In the middle of the 90s they are very active in associations contributing to spread and promote manga and Japanese animation. The founders of Japan Expo, Jean-François Dufour, Sandrine Dufour and Thomas Sirdey grew up during the rise of Japanese animation in the 80s and 90s and were very enthusiastic about the series on TV, manga and their country of origin. Passion, discovery and sharing: the creation of Japan Expo The only thing missing was an event so they could gather together and celebrate their passions. Their interest for anime and manga pushes fans to turn to Japan: its culture, traditions and daily life. Manga begins to really develop in the second half of the 90s. The success is immediate and the releases grow in number: Dragon Ball by Akira TORIYAMA, Ranma ½ by Rumiko TAKAHASHI or Sailor Moon by Naoko TAKEUCHO. From 1987 to 1997, the TV show Club Dorothée on channel TF1 broadcasts numerous Japanese anime which have become references today like Dragon Ball, Knights of Zodiac, City Hunter, Ai Shite Knight, Captain Tsubasa, Sailor Moon and a lot more.Īt the beginning of the 90s, fans of Japanese animation and comic books discover manga in French, the first one being Akira by Katsuhiro OTOMO. The 80s trigger the trend and the public is asking for more.

Other series then follow in the same program: Candy Candy, Captain Harlock and a little later Space Cobra or Nobody’s Boy: Remi. The program dominates the audiences, Japanese animation just got its first big hit on French television.

On their televisions, French people discover a new cartoon on French channel Antenne 2: Grendizer, known in Japan as UFO Robo Grendizer.

Japanese karaoke reno