J-POP SUMMIT 2016 WELCOMES JAPANESE POP ART ILLUSTRATOR KAORI WAKAMATSU AS A GUEST OF HONOR
The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event Presents The Renowned Artist And Illustrator For Her First-Ever U.S. Professional Appearance As A Special Guest Of Kinokuniya Bookstores
San Francisco, CA, May 19, 2016 – J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced that it will welcome pop art creator – Kaori Wakamatsu – as a Guest of Honor at this year’s festival.
J-POP SUMMIT 2016 will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th at the historic Fort Mason Centerlocated in San Francisco’s Marina district.
Kaori Wakamatsu is acclaimed for her vivid illustrations highlighted by delicate and stylized imagery and her innovative use of patterns, manga and fashion-esque themes. The artist will make her first-ever U.S. appearance for several exclusive autograph sessions on both days of the J-POP SUMMIT at the Fandom Boothpowered by 2016 festival sponsor, Kinokuniya Bookstores.
Passes to attend one of the autograph sessions will be available to the first 200 people that purchase at least $20.00 of Kaori Wakamatsu products or a Kinokuniya Gift Card ($20.00 or more) from the Kinokuniya’s Retail Booth during J-POP SUMMIT. Autograph sessions will take place inside the Fandom Booth by Kinokuniya, located adjacent to main Kinokuniya’s Retail Booth. See more details at http://www.j-pop.com/kaori-wakamatsu-autograph-sessions.
This year, J-POP SUMMIT attendees will be able to experience a vibrant 2-Day celebration of Japanese pop-influenced culture including edgy fashion events, pop art exhibits, live music, a technology summit and display, and interactive activates, accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional attractions also highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor. Full details on 2016 J-POP SUMMIT are available at: www.J-POP.com.
A variety of affordable ticket options and V.I.P packages will give J-POP SUMMIT attendees the maximum amount of flexibility to customize a memorable festival experience. Adult single-day passes start at only $25.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $40.00 each. Ticket details are available at www.J-POP.com/Tickets.
Kaori Wakamatsu began her career as an illustrator in 2002. Her artwork is featured on a variety of consumer products including postcards, calendars, and book covers. The artist uses both traditional and digital tools to create her work and effectively conveys a vivacity that appeals to today’s digital generation while also incorporating delicate and whimsical details. Kaori Wakamatsu has gained widespread notoriety in Japan and also internationally among those interested in Japanese pop art and culture. She says, “When illustrating characters, I try to put the atmosphere and the world around the person into the picture.”
Kaori Wakamatsu’s notable works include the character designs for a popular Japanese social game, “Brilliant Thieves Royale (Kaito Royale).” Her bold and stylish designs have helped the game attract over 10 million players and prompted it to be adapted into a TV series. Wakamatsu also has designed cover illustrations for more than one hundred books across multiple genres including historical novels, detective stories, and youth fiction. In 2014, Kinokuniya bookstores in San Francisco and Seattle featured one of Wakamatsu’s designs on their loyalty cards.
Official Artist Website: www.graffiti-bunny.com; Official Artist Blog: http://gb-blog.seesaa.net.
About J-POP SUMMIT
J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, held every summer in San Francisco, CA. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, fashion, film, art, games, tech-innovations, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a landing platform for new trends from Japan.
Official website: www.j-pop.com
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JPOPSUMMIT/featured
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