# Tekko (convention)

Tekko (formerly Tekkoshocon) is an annual four-day anime convention held during July at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The convention has been held in various locations around the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and is run by a non-profit organization, the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society (PJCS). Tekkoshocon's name was a blend of the Japanese word tekkosho, meaning steel mill (a reference to Pittsburgh's industrial steel-producing history), and adapting the suffix "-con" (from convention), which is a common nomenclature archetype among such conventions.

## Programming

The convention typically offers an AMV contest, anime viewings, concerts, cosplay masquerade, costume competitions, dance/rave, dance competition, dealers' room, fashion shows, formal ball, gaming (board, LARP, table top, trading card), karaoke room, panels, video game tournaments, and workshops. Tekko has held charity events since 2006 supporting organizations such as the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and in 2011 the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Gackt's "Show Your Heart" charity, and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The concerts at Tekko have drawn significant attendees, with over 900 for the Rampant concert in 2011, over 1,000 for Exist Trace in 2012, and 1,100 for Dazzle Vision & Cantoy in 2013. Tekko contributed almost three million dollars to the Pittsburgh economy in 2014, growing to nearly four million (3.7 mil) in 2015, and $4.7 million in 2016.

## History

In 2002 the first attempt to hold an anime convention in Pittsburgh, Takocon, failed due to a booking problem at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center and the lack of time to acquire additional space. In 2003, the first Tekkoshocon was organized by Rebecca Roach and occurred at the Wyndham Pittsburgh Airport. In 2004, the convention moved to the Pittsburgh Marriott North and became three days. From 2005 to 2007 Tekkoshocon was held in the Pittsburgh ExpoMart/Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh, but due to unexpected demolition work, Tekkoshocon moved to the Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree for 2008.
Tekkoshocon moved to the larger David L. Lawrence Convention Center in 2009 and for 2010 expanded into a four-day convention. In 2011 due to the lack of available space at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the convention moved to the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown (formerly Pittsburgh Hilton). The convention celebrated its tenth anniversary and remained at the Wyndham Grand for 2012 while adding a fifth evening of events offsite at the Hollywood Theater Dormont. Due to various issues (crowded staircases, hotel issues, noise complaints including an early shutdown Sunday morning), the convention announced that it would not be returning to the Wyndham Grand for 2013. Tekkoshocon Inc. transferred its property to the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, a non-profit organization, in September 2012. The convention returned to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center starting in 2013, with the name shortened to Tekko for 2014.
Tekko added dressing rooms for cosplayers, non photo cosplay locations, Japanese cultural/educational programming (Tekko Gakkou), and expanded the game room by 50 percent in 2015. Pittsburgh declared it to be Tekko Week during the convention in 2016. Two attendees got married during the cosplay masquerade and portions of the convention were streamed live (TeamTekkoTV). In 2017, Tekko expanded its 18+ programming. The convention in 2019 featured a wrestling show by Big Time Wrestling. Tekko 2020 was moved from April to June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was later cancelled. Tekko 2021 was moved from July to December due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The convention had both vaccine and mask rules for the December event.
Tekko launched a GoFundMe in June 2022 to raise funds in order to hold the convention. This was due to 2020's cancellation, 2021's poor attendance, and increased costs. The convention needed $60,000 to rent the convention center, with an overall goal of $100,000 to stabilize finances. Tekko held a fundraiser featuring cars and cosplay in early July 2022 and later a steaming funraiser on Twitch. The convention raised over $65,000 by July 7 and received matching donations from Schell Games. Tekko was run by 350 volunteers in 2024.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| March 29–30, 2003 | Wyndham Pittsburgh Airport Coraopolis, Pennsylvania | 600 | Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, Debora Rabbai, Monica Rial, and Jan Scott-Frazier. |
| March 12–14, 2004 | Pittsburgh Marriott North Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania | | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Bob Bergen, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Vic Mignogna, Otaku Duet, and Greg Wicker. |
| April 8–10, 2005 | Pittsburgh ExpoMart Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Monroeville, Pennsylvania | 1,400 | Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Michael Gluck, Richard "Pocky" Kim, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Jeff Thompson, and Greg Wicker. |
