Anime Expo® 2009 Provides Additional Discounts for Hotels

Nation's Largest Anime and Manga Convention Provides Updated Information for Hotel/Shuttle Wristband Policy

Anaheim, California (May 29, 2009) — To better serve attendees within the Anime Expo® 2009 room blocks, several hotels have lowered their room rates just for individuals that are registering within official convention hotels for the nation's largest anime and manga convention held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information can be found on the website at <www.anime-expo.org> .

Individuals that have already confirmed rooms at these hotels within the official Anime Expo® 2009 room blocks will automatically receive these discounts for the lower room rates.

The Omni and Biltmore hotels were the first the provide new rates for Anime Expo® 2009 attendees with new rates of: Omni Hotel: $131.00 run of house; Biltmore Hotel: Single/Double: $119.00, Triple: $139.00 and Quad: $169.00

Following their example, the Wilshire Grand Hotel is offering new rates of: Wilshire Grand Hotel: Single/Double/Triple/Quad: $129.00. New rates for the Sheraton and Marriott Hotels will be provided online shortly.

Also, to provide excellent service for room block attendees who will be traveling to the convention from the hotels to the convention center via the Anime Expo® 2009 free shuttle service, a new wristband policy will be utilized for their ease and benefit.

The hotel wristbands are an all-in-one credential for the official Anime Expo® 2009 hotels as well as the redemption credential for all hotel block incentives. In addition to verifying that you are a hotel block guest, the wristband also allows you priority access onto the free official Anime Expo® 2009 shuttle service. Wristbands will be checked for at the convention center for shuttles heading from the convention center to the hotels only. Wristbands DO NOT have to be worn on the wrist to help out cosplayers posing for pictures. However there are a limited amount of bracelets available, so if the bracelet is NOT worn on the wrist and is lost, it may not be possible to replace it. Anime Expo® 2009 recommends users to either wear it on their wrist, or to permanently attach it to their lanyard, so that it can be easily accessed when needed. A complete overview of the wristband policy as well as a list of frequently asked questions can be found at the Anime Expo website.

Anime Expo® 2009 Official Guests of Honor include Hiroyuki Imaishi, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Yōsuke Kuroda, Toshimichi Mori, Toshiyuku Morikawa, Morning Musume, Yasuhiro Nightow, Atsushi Nishigori, Satoshi Nishimura and Kari Wahlgren.

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video coverage site of the 2008 convention at <www.AXBackstage.org> .

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation, Silver Sponsors include: Anime News Network and Digital Manga Press, Patron Sponsors include: COPIC, Central Park Media and The Right Stuf, Media Sponsors include: ImaginAsian TV, Animation Magazine, Anime Insider Magazine, Anime News Network and UTB Hollywood.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation's largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2009 will be held July 2 – July 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property – Anime Expo®. More information can be found at its website (<www.spja.org> ).

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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APPENDIX A

FAQ for Anime Expo® 2009 Hotel/Shuttle Wristband Policy

Regarding enforcement of the wristband policy

How will the hotels enforce this policy? Will Ax staff be enforcing it?

At the hotels, hotel staff will be solely responsible for the enforcement of their policies. We have been informed that the enforcement will be as follows: All registered guests at the hotel desiring access to individual sleeping rooms, must have either the wristband or a hotel key card for the respective hotel. The hotel will be performing spot checks at random times during which they will ask the attendee to present their credentials. When checked, the attendee must be able to present either a wristband, a key card for the hotel, or be accompanied to the individual's hotel room by someone who can present these items. AX staff will only be enforcing the wristbands as it pertains to the Shuttles and the advanced ticket redemption.

Will the drivers of the Anime Expo® shuttles check for wristbands at the hotels?

Wristbands will only be checked for at the convention center for shuttles heading from the convention center to the hotels only. We will have AX staff familiar with this policy doing the enforcement at the convention center.

Will this be enforced on Day 0?

Yes, this policy will be enforced on Day 0. The wristband will be issued at the time of check-in even if you do not have your badge yet. We recommend that you keep your wristbands in a safe place, so that if you are asked for your credentials at the hotel, you can show them your wristband or your hotel card key. For all other incentives please make sure you have your wristband ready.

Will this be enforced at all the hotels or just the Westin?

This will be enforced at all AX block hotels, including the Holiday Inn and the Figueroa.

Regarding the Wristband itself

What does the wristband do?

The wristband is an all-in-one credential for the hotel as well as the redemption credential for your hotel block incentives. In addition to verifying that you are in the AX room block, the wristband will allow you priority access on to the shuttles. For those of you who were able to select an advance ticket before the deadline, this bracelet will serve as your credentials along with your badge. Also, there is a prize drawing courtesy of the Los Angeles Convention and visitor's bureau in thanks for supporting the downtown L.A. hotels and the convention.

