Katsucon is a convention that celebrates Japanese culture and frequently revolves around the American anime community. So why was this year’s event plagued by the conversation about the person who pooped in the lobby gazebo?
This convention, frequently held on the third weekend of February, consistently attracts people around the country to visit Maryland at the Marriott Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. There were thousands of talented artists displaying their cosplays and artistry for the crowds that had come to meet other people with shared interests and hobbies.
Unfortunately, on Saturday night around midnight, the lobby was closed, and hundreds of people were asked to leave the area. Word began to spread after staff leaked that somebody had pooped in the most popular photo spot of the whole resort. There are further rumors that it was potentially the second incident of the weekend, but they are unconfirmed.
In a strange way, this bewildering controversy has brought the community closer together, some even jokingly saying anybody who was escorted away from the scene is now “part of a club.”
While a large portion of attendees attended the formal ball dressed as their favorite characters and witnessed a proposal to Morticia Addams by a man dressed as Gomez Addams, an equal number of people were being ushered away from the impromptu dance circle because of human feces.
Because this happened on Saturday night, most con-goers checked out of their hotel rooms on Sunday morning despite the convention still offering panels and entry to the Merchant Halls until late Sunday afternoon.
This makes the mysterious evacuation the “last event” of Katsucon 2023. Online, discussion of this “gazebo ghost” has consumed all positive aspects of the learning opportunities presented by panelists like the Comiku Girls and their two annual demonstrations of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Memes outperform any photos from seasoned cosplayers or even those featured by the convention itself such as Cowbutt Crunchies and Yaya Han.
The large variety of unconventional fashion is also a major draw for conventions such as Katsu. Textiles and garments that are normally hard to locate or only available online can be browsed by the thousands, and typically shoppers might even get to speak with the shop owner themselves.
This opportunity to support small creators is difficult to come by and could potentially become more restrictive because of bad actors such as the unidentified culprit of the gazebo incident.
Last year, the convention space had a more open floor plan. The resort had many complaints of attendees climbing in their water feature–a faux river that flowed through the atrium of the hotel. This year it was almost completely removed, save for a small portion that flows under a bridge, and replaced with a small oblong fountain.
There were also renovations done that relocated the resort’s main cafe and upgraded its capacity. While this might be a welcome change for most, this year also presented a problem for attendees who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
The terrain used to flow smoothly along the river’s path guarded by velvet stanchions. Now the cafe has narrow passageways between tables, and the atrium walkways have stairs every few yards. It is unclear if these renovations were designed as permanent foot traffic solutions, but there were many temporary measures used by staff that only seemed to give the volunteers something to do.
The lobby overlooking the atrium and home of the gazebo has always been a free-flow space, but this year sported a velvet rope and staff checking for convention attendance badges before anyone was allowed to enter. Anyone hoping to enter the Artist’s Alley was subjected to a curving line that was approximately 7 feet wide and spanned the length of the hallway.
This meant every 7 feet, anyone in the queue would snake around the corner of the tape line on the ground. Then, 7 feet forward and turn the other way. Seven more feet, and one should turn again. Anyone who “cut corners” would be barked at by volunteers to stay inside the lines. Should you slow down to avoid accidentally inching too close to the tape, the next person in line is likely to bump into you or curse you for being born. As for those with mobility needs, it is unclear if they were spared from the line.
Maryland locals who plan on attending next year should look forward to the lovely Comiku Girls’ diverse range of cultural panels featuring their skills attained abroad, the annual Pokemon Gameshow, a test of the most niche pokemon knowledge possible, and a chance to participate in The Hunter Exam, a panel focused on emulating the crowd favorite HunterXHunter entrance exam.
The convention’s website, katsucon.org, updates frequently throughout the year with applications for artists to display and sell their work to a large audience, networking opportunities for cosplayers, aspiring voice actors, and students looking to study abroad, and an overwhelmingly welcoming atmosphere for anyone who enjoys nerd culture.
Hopefully, whatever Katsu 2024 tries to surprise attendees will bring the community that much closer together.
