Kazuki Higashiji to Be Otakon 2026 Guest

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 14, 2026) – Kazuki Higashiji will be a guest at Otakon 2026, according to Otakorp Inc. Higashiji is an animation art director and background artist.

After joining an animation background art studio in 1998, he began his career in anime art production. Since becoming a freelance artist in 2005, he has worked across television series, theatrical films, games, and animated sequences for live-action productions, contributing to a wide range of visual styles and genres.

As an art director, his major works include the feature films "Maquia - When the Promised Flower Blooms" and "Alice and Therese's Illusion Factory." His background art credits also include titles such as "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex," "Angel Beats!," "Hana-Saku Iroha," and "Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea."

Higashiji is known for creating atmospheric environments filled with traces of time, lived-in realism, and emotional texture. His work often emphasizes the subtle presence of human life within landscapes and architecture, bringing a strong sense of authenticity to animated worlds.

In recent years, alongside his production work, he has also been involved in lectures and educational activities for younger creators.

ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its thirty-second year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Historically, Otakon has drawn over 40,000 people for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 100,000

turnstile attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania- based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily

through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.

For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see https://www.otakorp.org/
For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2026, see https://www.Otakon.com/