Do I have to wear the wristband on my wrist? Can I wear the wristband on my arm or can I attach it to my lanyard or elsewhere?

You do not have to wear it on your wrist. Remember that there will only be a limited amount of bracelets available, so if you lose it and your hotel has run out of them, it may not be possible to replace it. It only has to be visible and you have to be careful to not get it lost, as the hotels will replace the wristbands at their discretion. We recommend that you permanently attach it to your lanyard or secure it on your wrist so that it can be easily accessed when needed. The first option is highly recommended for those of you concerned with damaging the wristbands or that wristbands will hinder pictures.

Will the wristbands at each of the hotels be different or uniform all around?

The wristbands will be the same at all the hotels and be uniform all around.

What material are the wristbands made of?

We believe that the wristbands are made of the Tyvek® material. It has been tested by our staff and is quite secure when firmly attached. Please do not try to re-adjust the bracelet once it is secured because the fastening is for one use only. Remember that there will only be a limited amount of bracelets available, so if you lose it or damage it and your hotel has run out of them, it may not be possible to replace it.

As a cosplayer, I do not want a fluorescent wristband standing out in my pictures; will I be able to take it off to pose for photos?

You do not have to wear the wristband on your wrist. Please see above question for our recommendations.

What happens with damaged or lost wristbands?

Please try to keep your wristbands intact because the replacement of the wristband will be at the hotels discretion and in most cases they will be limited in quantity based on the forecasted reservations. However, if you permanently attach it to your lanyard or secure to your wrist, you will have no problems keeping track of it.

If I purchase a shuttle pass at the convention, does that mean that I also get a wristband, allowing me access to the hotels?

No, the shuttle passes only grant access only to the shuttles and is a completely separate thing. The wristband is an all in one credential pass. In order to get access to hotel sleeping rooms, you must either have a wrist band or a hotel card key. The shuttle pass will not work in this case. Please keep in mind that attendees are welcome to hang out in the lobby of hotels, or attend ANIME hosted events without a wristband.

Regarding the wristband policy itself

Why isn't this information on the main website?

The policy is already posted on our website under the general info> Policies & Procedures> New hotel wristband policy. The wristband policy was put into place to act as a reminder of general fire code laws that all hotels must adhere to, which limit the number of people that are allowed to sleep in one standard hotel room. These laws are set in place to keep you safe, which is one of our top priorities. In addition, the policy was also made to offer an extra incentive to attendees that are staying within the ANIME hotel block.

What happens if I am planning to stay in a room with more than 4 people in it? I cannot afford to book another room right now.

Please refer to the above statement. Also, please keep checking our press release section; we are working with the hotels currently on a few options that may help those who are interested in staying in one of our ANIME block hotels.

Will I still be able to invite friends up to my room to hang out?

Yes you can, all of the wristbands will look the same regardless of what hotel, so if your friend has one, they will be able to visit you. If they do not, they must be escorted by someone that has a wristband or a key card.

Why so late with the announcement of this policy?

This is something that was brought up as an issue after the convention last year, but there were no solid plans until just recently, which is why it was posted at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused and we are committed to finding ways to help your situation as much as we can. Please keep an eye on our press releases for news on this matter.

Where did this policy come from? Did Anime Expo® attendees do something last year to warrant this new policy from the hotels?

This is the result of the instances last year where rooms were filled to well overcapacity and became a fire hazard at the hotels and a liability to the hotels as well as the SPJA. The actual hotel policy has always been in place as this is a standard in all hotels nationwide. It is at the hotel's discretion as to how they choose to monitor it. In addition, the other purpose of the bracelet is to be more of a reward/incentive that allows the holders of the bracelet opportunities that are only available for those staying in AX hotel block.

Why do attendees staying at the hotel have to wear them while other patrons do not?

All hotel patrons must have some form of credentials showing that they are staying at the hotel or be escorted by someone who has the credentials. The wristband is an all in one credential that not only verifies that you are in the AX room block, but also rewards you with direct access to the shuttles, qualifies you to pick up your advance tickets, and participate in the prize drawings. The patrons who are not staying in the AX block do not get any of the extra incentives, so they do not get a wristband.

When exchanging my main event ticket vouchers for the tickets is it absolutely necessary to bring the wristband or will badge + voucher be enough?

We believe that the wrist bands will be easier; however, we can allow the use of the badge + voucher this year as well.

Are you still going to be selling shuttle passes even though the wristband policy is in effect?

Yes, a limited number of shuttle passes will still be sold, which will give the holder access to the shuttles only.

What happens if I am caught during a hotel spot check without a wristband, hotel key, or someone with a wristband to escort me?

You will be denied access to the guest room towers until such time as you can produce any of the acceptable items or acceptable escorts as mentioned above.

Does Anime Expo® staff have to be subject to this policy also?

Yes, this policy will also apply to all Anime Expo® Staff