Otakorp, Inc.

Otakorp, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization founded in 1994 that is best known for organizing Otakon, one of the world's premiere anime and East Asian pop culture conventions. The organization was established by a group of anime enthusiasts from Pennsylvania State University and has grown from a small gathering of around 350 attendees to one of the largest anime conventions on the East Coast, drawing over 46,000 unique attendees in recent years. Otakorp's primary mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, particularly through its media and entertainment, by providing a forum for exhibitions of key work in anime and manga, panel discussions featuring creators from Japan and the United States, workshops, and related activities. The organization operates with an all-volunteer, unpaid staff following the motto 'by fans, for fans.' Beyond its flagship Otakon convention held annually in Washington D.C., Otakorp has organized various cultural events including Otakon Matsuri, an outdoor festival featuring music and food modeled on traditional Japanese street festivals, and previously operated Otakon Vegas from 2014 to 2018. The organization also participates in cultural partnerships with institutions like the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Japanese Information and Culture Center, sponsoring animation marathons as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Otakorp emphasizes educational and community-building aspects, using events to foster intercultural dialogue between East Asian and American cultures while celebrating anime, manga, video games, music, and broader East Asian popular culture.

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