The Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF; in Japanese: 東京国際アニメフェア) is one of the largest anime trade fairs in the world, held annually in Japan. The first event was held in 2002 as "Tokyo International Anime Fair 21". The event is held at Tokyo Big Sight, a convention and exhibition center in Tokyo Bay, in late March. Usually, the first one or two days of the fair are weekdays and the entrance is open only to industry members and the press; the last two days are scheduled on the weekend and the fair is open to the public.

Besides being an international trade fair, the TAF includes related events such as business symposia and other events. Notably, the Tokyo Anime Awards are given for domestic and foreign creations and creators in the event with the name of the event. The event is supported by the government agencies of Japan, like Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Ministry of Economy and the Cabinet Secretariat. The Association of Japanese Animations, funded by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, supports the event since 2002.. The chairman of the event is the governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, one of the most powerful politicians of Japan at that time, who contributed a lot to the creation of the event and its promotion. Therefore, though the event does not have a long history, it and its prizes are recognized in the industry.

Event History

Dates	Location	Atten.

References

1. Under Event and Planning tab[1]
2. More accurately, the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs of Tokyo is especially promoting the event. Reference: BILAT official website

External links

• Tokyo International Anime Fair official site (Japanese)
• Tokyo International Anime Fair official site (English)

Convention reports

• "Tokyo International Anime Fair", by Jon Tarbox, Anime News Network, 3 April 2003
• "Tokyo International Anime Fair 2006", by Kat Avila, Sequential Tart, April 2006
• "The Award for Best Satanic Rabbit Goes to …,", by Virginia Heffernan, New York Times, 2 April 2006