On September 20th and 21st, 2025, the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2025 (KYO-MAF) was held. Centered around the main venue at Miyako Messe and a second venue at the Kyoto International Manga Museum, the event’s reach extended throughout the city with initiatives like wrapped subway trains and special promotions. For two days, the entire city of Kyoto was immersed in the world of manga and anime.

This report covers the sights and sounds of KYO-MAF 2025, which attracted numerous visitors!

Renowned Voice Actors were at KYO-MAF!

The South Hall of ROHM Theatre Kyoto hosted the opening stage of KYO-MAF 2025. Despite the early hour, every seat was filled.

Nobuhiko Okamoto and Manaka Iwami, serving as the official ambassadors for this event, greeted the audience and celebrated the event’s opening. Kyoto’s Mayor, Koji Matsui, also made an appearance, officially kicking off the two-day festival.

On September 20th, the summer heat in Kyoto had finally begun to subside, marking the start of the autumn tourist season. Amb. Okamoto introduced the Fushimi area (see video), while Amb. Iwami guided attendances through the Ohara area (see video). Both their love for Kyoto, a delightful sentiment for KYOTO CMEX, which is based in Kyoto.

Get on! Kyoto City Subway Stage Drew in the Fans

Get on! Kyoto City Subway (Chikatetsu ni Noru!) is a project promoting the Kyoto City Subway, actively followed by KYOTO CMEX. The year 2025 has been a big one for the project, with major steps forward like an animation exhibition held in Kyoto.

The beloved project once again had its own stage at Miyako Messe. Special guests included Ryota Sano from Gyorai Eizo, the studio behind the anime works; Harumi Oki, who sings the theme song; and Takeshi Furuta from the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau.

Ms. Oki performed a mini-concert featuring fan-favorites like sakura. This was followed by a talk show with Mr. Sano and Furuta, where they looked back on the journey of Get on! Kyoto City Subway in the first half of 2025. Some of these events have also been covered by KYOTO CMEX.

The Subway Booth was a Huge Hit!

Outside the stage, the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau ran a merchandise booth. It offered a wide array of goods, including new products that was made especially for KYO-MAF 2025. For more on the booth, check out the in-depth report by the student press team from Ritsumeikan University (Japanese article):
【京まふ2025】京都市交通局さんのブースが大盛況ですっ！

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A Dazzling Array of Booths Befitting Western Japan’s Largest Event

This year marked the 14th anniversary of KYO-MAF. It has not only become a gathering place for manga and anime fans but also focuses on fostering new business opportunities, supporting young creators, and creating employment.

Numerous companies and organizations set up booths, filling the entire Miyako Messe complex. On the morning of the 20th, the venue was packed, with long lines for official merchandise. While the sheer energy of the crowd was overwhelming, there was a comforting sense of sharing a fun time with fellow fans who all have the same passion. Plenty of attractions were prepared for everyone to enjoy, from original food items supervised by Ambassadors Okamoto and Iwami to meet-and-greets with character mascots.

KYOTO CMEX was There Too!

In fact, KYOTO CMEX is a co-organizer of KYO-MAF. We also had a booth to introduce our activities, which drew a great deal of interest from visitors. We involved in many other events besides KYO-MAF, so be sure to check them out!

Why Don’t You Visit KYO-MAF?

KYO-MAF 2025, Western Japan’s largest manga and anime festival, wrapped up after two days of successfully dyeing the city in excitement. From stages featuring a voice actor lineups to corporate booths and diverse projects like Get on! Kyoto City Subway, the event offered an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

This event is more than just a place for fans to share their passions; it is a fertile ground for new businesses and creators to emerge. It was two days that showcased the immense potential of fusing the ancient capital’s traditions with pop culture, further enriching the soil for the content industry to grow.

KYO-MAF HP: https://kyomaf.kyoto/en/