Saboten Con

Saboten Con is an annual four-day anime convention held during August/September at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown in Phoenix, Arizona.^[2] The convention is held over Labor Day weekend. Its name comes from the Japanese word saboten, meaning "cactus".^[6][7]

Saboten Con
Status	Active
Genre	Anime, Japanese culture[1][2][3]
Venue	Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
Location(s)	Phoenix, Arizona
Country	United States
Inaugurated	2008
Attendance	23,000 (est.) in 2021[4]
Organized by	Monkey Paw Entertainment[5]
Website	http://www.sabotencon.com/

Programming

The convention typically offers an anime music video contest, anime screenings, concerts, gaming, karaoke, masquerade, Japanese fashion show, maid cafes, panels, screenings, steampunk ball, vendors, and workshops.^{[1][5][6][7][8]} The convention had over 700 hours of programming in 2017.^[5][9]

History

Saboten Con was named the "Best Anime Convention – 2010" by the Phoenix New Times.^[8] Saboten Con 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[10][11] The convention for 2021 had a mask policy.^[12] Saboten Con expanded in 2023 by adding space at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, along with hosting a gaming event named SaboSlam.^[9]

Event history

Dates	Location	Attendance	Guests
May 24–26, 2008	Crowne Plaza Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona		Adella, Mara Aum, Greg Ayres, Laura Bailey, Katie Bair, Jodon Bellofatto, Johnny Yong Bosch, Erica Reis, Christophe Tang, and Armand Villavert Jr.[13]
October 30 – November 1, 2009	Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa Mesa, Arizona		Mara Aum, Steve Blum, David Doub, Yaya Han, Jolene Houser, Chuck Huber, Kitsune Robot, M. Alice LeGrow, Vic Mignogna, Toybox, and Armand Villavert Jr.[14]
October 1–3, 2010	Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort Phoenix, Arizona		Mara Aum, Colleen Clinkenbeard, David Doub, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, Jolene Houser, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Victoria Paege, SunaCosu, Christophe Tang, and Armand Villavert Jr.[15]
September 30 – October 2, 2011	Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort Phoenix, Arizona	2,730[16]	Katie Bair, The Black Crystals, Rob Blatt, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Doub, Eyeshine, Yaya Han, Jolene Houser, Kairu, Kazha, Kitcho Daiko, Reuben Langdon, Sam Riegel, Sean Schemmel, Christophe Tang, and Armand Villavert Jr.[16]
September 1–3, 2012	Renaissance Glendale Glendale, Arizona	3,432[17]	Troy Baker, David Doub, Richard Epcar, Jolene Houser, Kazha, Li Kovacs, Phil LaMarr, Linda Le, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Kevin McKeever, Ellyn Stern, Christophe Tang, Armand Villavert Jr., and Akira Yamaoka.[17]
August 31 – September 2, 2013	Renaissance Glendale Glendale, Arizona	4,002[18]	Laura Bailey, Frances Delgado, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Jolene Houser, Kazha, Li Kovacs, Aimee Lee Lucas, Maridah, Ryan McMurry, Yuko Miyamura, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Nylon Pink, James Perry II, Joe Romersa, Spike Spencer, John Swasey, Christophe Tang, Armand Villavert Jr., Travis Willingham, Amanda Winn-Lee, and Eryn Woods.[18]
August 29 – September 1, 2014	Renaissance Glendale Glendale, Arizona	5,137[19][20]	Robert Axelrod, D.C. Douglas, Electric Lady, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Jolene Houser, Kazha, Lauren Landa, Living Ichigo, Ryan McMurry, Moon Stream, Giada Pancaccini, James Perry II, Derek Stephen Prince, Iruma Rioka, Ian Sinclair, Christophe Tang, Alexis Tipton, and Armand Villavert Jr.[19]
September 4–7, 2015	Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Phoenix, Arizona	6,745[21]	Liui Aquino, Cam Clarke, Electric Lady, Richard Epcar, Eurobeat King, Rebecca Forstadt, Crystal Graziano, David Hayter, Kanako Ito, Kazha, Kiba, Li Kovacs, Susan Lake, Aimee Lee Lucas, Melanie MacQueen, Ai Maeda, Ryan McMurry, Rika Muranaka, Cara Nicole, Tony Oliver, James Perry II, Ellyn Stern, Christophe Tang, Alfred Trujillom, Cristina Vee, Armand Villavert Jr., Dan Woren, and Tommy Yune.[21]
September 2–5, 2016	Sheraton Grand Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona	9,075[22] [non-primary source needed]	Eurobeat King, Kyle Hebert, Kazha, Carrie Keranen, Kiba, Mika Kobayashi, Ladybeard, Susan Lake, Yuri Lowenthal, M-Project, Ryan McMurry, Erica Mendez, Tara Platt, Reika, The Slants, Eric Stuart, Christophe Tang, Alfred Trujillo, Twinzik, Heather Vaughn, Armand Villavert Jr., David Vincent, and Lisle Wilkerson.[23]
September 1–4, 2017	Sheraton Grand Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona	12,132[24]	Robert Axelrod, Morgan Berry, Johnny Yong Bosch, Ben Diskin, Eurobeat Kasumi, Eyeshine, Hollow Mellow, Kazha, Kiba, Susan Lake, Cherami Leigh, Ryan McMurry, Yuko Miyamura, Enji Night, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Christophe Tang, and Dave Trosko.[24]
August 31 – September 3, 2018	Sheraton Grand Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona	13,298[4]	Akira, Feodor Chin, Leon Chiro, Les E. Claypool III, D-Piddy, Ivy Doomkitty, Eurobeat Kasumi, Kazha, Susan Lake, Phil Mizuno, Paul Nakauchi, Brina Palencia, Chris Parson, Josh Petersdorf, J. Michael Tatum, Armand Villavert Jr., and Amanda Winn-Lee.[4]
August 30 – September 2, 2019	Sheraton Grand Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona		Steve Blum, Maile Flanagan, Sandy Fox, David Hayter, Kazha, Kiba, Knitemaya, Susan Lake, Lex Lang, Rica Matsumoto, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, The Sound Bee HD, Christophe Tang, Armand Villavert Jr., and Akira Yamaoka.[25]
September 3–6, 2021	Sheraton Grand Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona	23,000 (est.)[26]	Mary Claypool, Les E. Claypool III, D-Piddy, Olivia Hack, Kohei Hattori, Atelier Heidi, Johnny 'N' Junkers, Kazha, and Faye Mata.[26]
September 2-5, 2022	Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Phoenix, Arizona		Corina Boettger, Eurobeat Kasumi, Dave Fennoy, Sandy Fox, Kazha, Hirokatsu Kihara, Susan Lake, Lex Lang, Alyson Tabbitha, Armand Villavert Jr., and Michael "Knightmage" Wilson.[27]
September 1-4, 2023	Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Renaissance Phoenix Downtown[9] Phoenix, Arizona		Ayakashi no Kiko, Beau Billingslea, Mary Claypool, Les E. Claypool III, D-Piddy, Ben Diskin, Ivy Doomkitty, Richard Epcar, Eurobeat Kasumi, Olivia Hack, Daisuke Hasegawa, Kohei Hattori, David Hayter, Kazha, Carrie Keranen, Jennie Kwan, Susan Lake, Stephanie Nadolny, Zeno Robinson, Michelle Ruff, Satoshi, Ellyn Stern, John Swasey, Tokyo Psychopath, Armand Villavert Jr., Kari Wahlgren, and Michael "Knightmage" Wilson.[28]
August 30 - September 2, 2024	Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Renaissance Phoenix Downtown[29] Phoenix, Arizona		Babybeard, Chris Cason, Jennifer Cihi, Mary Claypool, Les E. Claypool III, Eurobeat Kasumi, Dorothy Fahn, Tom Fahn, Maile Flanagan, Tiffany Grant, John Gremillion, Daisuke Hasegawa, Kyle Hebert, Chuck Huber, Kazha, Michael Kovach, Susan Lake, Mike McFarland, Brandon Peterson, Natalie Rial, Tara Sands, Joshua Seth, Sparrowhawk Cosplay, Jack Stansbury, SuperKayce, and Armand Villavert Jr.[30]

