The Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association (ANCEA) is a registered non-profit corporation. Every year, ANCEA participates in various cultural and educational events. Sakura-Con is ANCEA's main event and realization of the ANCEA mission to educate about Asian Culture, with a focus on Japanese Animation.

Sakura-Con is the oldest and most well attended anime convention in the Pacific Northwest. Sakura-Con features cultural exploration and education through traditional and contemporary media, arts and entertainment. Sakura-Con includes: musical performances, Guest of Honor participation, discussion panels, games, musical performances, contests (costumes and skit performances), theaters, traditional Asian arts and an exhibitor�fs hall for the sale of Anime related merchandise by third party vendors.

ANCEA is a membership based all volunteer organization. The controlling administrative body for ANCEA (and thus Sakura-Con) is an Executive Board that's main function is to put on the main ANCEA event, Sakura-Con, and to generally steward the ANCEA mission. The board is democratically elected by the voting membership (volunteer staff) after first being nominated by the general member pool (Sakura-Con attendee members and volunteer staff). No member of ANCEA or staffer of Sakura-Con is paid for their participation as per the organization's Bylaws. Sakura-Con attendee members are encouraged to become more fully involved and are invited to attend all General ANCEA/Sakura-Con meetings and to consider joining the volunteer staff. They are also encouraged to attend "Team Sakura" events which include listings of local Asian Cultural events.

Secondary ANCEA events have included various tables, appearances and productions at local arts and cultural festivals including: the Seattle International Children's Festival (provided an educational multi-media presentation on the arts of Japan as they relate to popular media such as animation, gaming and comics), Aki Matsuri in Bellevue Washington (regular attendees: providing children's crafts, registrations for Sakura-Con and Q &A ), and at the Seattle Public Library Annual Staff Day (Invited guest speakers on the History of Anime and Manga and the History of Japanese media fandom in the United States).

ANCEA and Sakura-Con are regularly recognized by national, state and local officials. Exampls include: The Japanese Consulate General in Seattle (who regularly speaks at Sakura-Con's Opening Ceremonies), Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire (who has written a letter of greeting and endorsement to be included in our Guide to members for 2007), and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels (who has also written a letter of greeting and endorsement for Sakura-Con 2007).

For more information, check sakuracon.org.