What it was like
The manga lives in a building in Little Tokyo for eleven days this summer. The creators are inside.
Inside Kodansha House you will find a manga gallery, cafe, reading lounge, and library dedicated to Kodansha's most beloved titles. The confirmed guest lineup alone makes this a must-attend moment for manga fans: Blue Lock creators Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura are appearing, as well as Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Boushi no Atelier) mangaka Kamome Shirahama. These are the artists behind two of the most-followed manga series currently airing in anime — Blue Lock Season 2 and Witch Hat Atelier are both Spring 2026 hits.
This year Kodansha House is also hosting the finals of the Blue Lock × Concacaf: Diamonds in the Rough competition — a creative collaboration that launched during the World Cup. The competition bridges Blue Lock's anime fanbase with the actual tournament happening across the US this summer. Winners are announced here at Kodansha House, with additional events at Anime Expo (July 2-5) and the final SDCC announcement at Comic-Con San Diego (July 24-27). If you are making the circuit — AX in LA, then SDCC — Kodansha House is the physical anchor between them.
The Kodansha House model debuted in New York City in 2024 and generated significant fan community response — not as a typical convention booth, but as a relaxed space where you can read, sit with the art, and occasionally find yourself in the same room as the people who made it. It is a different register from the convention floor energy at AX. The Little Tokyo location is intentional — the neighborhood already functions as a cultural anchor for the LA anime and manga community.
Free public entry. No tickets required — follow Kodansha USA (@kodanshausa) for the confirmed address and any reservation announcements. AX badge holders should check the official Kodansha House page for premium access details. Hours: approximately 11am-6pm daily, July 2-12.