The organizers of Osaka's Nippombashi Street Festa, which they
promote as "Japan's biggest cosplay event," announced on Wednesday that they are canceling this year's event due to concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The 16th annual parade would have run in Nippombashi's Den Den Town area (Osaka's shopping district known for anime, game, and manga goods, similar to Tokyo's Akihabara) on March 15. Over 200,000 people attend the outdoor event every year.
The event's website will announce what people can do if they already bought
cosplayer wristbands or photographer ID straps for this year's event. Part of the "K Festa 2020 in Osaka" campaign at the neighboring Animate Osaka Nippombashi store chain branch is being revised, but it will still go on as planned. A talk show with voice actress
Yuki Nakashima for Nankai Electric Railway will also still go on, but it has stopped accepting attendee applications, and regular attendees will not be allowed on that day. The Nippombashi Street Festa's website will announce what will happen to the
K: Seven Stories special collaboration goods that were to be offered at the neighboring Taito Station Osaka Nippombashi branch and Inouetake Shōten shop.