Otamatsuri 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre was the biggest edition yet. Over 3,700 fans packed the halls across two days, drawn by a programme that stretched from cosplay championships and competitive gaming to live Japanese stage performances and a sprawling anime marketplace unlike anything East Africa had seen before.
MIRAISKIRT+ Bring the House Down
The headline performance came from MIRAISKIRT+ , the Japanese idol group who performed two sold-out sets on the main stage. Fans who had been waiting years to see live J-pop performed in Nairobi were not disappointed. The group's high-energy choreography and crowd interaction left the arena shaking.
The cosplay championship drew over 200 entrants across beginner, intermediate, and open categories. Airi Mizuki's Sailor Moon build — featuring hand-crafted glowing props and a six-month fabrication process — took the open category crown in a unanimous decision from the judges.
"The energy in that room was unlike anything I've felt. This community is the reason we keep doing this." — Jotham Micah, Movie Jabber founder
Gaming tournaments ran continuously across both days in the dedicated arena. Tekken 8 and Valorant brackets drew some of Kenya's most competitive players, with prize pools sponsored by local gaming brands. The anime marketplace — occupying an entire wing of the convention centre — featured over 80 vendors selling merchandise, art prints, manga, and handmade goods.
