Below are the guests, cosplay guests, societies and organisations that are confirmed to be attending the 2023 festival so far. Any music and martial arts guests are featured on the events page.
If you would like to give a talk or demonstration on some aspect of Japanese culture at the 2023 festival, please send us an outline of your proposed talk/demonstration or an indication of your area(s) of expertise to info@dokidokifestival.com.
If you are a club, society or organisation and would like to have a table at the 2023 festival, please contact us at info@dokidokifestival.com and we will send you an application form.
Akemi Tanaka
It is with great sadness we announce that Akemi Tanaka who founded and ran Aid for Japan since 2011 has passed away recently after a long battle from cancer. Akemi was a guest at every one of our events and her cultural talks a major part of the festival. Akemi Tanaka was the daughter of an old samurai family and grew up immersed in the traditional arts and culture of Japan. She was a lecturer and consultant of Japanese culture, and did study tours to Japan each spring and autumn. Since coming to the UK, Akemi had been responsible for organising many Japanese cultural events including the Japanese Art Festival and Bunkasai in Central London. She was responsible for forming Aid For Japan, a charity designed to support Japanese orphans of the 2011 earthquake/tsunami disaster. Her daughter has now taken over running responsibilites of the charity.
Akemi had published her book “The Power of Chowa”, Please visit her web site for information and to purchase.
Talk and Panel Guests
Rimika Solloway
Rimika is the daughter of Akemi Tanaka and works in the arts and charity sector. She has grown up with a deep interest in Japanese and British culture. Akemi gave her a vivid insight into her heritage. She now works at a charity in London where she helps people engage with the arts. Previously she has worked for the children’s arts charity Creative Futures. She has a BA in Archaeology & Anthropology from the University of Oxford, and an MA in the Arts of Africa, Oceania and The Americas from the University of East Anglia.
Jennifer Lynch
In 2022 Jennifer completed her PhD study in Art History with the thesis Perfection and Performativity in Print: Visual Analyses of Gender and Sexuality Portrayals in Popular Japanese Graphic Arts Since the 17th Century. Alongside her research, Jennifer has taught on the History of Art and Museum Studies course at LJMU since 2015, and has also taught Media Studies students about manga and anime at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has presented a variety of papers and lectures across LJMU, MMU, Doki Doki and for the joint JSNW and JETAA Lecture Series. In 2018 Jennifer curated an exhibition about Japanese Christmas Cards at The Atrium Gallery, Liverpool School of Art and Design. Outside of academia, Jennifer is a committee member for Japan Society North West, where she has assisted in the organisation of events such as Japan Day 2022, and currently holds the position of Newsletter Editor.
Kumiko Murooka
Professor Kumiko Murooka from the Ogasawara Sencha School, who specialises in green tea ceremonies and kimono dressing will be attending the festival. She was a huge success demonstrating at Liverpool Japan Day in 2022 and Liverpool World Museum's Discover Japan Day in April 2023. She will be taking part in two tea ceremony demonstrations one on each day, and some traditional Japanese culture panels over the weekend.
Helena Cox
Helena Cox (née Gaudekova) is a curator, art historian and artist based in York, UK. Helena was appointed the inaugural Art Curator at the University of York in 2022 where she oversees a collection of a wide range of works, including those by acknowledged masters, such as Barbara Hepworth, Aubrey Williams, Sidney Nolan, Paul Nash, Joan Eardley, Keith Vaughan, Jacob Epstein, Mary Fedden, and Elizabeth Blackadder. The breadth of the collection encompasses ancient and modern ceramics, textile-art, sculpture, painting, printmaking, book-art and photography. Helena studied Fine Art and History of Art at the English College in Prague, Christ's Hospital School (UK) and the Master College of Design (CZ). She graduated from Charles University in Prague with BA (Hons) in History of Art in 2011, and obtained her MA (Distinction) from the University of Central Lancashire (UK) in 2014. Helena is currently finishing her PhD in Art History at the University of York, focusing on the reception of British Victorian art in Bohemia around 1900, supervised by Prof. Liz Prettejohn.
Jamie Ryder
Jamie Ryder is the owner of Yamato Magazine, a UK publication that champions Japanese culture through food, drink and history. A certified sake sommelier, Ryder writes and educates about all things sake and is interested in shining a light on lesser-known drinks. He’s also a freelance copywriter who provides content marketing services to Japan-inspired and hospitality brands. This includes website writing, blogging, content strategy, brand tone of voice creation and more. Jamie will be guesting on Sunday.
Jambareeqi
Jambareeqi is a Youtuber from Sheffield who specialises in Top 5 countdowns, film reviews, video essays, and cartoon series retrospectives. His most popular video, "Top 5 Best & Worst Blue Sky Studio Films", has gained more than half a million views. Jambareeqi is also a University graduate of animation, and is currently developing a feature length animated film inspired by classic mech anime. Jambareeqi will be appearing on Sunday.
