# Ohayocon

Ohayocon is a three-day anime convention typically held during January/February in Dayton, Ohio at the Dayton Convention Center. Ohayocon's name is derived from the similarity between "Ohio", the convention's location, and Ohayou (おはよう), which means "good morning" in Japanese.

## Programming

The convention typically offers an anime music contest, an artists' alley, concerts, costume contests, a dealers' room, a formal ball, a masquerade, musical events, panel discussions, a rave, table-top games, tournaments, video gaming, and workshops.

## History
### 2001-2023

In 2007, the Midwest premiere of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles occurred at the Arena Grand Theatre during Ohayocon. In 2010, crowding was a problem during the rave due to space issues. The convention shared the Columbus Convention Center with other events and only used about one-fourth of the available space. The convention's dance was moved to the convention center ballroom in 2012 to alleviate crowding issues. Ohayocon began using wristbands instead of badges to control unpaid attendance in 2014. During Ohayocon 2015, a transgender teen disappeared during the rave on Saturday night. The teen was attempting to run away and was later found safe in downtown Columbus on Tuesday. The Columbus Convention Center was undergoing construction during Ohayocon 2017, and the convention continued to use wristbands instead of badges.
Ohayocon 2021 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a virtual event was held in its place. The 2022 convention had an attendance cap of 17,000 and events like the dance were not held. Ohayocon also had COVID-19 policies that included masks and testing or vaccination. The dance and formal ball returned in 2023. Ohayocon continued to have COVID-19 protocols that included masks and testing or vaccination.

