Kin-Yoobi Con will feature many special guests such as bands, key speakers, panelists, and artists. Check it out:

Bands:

The Shogunate

The Shogunate's popularity is ever increasing as they continue to play for the biggest anime con venues. From Fanime to JTAF the Shogunate always woo their audiences with their experimental hip hop sound. With many of their tunes influenced from video games and anime they have made quite a name for themselves in the anime community. Get ready for the Shogunate coming to you at Kin-Yoobi Con! For more information about the band check out their myspace.

akai SKY

akai SKY stands as the premier American Jrock band in Northern
California. The San Francisco-based band fuses Japanese pop lyrics,
heavy rock sounds and punk beats to create a unique sound. With val's
powerful vocals, Hayashi's intense guitar, Umi's dynamic bass and J's
aggressive drums, the band tours all across California, as well as
throughout the country, including Nevada and Texas.

In January 2007, val and J joined with founders Hayashi and Umi. The
band played at venues celebrating Asian culture, such as Fanime's
MusicFest with bands from Japan, as well as Anime Expo, the largest
anime convention in the United States. With a plethora of shows under
their belts, akai SKY strives to share their distinctive sound with
the international music scene.

Go to http://www.akaisky.com/ for more information about the band.

Eloquence

Eloquence is an upcoming experimental artist whose focus is underground hip hop. Starting out participating mainly in free-style rap battling, Eloquence now has several songs under his belt and has already dropped an album. Eloquence is returning from last year's Kin-Yoobi Con to lay down some serious live tracks at Kin-Yoobi Con 2008! Check out his myspace for more information about his music.

Quarter-Circle Jab

Quarter-Circle Jab is a band that fuses their unique sound with old school game music. Influenced by the early video game consoles such as the Sega Master System and the Super Nintendo, this band's drive is to keep that spectacular old-school style game music alive through their music. Quarter-Circle Jab is no stranger to the anime con scene playing for such conventions as JTAF and Ani-Jam. Now they're rocking out at Kin-Yoobi Con so get ready for their retro style sound. Check out their myspace for more info about this band.

Darrell Reconose

Darrell is a rising young gun musician hailing from the bay area of California. A multi-talented guitarist and singer, Darrell has already built a reputation in his hometown of Hayward for his skills on the guitar and behind the mic. A culturally diverse musician, Darrell’s musical style covers a wide range of genres including rock, JPop, JRock, progressive metal, techno, hip hop, and beyond. Whether you’re into JPop, blazing guitar acrobatics, or rude, in-your-face prog-metal, there’s something for everybody. Check out his myspace for more info.

The J-Man

KCRH 2007 Broadcaster of the Year, The J-Man will be Kin-Yoobi Con's official DJ, dropping anime themes and sound bites in between activities and events. The J-Man is gonna make sure that Kin-Yoobi Con will always be alive and kickin' with plenty of cool anime music and sound. In the meantime, you can check out the J-Man's show every Wednesday from 6-9pm on KCRH 89.9FM if you live in or around Hayward, California.

Key Speakers:

Kin-Yoobi Con is currently collaborating and getting together with key speakers that will talk during the event. Check back for the latest information.

Panelists:

Ian Sy

Ian Sy of Studio Kyuu (www.studiokyuu.com) is a freelance artist and graphic designer who has worked with Dark Horse, PMBQ Studios, and Bay Area Artists Unite. His experience is in storyboarding, page layout, and coloring, but also works on his own comics and illustrations! The "Writing for Comics" panel will show how the roles of writer and artist must come together and make decisions about how best to use the page. Thumbnailing, page layout, and editing will be discussed. Questions and discussion are encouraged!

Neal "Iie" Trotter & Dallas "No. 6" Marshall

Co-founder of Game-Zone Recreation and Kin-Yoobi Con, Iie, and leader of the anime faction of GZR, No. 6, will be leading three controversial topics in the anime and game community.

 Topic number 1: Manga or Anime, which is better? A huge amount of purist are heartfelt in believing that manga is always the best however you'd be surprised by how many anime fans would much rather sit and watch an animation than read a black and white comic.

Topic number 2: Dubs vs. Subs, which is the better take on anime. The typical otaku generally prefers the Japanese subtitles when watching anime, yet today's anime new comer would not have even stopped to look at an anime without it first being dubbed over with English voicing. We weigh in the points of view in one of the biggest clashes in the anime community.

Topic number 3: Which console is the best, the Nintendo Wii, the Microsoft Xbox 360, or the Sony PlayStation 3? You best believe that tensions are going to rise from Nintendo fan boys, hardcore Sony fans, and Xbox purists. Not a discussion for those who are easily offended in the heart of a heated argument.

Artists:

Wolf S Studios

Wolf S Studios with their new breed of designers are hitting the comic industry for all it’s got! Being a graphic design company for years, with extensive knowledge in many forms of design, but specializing in anime and manga. They have taken a huge step forward and gotten into comic book and graphic novel production. With there first graphic novel coming February 2008 and with their countless projects in development, Wolf S Studios is a name you won't soon forget. Visit http://www.wolf-s-studios.com.au/ for more info.

Yamoto Studios

Yamoto Studios is a band of Freelance artists that draw Manga and Anime for a living. With over 27 years of combined experience they can handle anything that comes their way. There artists are dedicated professionals that enjoy japanese culture and their art. Weither you're an Anime or Manga distribution company in Japan, or maybe somebody that needs professional quality anime artwork set-up before a convention opening in the U.S, they got your back. It doesn’t matter where you are, they can accomplish great aspects for your needs whenever you need them. Go to http://yamoto-studios.com for more info.

J9

One of the key coordinators of Kin-Yoobi Con, J9 will be showcasing her manga influenced art style in our art gallery. A prime example of her work is the logo of the con itself! Her specialty is chibi style as well as manga. On her free time J9 illustrates and writes manga of her own. One of her main creations is a murder mystery thriller featuring manga renditions of people she knows in real life.

Check out some of her art on her myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/darkflower87.