Michelle Lyons
Michelle is a designer & brand strategist specialising in Japanese culture, working under her studio name, Point North Brand Co. She works with brands and organisations to develop engaging brand experiences that celebrate and promote Japanese culture, and has been studying Japanese since January 2022. Michelle documents her language learning journey on Instagram and is committed to improving her ability to do business in Japan. Michelle will be guesting on Sunday.
Miki Flannery
Miki is a Japanese Sake expert living in the U.K., has been delivered deep understanding of Sake for British audiences, as well as Sake enthusiasts a like. Miki has been a journalist for more than 20 years, and gives sessions of Sake for more than 15 years. People opened their eyes for Sake after attending the past events. Please join Miki to know more about Sake from Japan in a ticketed event within the festival on Saturday 9th September!
Cosplay guests
The following cosplayers will be attending the festival as guests, judging the cosplay competition, holding workshops and being involved in other activities.
Alovxra
Doki Doki 2023 would like to welcome back Alovxra as one of our cosplay guests and judges this year. She has many years of competitive cosplay experience that includes multiple awards.
Alovxra has been cosplaying for 9 years in that time gaining multiple awards, achievements and following of her work. Alovxra is a UK based cosplayer who makes cosplays and cosplay related content. Alovxra enjoys making cosplays from popular video games and anime which she will share the process of making these cosplays come to life on social media. Alovxra has also done cosplay work for popular video games franchises such as genshin impact.
Moreish_cos
Doki Doki 2023 would like to welcome Moreish_cos as one of our cosplay guests and judges this year. Moreish_cos is a uk based cosplayer who has been cosplaying for 4 years.
As a lover of all things nerdy she has cosplayed from many different genres of media from games to anime. Her cosplay career started from a love of costume making and has grown to sharing engaging content on her different social media platforms. "As the winner of last year's Doki Doki Festival Cosplay Championship I’m so excited to be asked back as a judge this year!"
Pixie Cakeface
Doki Doki 2023 would like to welcome Pixie Cakeface as one of our cosplay guests and judges this year. Pixie is a uk based cosplayer who has been cosplaying for over 10 years.
"Hi I’m Pixie, I’m a cosplayer and variety streamer from Lancashire. I’ve been cosplaying for over 10 years and streaming for 9. I specialise in League of Legends, Genshin and anime cosplays and I’m passionate about encouraging everyone to cosplay and helping others to love themselves."
Fashion guests
The following fashion guests will be attending the festival, taking part in talks, panels and being involved in other kawaii activities during the day.
Shasha
Shasha has been a part of the Lolita & J-Fashion scene for many years and has been featured in various forms of media.
Gee/RococoNightmare
Jfashion lover and Fluffy cat owner, Gee/RococoNightmare is an active and respected member of the NW Jfashion Community.
Artist guests
The following artist guests will be attending the festival, taking part in a panel and doing art demonstrations and workshops.
Sophiralou
Manchester based Manga artist Sophiralou is an illustrator based in the North West of England. She is known for her detailed mixed media illustrations inspired by nature, fantasy and critters of all shapes and sizes.
Kit Snow Fantasy Art
Kit is a fantasy and manga artist from the Peak Disrict with a passion for painting of elves, fairies and other mythical creatures. Her work has appeared in various art books and magazines, and she has also worked in the film and TV industry providing CGI and matte paintings for feature films and various ads. Drop by her table for prints, art books, manga portraits and more!
Sonia Leong
Sonia Leong is a comic book artist specialising in Anime/Manga. Her first graphic novel was Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet she illustrated Marie Curie: A Graphic History of the World's Most Famous Female Scientist and the Manga Life series of self-help comic. She also work in children's publishing and works in other fields such as design, film/tv, fashion and advertising. She’s authored numerous instructional art books such as Illustration Studio: Drawing Manga Heroes and Heroines, Illustration Studio: Beginning Manga and 101 Top Tips from Professional Manga Artists.
Sonia is the Company Secretary of Sweatdrop Studios, a UK comic collaborative and independent publisher. Her works with Sweatdrop include Once Upon a Time, Love Stuffing, Aya Takeo and A Brush With Magic, as well as chapters in the anthologies Sugardrops, Pink Is For Girls, Drop Dead Monstrous, Talking To Strangers and Telling Tales.
Lyndsey Green llustration
Lyndsey Green graduated from the Manchester School of art in 2012, she is a wildlife & fantasy illustrator selling art prints and eco friendly gifts, based in Knutsford, UK. Her main focus is on drawing wildlife; raising awareness about endangered spevies and the usual animals you won't normally see or hear about.
Lyndey likes to promote caring for your local wildlife and the environment and is a supporter of the League Against Cruel Sports and Lower Moss Wood, a local wildlife hospital.