### Controversy and relocation 2024-present

Significant numbers of the conventions leadership and volunteers did not participate in the 2024 convention. This was due to the firing of the conventions chair and head of marketing over a logo dispute, among other issues including finances. The convention contends at the time they were removed due to organizational changes surrounding the formation of the Cultural Exchange Society Inc. (CESI), which as of 2024, the formation of is still not complete (specifically the non-profit status.) The staff, as part of the Conventions of Ohio Volunteer Event Network (COVEN), attempted to negotiate unsuccessfully with CESI. Ohayocon announced new leadership prior to the 2025 event, along with the convention moving to the Dayton Convention Center. In January 2025, Ohayocon's owners sued Sekai Guild/Sekaicon, a new convention formed by former staff of Ohayocon. They accused the former staff of sealing convention assets and information.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| January 26–28, 2001 | Sheraton Airport Hotel Cleveland, Ohio | 800 | Michael Brady, Izzy Burger, Jessica Calvello, Juliet Cesario, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Jei Fubler Harvey, Neil Nadelman, Jonathan Osborne, Jan Scott-Frazier, Scott Simpson, Kazuko Tadano, Brett Weaver, and Greg Wicker. |
| January 11–13, 2002 | Holiday Inn Cleveland-South Independence, Ohio | 1,200 | Rodney "Largo" Caston, Tiffany Grant, Jonathan Osborne, Debora Rabbai, Jan Scott-Frazier. |
| January 10–12, 2003 | Hilton Columbus Columbus, Ohio | 2,061 | Steve Bennett, Kei Blue, Keith Burgess, Robert DeJesus, Brad DeMoss, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Shimpei Itoh, Vic Mignogna, Yad-Ming Mui, Stephanie Nadolny, Dominic Nguyen, Mio Odagi, Jonathan Osborne, Chris Patton, Debora Rabbai, Monica Rial, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Jeff Thompson, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| January 23–25, 2004 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Columbus, Ohio | 3,042 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Blood, Keith Burgess, Austell "DJ Asu" Callwood, Richard Ian Cox, Robert DeJesus, Brad DeMoss, Tiffany Grant, Jaxon Lee, Scott McNeil, Jillian Michaels, Yad-Ming Mui, Monica Rial, Jan Scott-Frazier, Jeff Thompson, David L. Williams, Amanda Winn-Lee, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| January 14–16, 2005 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 4,051 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Keith Burgess, Steve Conte, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil, Vic Mignogna, Monica Rial, Christopher Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, Michael Sinterniklaas, Doug Smith, Jeff Thompson, and David L. Williams. |
| January 6–8, 2006 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 4,423 | Greg Ayres, Laura Bailey, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Michael Dobson, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil, Dave Merrill, Shaindle Minuk, Peelander-Z, Monica Rial, Christopher Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, The Spoony Bards, Jeff Thompson, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| January 5–7, 2007 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 6,240 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Caitlin Glass, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Clarine Harp, Brittney Karbowski, Jaxon Lee, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Christopher Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Doug Smith, The Spoony Bards, Amanda Winn-Lee, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 4–6, 2008 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 7,000 (est) | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Eyeshine, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Clarine Harp, Brittney Karbowski, Jonathan Klein, Bruce Lewis, Mike McFarland, Randy Milholland, Monica Rial, Antimere Robinson, Christopher Sabat, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Voices For, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 30 – February 1, 2009 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 8,093 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Caitlin Glass, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Jerry Jewell, Dave Lister, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Ananth Panagariya, Chris Patton, Antimere Robinson, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, Brett Weaver, David L. Williams, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 29–31, 2010 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 10,120 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Jonathan Coulton, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Illich Guardiola, Carl Gustav Horn, Jerry Jewell, Bruce Lewis, Dave Lister, Jamie McGonnigal, Lisa Ortiz, Wendy Powell, Jan Scott-Frazier, Stephanie Sheh, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, Doug Smith, J. Michael Tatum, Richard Townsend, Shannon Townsend, Voices For, Tom Wayland, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 28–30, 2011 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 11,000 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Kevin Bolk, Robert DeJesus, Kaja Foglio, Phil Foglio, Bruce Lewis, Mundee Lewis, Mike McFarland, Jamie McGonnigal, Carli Mosier, Brina Palencia, Rawly Pickens, Monica Rial, Christopher Sabat, Patrick Seitz, Rikki Simons, Doug Smith, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 27–29, 2012 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 12,500 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Fred Gallagher, Ryan Gavigan, Todd Haberkorn, Mari Iijima, Trish Ledoux, The Pillowcases, Carrie Savage, Rikki Simons, Brad Swaile, SWEK, J. Michael Tatum, Amanda Winn-Lee, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, Toshifumi Yoshida, and Steve Yun. |
| January 18–20, 2013 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Robert DeJesus, Brian Dobson, Junko Fujiyama, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Darrel Guilbeau, Kyle Hebert, Richard Horvitz, Kazha, Kevin Lillard, Dave Lister, Jamie McGonnigal, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Spike Spencer, Amanda Winn-Lee, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and YTCracker. |
| January 24–26, 2014 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Tia Ballard, Jessica Calvello, Justin Cook, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Illich Guardiola, Richard Horvitz, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Michele Knotz, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Lisa Ortiz, Rikki Simons, Ian Sinclair, Brad Swaile, J. Michael Tatum, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 30 – February 1, 2015 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Dino Andrade, Dr. Awkward, Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Jessica Calvello, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Jessie James Grelle, Greg Houser, Jerry Jewell, Michele Knotz, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Shin Kurokawa, Cynthia Martinez, David Matranga, Helen McCarthy, Carli Mosier, Rob Mungle, Nylon Pink, Project BECK, Xero Reynolds, Bill Rogers, Brad Swaile, and Greg Wicker. |
| January 15–17, 2016 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Dino Andrade, Greg Ayres, Jessica Calvello, Emily DeJesus, Joe Digiorgi, Greg Houser, Chuck Huber, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Shin Kurokawa, David Matranga, Carli Mosier, Rob Mungle, Bill Rogers, John Swasey, Veronica Taylor, Jessica von Braun, Brett Weaver, David L. Williams, and Lex Winter. |
| January 13–15, 2017 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Yuu Asakawa, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Joe Digiorgi, Kyle Hebert, Shin Kurokawa, Kirby Morrow, Yad-Ming Mui, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Lisa Ortiz, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Shadow Clone, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, John Swasey, Shinichi Watanabe, E. K. Weaver, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 26-28, 2018 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Automaton, Chris Bevins, Kevin Bolk, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Diana Garnet, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jerry Jewell, Shin Kurokawa, Jamie Marchi, Brandon McInnis, Carli Mosier, Chris Moujaes, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Chris Patton, Professor Shyguy, Monica Rial, Rachel Robinson, Shadow Clone, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, Brad Swaile, J. Michael Tatum, Thousand Faces Cosplay, Vitamin H Productions, Shinichi Watanabe, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 11-13, 2019 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Beau Billingslea, Kevin Bolk, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Bill Farmer, Diana Garnet, Caleb Hyles, Jeremy Inman, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jerry Jewell, Mika Kobayashi, Shin Kurokawa, Jason Marsden, Mike McFarland, Brandon McInnis, Jake Paque, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, Vitamin H Productions, Shinichi Watanabe, Sarah Wiedenheft, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| January 10-12, 2020 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Steve Blum, Jessica Calvello, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Melissa Fahn, Fred Gallagher, Diana Garnet, Matt Greenfield, Richard Horvitz, Caleb Hyles, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Hirokatsu Kihara, Shin Kurokawa, Briana Lawrence, Jason Marsden, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Daman Mills, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Lisa Ortiz, Wendy Powell, Alejandro Saab, Carrie Savage, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, Jessica Walsh, Shinichi Watanabe, Amanda Winn-Lee, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| January 22-24, 2021 | Online convention | | |
| February 11-13, 2022 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | | Cynthia Cranz, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Cole Feuchter, Shin Kurokawa, Jason Marsden, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Alexander Polinsky, Wendy Powell, Michael Sinterniklaas, John Swasey, Kiba Walker, Kent Williams, and Barry Yandell. |
| January 19-22, 2023 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 13,000 paid (est.) | Kevin Bolk, Bill Butts, Jessica Calvello, Cynthia Cranz, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Richard Epcar, Cole Feuchter, Chad Hoku, Shin Kurokawa, Lauren Landa, Xander Mobus, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Trina Nishimura, Philip "Canvas" Odango, Keith Silverstein, Michael Sinterniklaas, Ellyn Stern, Kiba Walker, Shinichi Watanabe, and Kent Williams. |
| January 18-21, 2024 | Hyatt Regency Columbus Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio | 4,000 paid (est.) | Zach Aguilar, Beau Billingslea, Bill Butts, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Richard Epcar, Dorothy Fahn, Tom Fahn, Cole Feuchter, John Gremillion, Caleb Hyles, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Shinichiro Ishikawa, Shin Kurokawa, Emi Lo, Helen McCarthy, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Joshua Seth, Keith Silverstein, Michael Sinterniklaas, Ellyn Stern, Kiba Walker, Shinichi Watanabe, Michael "Knightmage" Wilson, and Stephanie Young. |
| January 31 - February 2, 2025 | Dayton Convention Center Dayton, Ohio | | Reba Buhr, Samurai Dan Coglan, Cole Feuchter, Jessie James Grelle, Jay Hickman, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Kyle Jones, Rob Mungle, Michelle "Mogchelle" Mussoni, Trina Nishimura, Bryce Papenbrook, Oscar Seung, Michael Sinterniklaas, John Swasey, Olivia Swasey, Veronica Taylor, Kiba Walker, and Shinichi Watanabe. |