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Nippon Bid Site

Not Lost in Translation

The Nippon 2007 Worldcon will be an exciting and event-filled convention, designed to appeal to fans from all over the world. It will have the familiar parts of a Worldcon: multiple SF & Fantasy programming streams, guests, Hugo Awards, masquerade, dealers room, art show and exhibits, all with an emphasis on participation. We will be welcoming not only many Worldcon regulars, but also many first-timers, as well. What makes us unique is that this will be the first time Worldcon will have been held in Japan. The combination of Japanese innovation and Worldcon traditions promises to make this a Worldcon that will be truly unforgettable.

Your Japanese Worldcon experience will start as soon as you step off the plane at Narita Airport, where you will board the shinkansen, the bullet train that will whisk you to Yokohama. The sail-shaped Yokohama Grand Inter-Continental hotel rises next to the convention center, making it easy to pick out from a distance. The convention center itself is very high-tech and includes architectural features that will fascinate you as you wander around. The city of Yokohama will also beckon to you, with its mix of modern buildings, traditional attractions, shops and restaurants, all of which are accessible by efficient public transportation.

A really neat aspect is that the Worldcon will be combined with the Japan National SF Convention. This is not a first for Worldcon, as several have incorporated their regional or national conventions, such as Intersection and ConAdian. Your Worldcon membership will include membership in the Japan National Convention, as well. One of the most treasured features of the Japanese national is the masquerade, so the combination with Worldcon masquerade should result in a spectacular event! The Japanese National SF Convention typically attracts 1500-2000 members; I would expect that Nippon 2007 would have about 3500-4500 members in total.

In keeping with the fact that this is both a Worldcon and a national convention, programme items will be held either in English or Japanese, with simultaneous translation provided for major events. Traditional Worldcon events will be in English. For instance, the Hugo Awards will be run in English with translation into Japanese. The Seiun Awards, normally given at the Japanese National Convention, will be held in Japanese, with English translation.

Not only will this be the first time the Worldcon is held in Japan, but it will also be the first time most regular Worldcon attendees travel to Japan. Many fans will no doubt take the opportunity to explore the intriguing country of Japan in addition to attending the Worldcon. We will send out as much information as possible to help you make your visit memorable. We will also have a US office that will handle non-Japanese membership administration, including production and distribution of the English language versions of the Progress Reports.

I look forward to seeing you in Yokohama in 2007. Until then–sayonara!

Conference Center Layout