Introduction to the I.O.E.A.
(International Otaku Expo Association)
Illustration by Rei Hiroe

December 28th, 2015
By Kazutaka Sato
IOEA Representative

Greetings from the IOEA
• Today, otaku culture fans are everywhere and they form local communities intheir own respective regions. The existence of numerous expositions aroundthe world is testimony to this.
• Expos—conventions, marketplaces, and other events—represent numerous
local communities, and by establishing a truly global association of such
expos, it will be possible to create a foundation through which enthusiasts ofotaku culture around the globe can discover one another and cement
relationships. This is the purpose behind the formation of the International
Otaku Expo Association (IOEA).
• The goal of the IOEA is to encourage new developments within the wider
otaku culture through helping enthusiasts of otaku culture form deeper
relationships. The IOEA believes these developments will help create a world
where it will be possible for fans to share higher degrees of experiences ofhappiness.

Greetings from the IOEA• In order to realize the goals of the IOEA, the event operators listed below
have banded together to establish the IOEA. As a group, we call upon others
to join this international otaku event network.
– AniCom （Hong Kong, China)– Anime Friends (Sao Paulo, Brazil)– Comic Market （Tokyo, Japan)– NicoNico Chokaigi （Tokyo, Japan)– Otakon （Baltimore, USA)
– Romics （Rome, Italy)– Sakura-con (Seattle, USA)
– Salon del Manga (Barcelona, Spain)• Our sincerest hope is that many will participate and cooperate with thisendeavor.
• More Information in this Website : http://ioea.info/Kazutaka Sato and Takamasa Sakurai
IOEA Excecutive OfficeWhat is the IOEA?
• The International Otaku Expo Association (IOEA) will be an associationof expos where those who love otaku culture congregate. The IOEA will
be a non-profit organization.
• The IOEA shall support international dialogue and creativity, and thus
aims to encourage evolution of the otaku culture.
• Otaku event operators comprise the core membership of the IOEA
(referred to as “cooperative members”), while corporations,organizations, governmental bodies and individuals who approve thesegoals may become supporting members of the IOEA.

Ideals of the IOEA and Purpose of its Foundation
The International Otaku Expo Association (IOEA) will be an association of expos where those who love otaku culture congregate.
Today, otaku culture fans are everywhere and they form local communities in their own respective regions. The existence ofnumerous expositions around the world is testimony to this.
But even through there is a vast wave of enthusiasm sweeping the globe, each event is an independent entity within their respectivenations and regions, and there is little coordination among them. This is despite the fact all these events are communities wheredevoted fans of otaku culture congregate.
If otaku events could devote themselves more toward learning about each other, then those who share similar interests could band
together, and perhaps it would be possible make a difference—to lead the world toward a better path.
We believe that such a world is possible.
If otaku events could interconnect through the IOEA, those who congregate—fans, creators, organizations, and corporations—would
be able to expand their activities to a global stage.
Thus friendships can be enriched, mutual cooperation be enabled, deeper understanding of one other can be encouraged, andthereby not only help reaffirm respect for each other's culture, but also rediscover diversity and improve mutual trust, all in an effort tofoster friendship among enthusiasts of otaku culture around the world.
It is the IOEA’s mission to encourage all enthusiasts of otaku culture from around the world to become friends, and thus, this will
enable new developments within the otaku culture, and thereby create a world where it will be possible to share higher degrees ofhappiness.
In order to achieve this goal, an international association of expos and events which represent numerous local communities shall becreated, and with the cooperation of corporations, organizations, governmental bodies, and individuals who share these goals, theassociation will fulfill its mission to allow enthusiasts of otaku culture around the globe to discover one another and cement
relationships.
December, 2014
Takamasa Sakurai
IOEA Founding Task Force Producer

Functions of the IOEA• Constructing a global network of otaku events.
– Encourage discovery and interaction among event operators.

• Introducing otaku events around the world to Japan, as
well as to each other nation.
– Facilitating the embracing of global creativity and enthusiasm
pertaining to otaku culture around the world.

• Supporting the global expansion of otaku culture ofnumerous nations and regions.
– Multilateral introduction and interaction of creators from all over
the world.
– Supporting the expansion of various creative works on a globalstage.

Expo Interaction, before and after
Establishment of the IOEAIOEA Organizational Chart
IOEA Board of Trustees
Selected

Cooperative Members

Registration- Corporations & Organizations:Publishers, distributors, mass media, governmental bodies, industry associations, etc.

- Individuals: Creators, authors, cosplayers, fans, etc.

Roles of the Cooperative Members and the Executive Office• Cooperative Members••••

Cooperate with the operation of the IOEA.
Recommend other otaku events to join the IOEA.
Provide information regarding events and creators.
Submit motions to be debated.

• Executive Office• Conducts all executive functions of the IOEA
• Collects information from cooperative members, conducts
analysis, and provides reports regarding otaku events.
• Collects information, conducts analysis, and provides
reports regarding numerous industries and communities.
• Coordinates motions submitted by members.
• Coordinates the role of IOEA supporting members.

How to Join IOEA• Corporative Members (Otaku Expo)• 1st Please send email to IOEA Executive office(info@ioea.info) with below information.
• Name of Expo and Organaizer name
• The Name of person in charge, Title, contact emailaddress• 2nd We will return email with IOEA documents, Bylaws,Spreadseet to write Expo info, Application for IOEA
• 3rd You send us Application and Spreadseet.
• 4th We send your Expo’s data to our board of Trustees for
Investigation.

• Other Members(Cooporation and Personal)• Other members registraton will start in Summer 2016.
Please send us contact mail.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information regarding this presentation and the IOEA,
please feel free to contact us.

International Otaku Expo Association

Kazutaka Sato• kosatoh@ioea.info• 3-31-4-5F Yushima, Bunkyo-kuTokyo, 113-0034 JAPAN