| March 31-April 2, 2006 | Pittsburgh ExpoMart Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Monroeville, Pennsylvania | 1,771 | Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Caitlin Glass, Michael Gluck, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Hilary Hatch, Kyle Hebert, Michael Poe, and Greg Wicker. |
| April 13–15, 2007 | Pittsburgh ExpoMart Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Monroeville, Pennsylvania | 2,457 | Greg Ayres, Hilary Hatch, Kyle Hebert, Mari Iijima, Vic Mignogna, Michael Poe, Carrie Savage, Brett Weaver, and Greg Wicker. |
| April 11–13, 2008 | Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Robert Axelrod, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Sandy Fox, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, The Hsu-nami, Mari Iijima, Lex Lang, Mike McFarland, and Carrie Savage. |
| April 3–5, 2009 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 3,239 | Greg Ayres, Battlecake, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Eyeshine, Freezepop, Hilary Hatch, Jonathan Klein, Otokage, Michael Poe, Derek Stephen Prince, Stephanie Sheh, Uncle Yo, and Stephanie Young. |
| April 8–11, 2010 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 3,522 | Robert Axelrod, Greg Ayres, Johnny Yong Bosch, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Eyeshine, Barbara Goodson, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, Mari Iijima, L33tStr33t Boys, Luzmelt, Vic Mignogna, Wendy Powell, Derek Stephen Prince, Carrie Savage, Christopher Corey Smith, Dan Southworth, Suicide Ali, Uncle Yo, and Tommy Yune. |
| March 31-April 3, 2011 | Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 4,000 (est) | Steve Blum, Richard Epcar, lix, Kevin McKeever, Mega Ran, Reni Mimura, Rampant, Ellyn Stern, and Tommy Yune. |
| March 21–25, 2012 | Hollywood Theater Dormont (21st) Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 3,600 (est) | Exist Trace, David J. Fielding, Todd Haberkorn, Kevin McKeever, Mega Ran, SoundWitch, Uncle Yo, and Travis Willingham. |
| April 4–7, 2013 | Hollywood Theater Dormont (4th) David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Cantoy, Chris Cason, Dazzle Vision, David J. Fielding, Initial P, Tony Oliver, Chii Sakurabi, Uncle Yo, Cristina Vee, and Tommy Yune. |
| April 4–6, 2014 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 5,111 | Gacharic Spin, Caitlin Glass, Brittney Karbowski, Lolita Dark, Uncle Yo, David Vincent, Greg Wicker, and Lex Winter. |
| April 16–19, 2015 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 5,983 | Jerry Jewell, Nancy Kepner, Jamie Marchi, RinRin Doll, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, J. Michael Tatum, Tune in Tokyo, Uncle Yo, and Lex Winter. |
| April 7–10, 2016 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 7,698 | Misako Aoki, Back-On, DJ Bass, Nancy Kepner, Lynda Leung, Matthew Mercer, Chris Patton, Marisha Ray, Micah Solusod, Austin Tindle, Uncle Yo, and Lex Winter. |
| April 6–9, 2017 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Haenuli, Nancy Kepner, Cherami Leigh, Magic of Life, n00neimp0rtant, Jeff Nimoy, Brina Palencia, Jad Saxton, Ian Sinclair, Kimura U, Uncle Yo, Greg Wicker, and Lex Winter. |
| April 5–8, 2018 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 9,751 | SungWon Cho, Luci Christian, Samurai Dan Coglan, Fire Lily, Nancy Kepner, Haruka Kurebayashi, LM.C, Vic Mignogna, Bryce Papenbrook, Monica Rial, Indra Rojas, Jez Roth, Saki Tachibana, and Lex Winter. |
| April 11–14, 2019 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 11,385 | Justin Briner, Kira Buckland, Ray Chase, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Robbie Daymond, Nancy Kepner, Erica Lindbeck, Max Mittelman, Myth & Roid, Shihori Nakane, Jez Roth, Michelle Ruff, Scarfing Scarves, TeddyLoid, and Lex Winter. |
| December 9–12, 2021 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | About 4,800 | Katelyn Gault, Caitlin Glass, Billy Kametz, Nancy Kepner, James Landino, Erica Lindbeck, Kyle McCarley, Mega Ran, Erica Mendez, Nano, and Sleepyhead. |
| July 21–24, 2022 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | ACME, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Haenuli, Nancy Kepner, Cassandra Lee Morris, Nano, Trina Nishimura, Bryce Papenbrook, RinRin Doll, Jez Roth, Alejandro Saab, Jeannie Tirado, VickyBunnyAngel, Sarah Wiedenheft, and Lex Winter. |
| July 20–23, 2023 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 9,978 | Burnout Syndromes, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Khoi Dao, Caleb Hyles, Nancy Kepner, Lady Cels, David Lodge, Brandon McInnis, Kayli Mills, Jez Roth, Keith Silverstein, Laura Stahl, StarsOfCassiopeia, J. Michael Tatum, Lex Winter, Suzie Yeung, and Jonathan Young. |
| July 18-21, 2024 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 10,665 | 6%Dokidoki, Ash Da Hero, Ben Balmaceda, Jessica Calvello, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Creep-P, Chris Hackney, Nancy Kepner, Emi Lo, Landon McDonald, Midnight Pursona, PAiDA, Jez Roth, Sarcasm-himé, Karen Strassman, David Vincent, and Lex Winter. |
| July 17-20, 2025 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | |

