Hear from Sakura-Con cosplay participants in an audio slideshow here.

Story by Julian Martin
In:Site Staff Reporter

Fans of Japanese animation donned flowing kimonos, pink wigs and even painted their entire bodies blue for Sakura-Con, the oldest and largest anime convention in the Pacific Northwest.

More than 16,000 people packed into the Washington State Convention & Trade Center April 10-12 for the 12^th annual event, which was presented by the Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association

Participants could find seemingly everything video game and anime-related, with events held 24-hours a day throughout. The festival also featured film screenings, concerts, workshops, panel discussions and even a masquerade ball.

One of the highlights of the convention for many fans came from dressing up as their favorite anime, manga (Japanese comics) and video game characters in a custom known as cosplay.

For festival attendees, the event meant a chance to meet the stars of their favorite anime series, participate in one of the dozens of contests held at the convention and share in a mutual interest in all things anime in a friendly and inviting atmosphere.