College of Art and Design Grand Rapids, Michigan | 350 | |
| June 27–28, 1998 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 500 | Robert DeJesus |
| June 19, 1999 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 750 | |
| June 24–25, 2000 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 800 | Robert DeJesus |
| June 24–25, 2001 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 900 | Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, and Doug Smith. |
| June 22–23, 2002 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 1,300 | Steve Bennett, James Dawsey, Robert DeJesus, Nickey Froberg, Amy Howard-Wilson, and Doug Smith. |
| June 21–22, 2003 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 1,500 | James Dawsey, Robert DeJesus, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith. |
| June 26–27, 2004 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 2,200 | Michael Coleman, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Newton Ewell, Nickey Froberg, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Kevin Lillard, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith. |
| June 25–26, 2005 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | | Michael Coleman, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Trevor Devall, Nickey Froberg, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, and Jan Scott-Frazier. |
| June 24–25, 2006 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | | |
| June 24–25, 2007 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 2,500 | |
| June 21–22, 2008 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | | James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Mundee Lewis, Joseph Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, Bruce Lewis, and David G. Wilson III. |
| June 27–28, 2009 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | | Mark Crilley, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Amy Howard-Wilson, Bruce Lewis, Mundee Lewis, Joseph Onyskow, Jeremy Robinson, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, and David G. Wilson III. |
| June 26–27, 2010 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 3,000 | Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Joseph Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith. |
| June 25–26, 2011 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 3,200 | James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Kyle Hebert, Michael House, Dan Houser, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Doug Smith. |
| June 23–24, 2012 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 3,500 | Mark Crilley, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Jeremy Robinson, Salia, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, and David G. Wilson III. |
| June 22–23, 2013 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 3,800 | Yunmao Ayakawa, James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Comfort Love, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, David G. Wilson III, and Adam Withers. |
| June 21–22, 2014 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan | 5,500 | James Dawsey, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Darrel Guilbeau, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Joseph Onyskow, Kristene Onyskow, Chris Rager, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Lisle Wilkerson, and David G. Wilson III. |
| June 24–26, 2016 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | 3,500 | 2D6, James Dawsey, Dan Houser, Amy Howard-Wilson, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Brittney Karbowski, Comfort Love, Jake Paque, Tyson Rinehart, David G. Wilson III, and Adam Withers. |
| June 16–18, 2017 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | | Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Kristie Good, Kyle Hebert, Dan Houser, Andrew Love, Comfort Love, J. Michael Tatum, David Vincent, and Lex Winter. |
| June 29 - July 1, 2018 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | | Zach Aguilar, Justin Briner, Clifford Chapin, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Todd Haberkorn, Comfort Love, Lex Winter, and Adam Withers. |
| June 7-9, 2019 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | | Steve Blum, Luci Christian, Cherami Leigh, Comfort Love, Jamie Marchi, Lex Winter, and Adam Withers. |
| June 24-26, 2022 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | | Tia Ballard, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Caitlin Glass, Jerry Jewell, Tyson Rinehart, and Lex Winter. |
| June 9-11, 2023 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | | Aaron Campbell, Sean Chiplock, Kohei Hattori, Cherami Leigh, Katriel Paige, and Lex Winter. |
| June 21-23, 2024 | Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan | | Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Kohei Hattori, Xanthe Huynh, Mike McFarland, and Chris Patton. |