Gallery

• 
  Voice actor guests signing autographs for attendees at Saboten Con 2016.

References

1. Peters, Jayson (September 14, 2011). "An Arizona celebration of anime at Saboten Con". Nerdvana. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
2. Dempsey, Jeff (September 4, 2014). "Convention salutes Japanese art, culture". Your West Valley News. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
3. Leatherman, Benjamin (September 3, 2014). "5 Favorite Costumes From Saboten Con 2014 in Glendale". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
4. "Saboten Con 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
5. Leatherman, Benjamin (29 August 2017). "Saboten Con 2017: Here's Everything You Need to Know About This Year's Event". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
6. Bejar, Christen (August 25, 2014). "Saboten Con jam-packed with gaming fun this weekend in Glendale". Nerdvana. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
7. Incorvaia, Samantha (August 29, 2016). "Check out Saboten Con, largest anime convention in Arizona, on Sept. 2–5". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
8. "Best Anime Convention – 2010". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
9. Leatherman, Benjamin (August 31, 2023). "Your guide to Saboten Con 2023: Tickets, guests and more". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
10. "Saboten Con 2020 Update". Saboten Con. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
11. "Saboten Con 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
12. Leatherman, Benjamin (September 3, 2021). "Your Guide to Saboten Con 2021 in Downtown Phoenix This Weekend". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
13. "Saboten Con 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
14. "Saboten Con 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
15. "Saboten Con 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
16. "Saboten Con 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
17. "Saboten Con 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
18. "Saboten Con 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
19. "Saboten Con 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
20. "Saboten Con 2014 – American Anime Convention". Chikka Magazine. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
21. "Saboten Con 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
22. "Saboten Con 2016 Attendance". Saboten Con Facebook Page. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
23. "Saboten Con 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
24. "Saboten Con 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
25. "Saboten Con 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
26. "Saboten Con 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
27. "Saboten Con 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
28. "Saboten Con 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
29. Leatherman, Benjamin (September 4, 2024). "Here's the best costumes we saw at Saboten Con 2024 in Phoenix". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
30. "Saboten Con 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.

External links

• Saboten Con website

33°27′7″N 112°4′14″W