Buenos Aires Japanese Garden brought together cosplay, anime, and street food

The Buenos Aires Japanese Garden had a pretty special weekend. The Cosplay, Manga, and Anime Days shared space with Gastro Japo Street Food, the Japanese street food event that filled two areas of the grounds.

Sergio Miyagi, the Garden's Director of Press and Institutional Relations, spoke with La Vereda about the results of the two days. "Bringing anime and food together, with two events in one, took a lot of work, but we're very happy to have achieved this goal," he said.

The event was organized by the Argentine Japanese Cultural Foundation. The program included trivia, talks, anisong, bands, and theater. The second stage of the Extraordinary Cosplay, Manga, and Anime Taikai Contest also took place.

The show left three finalists competing for a trip to Japan

The cosplay show and contest took place on Sunday the 25th at 4 p.m. About 20 participants competed, and three finalists remained. They will move on to a second stage where a trip to Japan is at stake.

Miyagi noted that the event "is growing little by little." And it shows: combining cosplay with street food in a single weekend is not something you see every day in Buenos Aires.

The jury that chose the finalists.lavereda.com.ar

The food event ran both days from 12 to 6 p.m., with stands in the Damero and the Patio Magnolias. Options included sushi, ramen, yakitori, kushikatsu, sando, mochi, mochi dango, Japanese cheesecake, dorayaki, and matcha cookies.

A large crowd enjoyed the food event.lavereda.com.ar

Miyagi explained that the Gastro Japo community brings together more than 60 restaurants and delivery services from across the country. About their time at the Garden, he said it "was incredible what they brought to the Japanese Garden this weekend."

Gastro Japo could become permanent

The Espacio Arte Culinario Jardín Japonés, the venue's restaurant, was also open, offering sushi, appetizers, and hot dishes. Miyagi said his team "also worked very hard."

Asked if the event will return for the rest of the year, Miyagi said that the president of the Japanese Garden, Kazunori Kosaka, "opened the doors again" to Gastro Japo so it can be there on a permanent basis. The community can come back whenever they choose.

Would you like to see this type of event happen more often in your city? Tell us in the comments.