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2018.12.26 SIGGRAPH Asia 2018 brings tech-savvy specialists together in Tokyo

Japan Conference Ambassador Kitamura Yoshifumi presided as Chair to SIGGRAPH Asia 2018, the premier platform for the advancement of graphics, animation, and art through technology.

SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer GRAPHics) was returning to Japan for the third time, having previously taken place in Kobe (2015) and Yokohama (2009).

This time, the event took place in Tokyo International Forum from December 4th to 7th, with a record 9,735 participants: an increase of almost 38% from its previous edition in Bangkok.

Japan is a hot destination for technology conferences, as seen from the participants of SIGGRAPH. Of the attending computer graphics professionals, researchers, enthusiasts and traders, more than three quarters were from outside of Japan.

The conference’s exhibition showcased cutting-edge technologies for VR theaters and digital art. There were also workshops for international guests to experience Japanese culture, where they could try out kimono, the tea ceremony, origami, and more.

As part of JNTO, the Japan Convention Bureau was present at the plenary sessions on a booth offering support to event organizers hoping to attract international conferences to Japan. JCB also promoted its ongoing 1st "Inspiring Business Events: Japan Photo & Video Contest - New ideas start here -", to which many participants applied with photographs and videos of events and places they visited during the conference.