The Best of Anime (BOA), one of the biggest and most recognized Japanese anime and pop culture conventions in the Philippines, is finally making its big return this September!

The event will be known as The Best of Anime 2023: The Reunion where we aim to thrill our loyal patrons and all anime fans with entertaining activities and outstanding performances, as well as look back on memorable moments, after three years of hiatus due to the pandemic.

Japanese visual kei band UchuSentai:NOIZ, idol group Starmarie returns to perform at BOA!

For this year, we will be bringing back two of BOA’s all-time favorite performers, Japanese visual kei artist UchuSentai:NOIZ and idol group Starmarie!

UchuSentai:NOIZ is known for its eccentric and unique outfits, as well as its highly energetic music and live performances. They were originally formed in 1999, are currently composed of ANGEL-TAKA (lead vocals), MASATO (guitar and vocals), KOTARO (guitar), KYO (bass) and YAMATO (drums), and currently holding their 20th-anniversary tour across Japan.

The band was well-known in the country for performing covers of popular Pinoy songs such as “Narda”, “Liwanag sa Dilim” and “Pinoy Ako”, and they became part of the ABS-CBN reality talent show “I Love OPM” in 2016 where they reach the quarterfinal stage.

UchuSentai:NOIZ first appeared at The Best of Anime in 2012 and has been part of the event four more times.

Starmarie is a Japanese idol group known for their music and charm that has mesmerized its loyal fans since 2008. The group is currently composed of Nozomi Kishita (Nonchan), Shino Takamori (Shinohamu), Hiroka Matsuzaki (Hiichan) and Monya Nakane (Monya).

The group has released four albums and 12 singles, with “Mekurumeku Yuuki” being used as the fourth ending theme song to the anime series Cardfight!! Vanguard G in 2015 and “Natsu ni Nare!” as the fourth ending theme to its sequel, Cardfight!! Vanguard G NEXT, in 2017.

Starmarie first appeared at The Best of Anime in 2013 and has been part of the event five more times.

Japanese visual kei artist, Seiyuu Miura Ayme, rock idol group Chicken Blow the Idol and idol group Pastel Mix perform at the BOA stage for the first time!

In addition, The Best of Anime 2023 is set to feature three great talents for the very first time, which are Japanese visual kei singer and seiyuu Miura Ayme, rock idol group Chicken Blow the Idol and the Filipino idol group Pastel Mix!

Miura Ayme was the former lead singer of the visual kei rock band Ecthelion from 2013 to 2015 and then started his solo career in 2018.

In 2019, he was chosen to be the voice of the fabulous fifth born, Asmodeus, in the otome video game and anime series Obey Me!, as well as singing its opening theme songs “Sinful Indulgence”, “Celestial Ray” and “Loveless”, as member of the Obey Me! boys.

He has traveled to perform in different countries across the world, including the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, and this will be his first time in the Philippines.

Chicken Blow the Idol is a Japanese rock idol group that first started in 2017 and was re-formed in 2022 featuring Kazahana Assa, Touwa Mayoi, Akari Mikan and Tsubomi Ruko.

The group goes with the theme of shy and timid girls becoming idols on stage and using music as their weapon of choice, combining the concepts of a weak punch (also called a “chicken blow”) with school uniform-like costumes and youthful rock music.

The group has performed in different venues across Japan, as well as performing in Thailand in 2022. They are set to hold their first big solo concert on September 26 at Zepp Shinjuku.

Pastel Mix is a J-pop cover idol group based in Davao City, performing various songs from popular idol groups such as AKB48, Love Live!, Walküre, Babymetal and more.

The group started as “Nyan nyan” in 2008 as a cover group of the popular Japanese girl group Buono, but has expanded and reformed two years later. The group is an official performer of Ambox Events, performing at events organized, partnered and hosted by the organizer.

The group initially performed in Davao but has gained popularity after their performances all over the Philippines and earned fans nationwide.

Japanese cosplayer Reika and WCS Philippines alum AC Hernandez share their knowledge on stage!

In addition to the musical performances, The Best of Anime 2023 has also invited the renowned Japanese cosplayer Reika as she returns to the Philippines once more!

She is one of the top cosplayers from around the world, being invited to be part of popular anime and pop culture conventions around the world, as well as having over 1.4 million followers on Facebook and over 210 thousand followers on Instagram.

You can catch Reika at The Best of Anime 2023 as she holds a workshop and teaches everyone how to properly use make-up in cosplay to your advantage at Cosplay Make-up Workshop, plus get to see her up-close and learn more during her fan meet sessions!

Aside from her musical performances with Starmarie, Monya will once again be walking the BOA Cosplay catwalk as she shows off her style and craft to her fans, as well as everyone in attendance!

World Cosplay Summit (WCS) Philippines alumni AC Hernandez will also be part of the event as he holds workshops about making sword props using common materials, from patterning to construction. He will talk about why do-it-yourself props for cosplay are better in the long run.

Hernandez is one-half of the group “Team Namikaze” with Jin Joson, who won the Brother Award for Best Costume, which is considered one of the major cosplay awards, at the WCS in Nagoya, Japan in 2021.

The Butuan-based cosplayer is also one-half of “Team M.A.R.C.H Omega” who represented the Philippines in the Asian Regional Cosplay Championship at Anime Festival Asia in 2011, where they were awarded as the Grand Champion, as well as worked in theatrical plays such as “Ibong Adarna” by Ballet Manila and “The Lion King” musical in 2017.

You can catch AC Hernandez as he talks about his experience and skills learned on his Cosplay Talk on-stage, as well as going in-depth on basic sword prop making at “WCS Philippines Alumni Corner: Prop-Making Basics – Swords” cosplay workshop!

The Best of Anime 2023: The Reunion is scheduled to happen on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

This event is organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.

You can buy your tickets in advance online through SM Tickets through this link: smtickets.com/events/view/11993.