CAMI's History - CAMI 2019

CAMI (Convention of Anime and Manga in Israel) is a convention dedicated to Japanese animation and comics (anime and manga), popular Japanese culture and gaming (Japanese console and board games).

The convention started at the year of 2009 and serves as an answer to all Israeli anime and manga fans, in the hope of providing an attraction and interaction to the anime and manga fan community during summertime.

At the convention you can find many diverse activities to explore, targeting all kinds of fans, which can guarantee a fun and unique experience, such as: lectures, workshops, panels, independent and commercial artists’ booths(maybe artist alley is better?), movie screening, cosplay contest, musicals and much more!

CAMI 2018

The ninth convention took place in Jerusalem’s International Convention Center and its theme was “Japanese Folklore Legends”.

The convention hosted the Chinese cosplayer couple Baozi & Hana who participated in a signing event and a Q&A panel, they also sold their merchandise at a stand throughout the event.

The movie “Never-Ending Man” of Hayao Miyazaki was screened at the event, and there were a large variety of different activities like AMAI’s seventh singing contest known as “AMAIDOL”, “Whack the Otaku” trivia and additional lectures and panels.

The convention’s Games Room included activities such as a Manga Cafe, a Go corner, a Gunpla station and a corner for card and strategy games.

CAMI 2017

The 8th convention took place at The International Convention Center, in Jerusalem.

The musical “According to Your Imagination” ran twice during the convention, an exclusive screening of the movie “Pop in Q”, the 6th AMAI singing contest, the social manga cafe, a Pokemon tournament, the cosplay contest and a variety of other activities such as a lecture and a battle demonstration between Kendo and Naginata, a lecture about Japan’s voice acting industry, religion and politics in the Final Fantasy franchise, social contract in anime, traditional Japanese art and much more.

CAMI 2016

The 7th convention took place at The International Convention Center, in Jerusalem.

The convention special guest was the singer Aimee Blackschleger. She preformed on the main stage and had a Q&A panel.

In addition, two runs of 2DMusical took place, Japanese drumming performance of Taiko Life, AMAI 6th singing contest, cosplay contest, and a variety of activities such as karaoke event, lectures about the otaku culture from a personal point of view, the Japanese society between the tradition of the samurai and the tradition of the geisha by professor Ben-Ami Shilony, Japanese lesson for beginners, and much more.

CAMI 2015

The 6th convention took place at the International Convention Center, in Jerusalem.

The famous cosplayer Reika was the guest at the convention, she gave a wig styling workshop and Q&A panel.

In addition, two of studio Colorido short movies were screen: Taifuu no Noruda and Sunny Boy and Dewdrop Girl.

At the convention you could enjoy a variety of activities such as AMAI singing contest, trivia event and many fascinating lectures about Japanese school life, Japanese historical heroes and their representation in anime series, food in Japan, voice acting workshop and more.

CAMI in the press:

1.Channel 2 news- For us, everyday is Purim\Liron Zaid\ 20.08.2015

2. Haaretz- “Who did you called a geek? manga and anime convention in Jerusalem” \ Michal Fattal \ 23.08.2015

CAMI 2014

The 5th convention took place at the International Convention Center in Haifa.

4 Makoto Shinkai films were screened during the convention (“Children Who Chase Lost Voices”, “The Garden of Words”, “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” and “5 Centimeters Per Second”).

In addition, the fan-made musical “Pandora” and the band Saigan Complex performed on the main stage.

At the convention you could enjoy a variety of activities such as a lecture about hell in Japan’s folklore, cosplay workshop, panel about anime and sport, and a variety of other contents.

CAMI 2012

The 4th convention took place at the Rishon le-Zion City Mann Auditorium for the 2nd time.

The fan-made musical “Musical of the Golden Witch” based on the anime and visual novel Umineko no Naku Koro Ni performed at the convention.

At the convention you could enjoy a variety of activities such as lectures about the influence of music on anime, the worst anime series, the performance of the band Saigan Complex, cosplay and dancing workshops, different types of tournaments in the video game console area, and a variety of other contents.

CAMI 2011

The 3rd convention took place at the Rishon le-Zion City Mann Auditorium for the 1st time.

The film “Welcome to the Space Show” screened at the event for the first time and the fan-made musical “Black Misty” based on the series Kuroshitsuji, performed.

At the convention you could enjoy a variety of activities such as lectures about the Jewish roots of manga and anime, a lecture about the trip to Japan in the footsteps of the otaku, a drawing by hand versus drawing digitally and cosplay workshops, video games console area and a variety of other contents.

CAMI 2010

The 2nd convention took place at the International Convention Center in Haifa.

The fan-made live-action film “The Incident of X Late at Night” based on the series Soul Eater was screened at the convention. The film was a success and was screened multiple times at later conventions.

At the convention you could enjoy a variety of activities such as lectures about the history of anime and manga, a plushy for beginners and Japanese dancing workshops, martial art demonstration, and a variety of other contents.

CAMI 2009

The 1st convention took place at the Smolarz Auditorium at Tel-Aviv University.

The fan-made musical “The Good, the Bad and the Notebook” based on the series “Death Note” performed at the convention. The musical was well received and played multiple times at later events.

At the convention you could enjoy a variety of activities such as lectures about the history of the kimono, the psychology of the hikikomori, video games console area, anime screenings and a variety of panels and other contents.