If you have played any form of card games, be it digital or tabletop, Magic: The Gathering or Flesh and Blood, then you would have probably heard of the company Bushiroad. Bushiroad is a Japanese company founded in 2007 that started by producing and distributing the popular trading card game Cardfight! Vanguard, which is the first card game to release its product and an anime depicting the product at the same time back in 2011.
Since then, Malaysia has become one of the bastions of Cardfight! Vanguard, mainly thanks to the great anime adaptation and the game design itself that is popular not only among children but with all ages. Cardfight! Vanguard is now in its third iteration and Bushiroad has grown not only as a gaming behemoth but also as a multimedia corporation.
On 29 September to 1 October 2023, Malaysia hosted the first ever Bushiroad Expo in the country and we were given the privilege to attend and cover the whole expo. Here are some of the biggest highlights:
Digital Game Demos
Bushiroad brought a variety of digital game demos for fans to play on the spot, from Cardfight! Vanguard Dear Days which is available on Steam, to BanG Dream! Girls Band Party that is available on both mobile and Nintendo Switch. There were a total of four consoles with different games for attendees to try out and share feedback with the Bushiroad staff.
Trading Card Game, Figurines & BanG Dream! Girls Band Party Dress Showcase
Attendees were also invited to view a variety of rare and signed trading cards beautifully encased in glass displays. Cards of various rarities from franchises like Cardfight! Vanguard, Weiss Schwarz and Shadowverse: Evolve were displayed for attendees to marvel and get to know the cards of Bushiroad.
The most prominent items on display were the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party Dress showcase that could be found lining the walls of the Expo for attendees to gaze and admire the tailorship of each garb. Definitely a bonus for cosplayers who are looking to make their own versions of the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party dresses!
Not only that, there were also figurines and toys from familiar franchises like Attack On Titan and Spy X Family that were displayed, together with a variety of other artwork from their manga, games and TV shows.
Stage and Play Area
The most prominent area of Bushiroad Expo was the stage and play area where attendees could play Bushiroad trading card games among each other as the pleased. There were even competitions and regional tournaments on both days of the weekend, where the attendees could compete to win cash prizes and invites to Japan.
There were also vendor booths all around the stage area, exclusively invited by Bushiroad. Players could buy Bushiroad products there and play with each other, or join the weekly meet ups and occasional tournaments hosted by the shops where players can win prizes and card promos.
However, the biggest highlight was definitely when the CEO of Bushiroad, Mr. Takaaki Kidani, graced the stage with a motivational speech about the future of Bushiroad and their products. Takaaki-san also rallied the crowd with Cardfight! Vanguard’s most well-known quote, “Stand Up! Vanguard” which the attendees replied most enthusiastically.
Overall Experience
All in all, Bushiroad Expo 2023 was a brand-new experience for trading card game players! Unlike the usual events where players meet to compete in tournaments, there were other activities that the attendees could engage in like playing the game demos, admiring showcases, and even opportunities to speak with Bushiroad themselves.
If there was one thing missing that I would have loved to be added to future Bushiroad Expos, it would be the presence of voice actors from the anime to conduct meet and greets with Malaysian fans.
Still, for the first Bushiroad Expo to be held in Malaysia, it was a breath of fresh air over other events. I, for one, would love to see more events of this nature and look forward to next year’s Bushiroad Expo!
