Anime Expo 2026 Featuring SEGA/ATLUS Guests of Honor

Happening early next month, Anime Expo 2026 will feature a number of SEGA/ATLUS Guests of Honor, including Takashi Iizuka, Atsushi Nomura, Kazuhisa Wada, Shigenori Soejima, and Yoshiyuki Asai.

Learn more about each of these Anime Expo 2026 Guests of Honor below…

Takashi Iizuka – Creative Officer of Sonic

The Creative Officer of Sonic, Takashi Iizuka is a video game director, producer, and designer. 

As the creative force behind the Sonic the Hedgehog series for more than 30 years, he began his work on Sonic the Hedgehog 3, also working on NiGHTS into dreams, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Sonic Generations, and Sonic Mania. 

Iizuka-san is also the creator of Shadow the Hedgehog, ensuring each new Sonic entry brings something fresh while also honoring the series’ legacy. 

Takashi Iizuka will host an autograph session on July 3 from 10-11:30am PT at the JW Gold Ballroom – one can sign up here.

Kazuhisa Wada – General Producer for the Persona Team

Instrumental in shaping the Persona series since serving as Persona 3’s Design Director, Kazuhisa Wada has taken on increasingly senior creative roles.

His current position oversees the Persona team as General Producer, with Wada-san also serving as General Producer of Persona 4 Revival.

Kazuhisa Wada will host an autograph session on July 3 from 1-2:50pm PT at JW Gold Ballroom – one can sign up here.

Shigenori Soejima – Character Designer / Illustrator at ATLUS

A Character Designer and Illustrator at ATLUS, Shigenori Soejima’s work spans the Persona series since Persona 3, alongside Metaphor: ReFantazio. 

When it comes to Persona 4 Revival, he serves in a supervisory role as he oversees character design and key art.

Shigenori Soejima will host an autograph session on July 3 from 1-2:50pm PT at the JW Gold Ballroom – one can sign up here.

Atsushi Nomura – Business Producer for the Persona Team

Atsushi Nomura oversees IP production responsibilities as Business Producer for the Persona team, including series project planning and promotion. 

Producing credits of his include Persona 4 Revival, Persona 5 Tactica, and the remastered releases of Persona 4 Golden and Persona 3 Portable.

Atsushi Nomura will host an autograph session on July 3rd from 1pm to 2:50pm PT at the JW Gold Ballroom – one can sign up here. Sign up link

Yoshiyuki Asai – Director 

Beginning his career as an animator at Toei Animation, OLM, and Ajiado before transitioning to directing in the early 2000s, Yoshiyuki Asai made his directorial debut with Charlotte.

Asai-san is well known for his nuanced portrayal of ensemble youth dramas and everyday life, featuring a distinctive directorial style that captures the dynamics, distances, and relationships between its different characters.

Yoshiyuki Asai will host an autograph session on July 3 from 1pm to 2:50pm PT at the JW Gold Ballroom – one can sign up here.

One can register for Anime Expo 2026 via its official website.

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