 Anime Expo 2017 left us at A-to-J with sweet memories and the hope of attending fro many years to come!
 Date: Saturday June 10, 2017 Time: 5:00-6:00 PM Location: Panel Room Hosts: Tiffany & Manuel Ever wonder if there is more to the world of Japanese idols than Morning Musume, AKB48, and those that sound like them? If so then join A-to-J Connections as they take a look into the underground of J-Pop and examine the wild and crazy world of "alternative idols"! Following the success of groups like BiS and BABYMETAL, idol groups have gone to various extremes to stand above the crowd and have taken the Japanese pop music scene by storm. We will take a look at the biggest names and various topics such as: the various groups that have spawned out of BiS, idol groups that use death vocals and live bands, idols that blur the distance between them and the fans, mature themes and extreme looks and concepts, and even how these idols fit into the bigger scene in Japan! Fan and newcomer alike, this panel will have something for everyone and will contain information, crazy videos, and fun!  Date: Sunday May 28, 2017 Time: 4:00-5:00 PM Location: Panel Room 3 Hosts: Molly & Manuel Ever wonder why idol groups like Morning Musume and AKB48 are at the center of the Japanese popular music scene and how they attract legions of fans around the world? Join A-to-J Connections as they dissect the “idol equation” and examine topics like: the big names past and present, the history of idols in Japan, the “Idol Warring States Period”, and what exactly it means to be an idol! From the curious newcomer to the seasoned fan, this panel will have something for everyone!  Date: Sunday March 19, 2017 Time: 3:00-4:30 PM Location: Live Events 4 Hosts: Tiffany, Angie, Manuel Ever wonder what brought idol groups like AKB48 and Morning Musume '16 to the center of the Japanese music scene and how they attract legions of devoted fans around the world? If so, join A-to-J Connections as they dissect various aspects of the "idol equation" and examine topics such as important artists past and present, the fandom, the audition/graduation system, and just what exactly it means to be an idol!  Date: Saturday March 18, 2017 Time: 10:00-11:30 PM Location: Live Events 4 Hosts: Tiffany, Angie, Manuel A-to-J Connections' popular "IDOL" panels continue with this look at the dark side of the idol industry! Besides genre-breaking groups like BiS and Kamen Joshi, we will also cover topics such as highly talked about scandals, the controversial nature of gravure, the dark side of the fandom, and the tragic fate of Okada Yukiko. Also be prepared to see some of the craziest idol videos ever!  Date: Sunday January 29, 2017 Time: 12:30-2:00 AM Location: Ballroom B (CCP 2) Ontario Convention Center Hosts: Tiffany, Angie, Justin, Manuel Everyone knows J-Pop idols as cute, positive role models with music that matches their bubble-gum image, but the world of idols isn't always that simple! A-To-J Connections continues its popular "IDOL" series of panels with this look at the dark underside of the idol industry! Besides genre-breaking groups like BiS, Kamen Joshi, and Deep Girl, we will also cover topics such as highly talked about scandals, the controversial nature of gravure, the dark side of the fandom, and the tragic fate of Okada Yukiko. Also be prepared to see some of the craziest videos in the world of Japanese pop idols! Fan and curious newcomer alike, this panel will have something for everyone! Everyone who is over 18 of course!  Date: Saturday January 28, 2017 Time: 8:15-9:45 PM Location: Lecture Hall (RP 2) Ontario Radisson Hosts: Molly, Tiffany, Angie, Garwye, Manuel Are you a fan of shows like Love Live!, IDOLM@STER, PriPara, or Aikatsu? Then we have the panel for you! A-To-J Connections has spent hundreds of hours watching and absorbing nearly every idol anime out there to bring you this panel that features only the best of 2D idols! From the beginnings of Macross to the success of shows like Kirarin Revolution and AKB0048, we will cover it all and also discuss topics such as idols as voice actors, voice actors who evolve into idols, and the future of the genre! Expect information, videos, giveaways and lots of fun! Fan and curious newcomer alike, this panel will have something for everyone!  Date: Saturday January 28, 2017 Time: 3:00-4:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom 3&4 (RP 1) Ontario Radisson Hosts: Eunice, Paloma, Kaz When X JAPAN burst onto the scene in the 80s, Visual Kei was born and it has entranced fans the world over since then. In this new panel from A-To-J Connections, we will take a look at the Visual Kei scene after its initial rise and fall and how it has evolved in the new millennium. We will delve into the evolution of bands like Dir en grey and MALICE MIZER as well as look into the scene's current big stars such as DIAURA, Pentagon, and Mejibray. This panel will cover topics such as the fandom, the fashion trends, and tie-ins with other popular media such as anime! We will also take a look at the the impact Visual Kei has had on the music scene around the world and discuss what the future holds for this hard-to-define "genre". Expect information, videos, giveaways and lots of fun! This panel will have something for everyone, fan and newcomer alike!  Date: Friday January 27, 2017 Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Location: Meeting Room 203 C (CCP 5) Ontario Convention Center Hosts: Tiffany, Angie, Manuel Are you a fan of Morning Musume '16, C-ute, Juice=Juice or ANGERME? Or were you a fan of Berryz Kobo, Aya Matsuura, Mini Moni, or W many years ago? Join A-To-J Connections as they examine one of the most popular collections of idols in Japan, Hello! Project! From the formation to the wildly successful Morning Musume, the establishment of their cross media empire, their various overseas endeavors, to the formation of recent groups like ANGERME and Juice=Juice, we will cover it all! Besides the music, we will also take a look at some other aspects of Hello! Project like their appearances in other media as well as their impact on pop music and culture in Japan! Expect an opening performance, lots of fun and information, and more than a few surprises and prizes! Perfect for both fans and curious newcomers alike!  Another SacAnime come and gone, and A-to-J was there to witness it all! This year was full of excitement with everything from the Lolita Tea Party to a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reunion! The Cosplay Masquerade made a comeback once again, as well as the Geek Fashion Show and the KPop Battles! Check out the list of guests below:
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