The One Piece Symphony Concert will also take place on July 6 Image via Anime Expo Twitter accountAnime Expo staff announced on Thursday that it will host Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo at this year's event. The conference will also feature Studio Ghibli art director Youichi Nishikawa.
The One Piece 25th Anniversary Symphony Orchestra will take place at the Shrine Auditorium on July 6 in an event as part of its North American Tour. The concert will require separate tickets from the convention, and those with an Anime Expo badge can purchase tickets at a discounted price. Customers who do not attend the conference can still watch the concert.
Kondo joined Nihon Falcom in 1998 and became the company's president in 2007. Kondo served as a director and producer for many of the company's games, including its flagship The Legend of Heroes franchise (including including Trails of the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel) and Ys.
Nishikawa has contributed background art to anime such as Black Butler, Wolf Children, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, The Secret World of Arrietty and The Wind Rises. Nishikawa served as art director for the animated film The Boy and The Beast.
Anime Expo 2024 will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 4-7.
Last year's Anime Expo was held last July in Los Angeles.
Source: Email correspondence, Anime Expo's Twitter account