Jaffa Port to Host Nomzycon Hanukkah Festival Celebrating Japanese Culture
The Nomzycon Hanukkah anime and gaming festival opens at Jaffa Port from December 9 to 11, featuring Japanese pop culture, cosplay contests, and special guest creators.
Anime and gaming enthusiasts in Israel will gather at the Jaffa Port during the upcoming Hanukkah holiday for a major Japanese culture festival. The Nomzycon Hanukkah convention will take place from December 9 to 11 at the Container House and Warehouse 2, offering three days of lectures, workshops, cosplay competitions, music performances, and dedicated zones for Japanese and Korean pop culture.
Prominent figures in the local and international comics scene will participate, including veteran Israeli comic creator Uri Fink, known for his long-running series "Zbeng!", who will deliver a lecture on comic creation and illustration. He will be joined by Israeli animator Yotam Lieberman, who has worked in the Japanese anime industry on major productions such as "Digimon" and "Bleach". The program also features fantasy character drawing workshops, cosplay makeup sessions, a dedicated zone for "One Piece" fans, community spaces, and specialized content for visitors aged 16 and older.
Highlights of the festival include a Japanese fashion show, an anime-inspired costume contest, and K-pop performances on Thursday, December 10. Additionally, an after-party for attendees 18 and older will take place on Wednesday evening in Tel Aviv, featuring anime music, rock, K-pop, and 2000s hits. One of the central emotional moments of the convention will be a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony on December 9 at 5:00 PM, attended by representatives of the Embassy of Japan in Israel. The ceremony will honor the memory of the late Noam Raviv, affectionately known by his friends as "Nomzy", in whose memory the convention was established as a vibrant gathering space for Israel's geek and anime community.
Admission to the port complex is free for all ages, though specific workshops, lectures, and select activities require paid tickets ranging from 10 to 150 shekels. The convention will operate on Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM, and on Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. To facilitate visitor access, free minibuses will run from Yehuda Hayamit Street, near the Bloomfield light rail station, directly to the Jaffa Port festival area on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and on Friday until 2:30 PM.