## Tekko 1/2

Tekko 1/2 was a one-day anime convention created by the staff of Tekkoshocon that included anime showings, cosplay, karaoke, panels, and video games. Due to growth the event moved from the Carnegie Library to the Best Western Parkway Center Inn in 2008.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Guests |
| October 1, 2005 | Carnegie Library Main (Oakland) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| October 14, 2006 | Carnegie Library Main (Oakland) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Mandy St. Jean |
| October 27, 2007 | Carnegie Library Main (Oakland) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| October 4, 2008 | Best Western Parkway Center Inn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Battlecake, Carrie Savage, and Uncle Yo. |

## KuroKiiro Festival

The KuroKiiro Festival is an educational anime festival that includes a carnival, dance, dancing maid cafe, swap meet, talent show, vendors, video gaming, and workshops. In 2010, KuroKiiro moved to the Boyd Community Center (former school) in Pittsburgh and formed its own maid cafe group called KuroKiiro Cafe. The event returned to the Boyd Community Center in 2011 and was held over Thanksgiving weekend. KuroKiiro again returned to the Boyd Community Center in 2012 and 2013. For 2014 the convention moved to the California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center in California, Pennsylvania.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Guests |
| October 3–4, 2009 | Best Western Parkway Center Inn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Battlecake, Dino Lionetti, Carrie Savage, and The SoftReset. |
| November 5–7, 2010 | Boyd Community Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Stephanie Nadolny and Uncle Yo. |
| November 25–27, 2011 | Boyd Community Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Kent Williams |
| November 16–18, 2012 | Boyd Community Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Kyle Hebert |
| November 1–3, 2013 | Boyd Community Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Crispin Freeman and Greg Wicker. |
| August 29–31, 2014 | California University of Pennsylvania, Convocation Center California, Pennsylvania | Leah Clark, Nancy Kepner, Tyson Rinehart, Greg Wicker, and Lex Winter. |

## Sangawa Project

The Sangawa Project is an 18+ anime event created by the staff of Tekkoshocon geared towards mature fans that includes an AMV contest, arcade, cosplay contest, dealers room, maid cafe, panels, and classic video games. Sangawa's name comes from the Japanese word for "three rivers", in reference to Pittsburgh's nickname. The event acts as a revenue source, along with the KuroKiiro Festival, for Tekkoshocon. For 2014 the convention moved to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| December 4–5, 2010 | Best Western Parkway Center Inn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 106 | Dan Woren |
| July 15–17, 2011 | Best Western Parkway Center Inn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Matt K. Miller |
| July 13–15, 2012 | Best Western Parkway Center Inn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Kevin McKeever and Jeff Ryan. |
| December 5–7, 2014 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 300+ | Monica Rial |
| December 4–6, 2015 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Nancy Kepner, Vic Mignogna Sonny Strait, and Lex Winter. |
| December 9–11, 2016 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Todd Haberkorn, Nancy Kepner, and Lex Winter. |
| December 8–10, 2017 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Colleen Clinkenbeard, Nancy Kepner, Robert McCollum, and Lex Winter. |
| November 30 - December 2, 2018 | Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Samurai Dan Coglan, Nancy Kepner, Tony Oliver, David Vincent, and Lex Winter. |
| December 6–8, 2019 | Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial. |
| February 9-11, 2024 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Chris Hackney, Nancy Kepner, and Lex Winter. |
| February 7-9, 2025 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | | Brittany Lauda, Matt Shipman, Nancy Kepner, and Lex Winter. |