Going first always brings tremendous pressure and, as the first Asian pop culture event for 2025, Daisuki may prove to be the bellwether for similar events scheduled for the rest of the year.

Put on by AnimeYado, the event saw a good turnout at Di Lot in St Andrew.

“Daisuki went really well for this year, and I hope the next time, when we have the one next year, it will be just as good,” Ashley Smith of AnimeYado, told the Jamaica Observer.

Smith was happy with the turnout and attributed the event theme to drawing out not just anime lovers, and video gamers, but a wider audience looking for Valentine’s Day entertainment.

Beyond the usual vendors of genre merchandise, there were plenty of activities for both genders to enjoy, together, and individually. The lonely hearts could sink their sorrows into the Tekken 8 fighting game competition, others could take part in the trivia games, and for those seeking love, there was the Pop-The-Balloon contest.

“We close off only 20 minutes over what we had planned; so that’s good timing. All the activities did very well. Persons were really excited about the Pop-The-Balloon since it’s now trending,” said Smith.

Of course, there was the main attraction, the Cosplay Competition, which was won by Michael Ellis.

“It was an awesome feeling to win. I didn’t come expecting to win anything, I just came because it was post-Valentine, and the event was a good bet for entertainment,” Ellis said.

Ellis, as Kento Nanami from the popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen, impressed the judges not only with his costume, but winning them over along with the crowd during the performance segment. Arming himself with the character’s signature tie, he randomly pulled Novia Bromfield, who was dressed as Cupid, into his little act creating a bit of on stage heat.

“I like this character. I’ve played other characters, but this one is very special to me, so I did my best to represent him. I made the props, and got all the necessary accessories as close to possible to the original from the anime,” said Ellis.

Smith was happy with the quality and number of entrants in the competition.

“I’m very happy that a lot of people came out for Daisuki, especially the cosplay. I like that a lot of people actually put out the effort in actually creating their cosplays, joining the competition, and doing their very best,” she said.

Happy with the AnimeYado brand and its position in the Asian pop-culture event space, smith said her team is hoping to host another event in June and their usual Halloween party in October.