Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA)

Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1992 and dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the unique and deep culture that surrounds Japanese animation. The organization originated from Cal Animage Alpha, an anime club at UC Berkeley, which co-sponsored the first Anime Expo in 1992, along with its predecessor Anime Con in 1991. Since its founding, SPJA has grown exponentially in its endeavors, with Anime Expo becoming the largest anime convention in North America, drawing over 350,000 attendees annually. The organization also established Project Anime, a B2B professional conference for anime convention organizers, vendors, and industry members, and partnered with World Cosplay Summit to organize its US preliminary competition. SPJA organizes major events including Anime Expo held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center during July 4th weekend, Anime Conji in San Diego, and various other cultural celebrations. With each unique event they produce, their purpose remains consistent - to promote, celebrate, and educate the public about Japanese animation, manga, video games, and traditional Japanese culture. The organization operates with core values of having fun, transparency, integrity, creativity, and ownership, striving to create unforgettable experiences that bring together fans and industry members from around the world.

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