Immersed in Japanese pop culture: Limoges Japan Geek Festival 2026 recap
- Studio K
- Feb 18
- 6 min read
When visitors first set foot on the grounds of Parc Expo (Limoges), they attended an event that was not just about fun, but also about learning. They strolled down the rows of booths each telling a different story of Japanese pop culture. Origamigne’s manga and anime graphics were amongst the most attractive features, while La Figurinérie exhibited 3D printed figurines that were very life-like in their details. Larhi’s fantasy artworks spiriting viewers away into fantastic sceneries, and Pia Draw, Okuzen Kuro, Bakiitsu, Grim Artist, Asca Illustrations delivered personal interpretation on otaku culture both balancing nostalgia with modernity.
Combined, the 3D Pokéballs by Tanaodesigns and Manga Dori’s weapon replicas captivated eyes only among those present for the cosplay contest. Chokoku made beautiful Korean bracelets with zircon in it, Coco B was involved in the otaku type creation while Askew Gaming did the pop culture t-shirt design which merged design and humor. NGM gave Asian traditional accessories while Japan Snack and Toha Melonpan filled the atmosphere with wonderful smells of Japanese candies and freshly baked melonpan. Les Délices de la Fête completed the mixture with sweet crepes, waffles, and colorful candies. But the alley of artists was not just a trading place but also an interaction spot where you could see developers at work, ask questions as well as value behind every piece.
Gaming offered yet one more way of being immersed into games through offering both breakaway gaming and exciting competitive play. In the Nintendo stand, players interacted with Mario Kart World, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Splatoon 3, Kirby Air Riders, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Strikers BL Football. Tournament registration took place at the venue for activities to be held on a particular day, for example Saturday had focus on Super Smash Bros Ultimate while Sunday had focus on Mario Kart World.
The Next Gen section was especially dedicated to ardent gamers with COD Black Ops 7 on Xbox S playing the main role in gaming competition; also Mortal Kombat 1 on Xbox X and Street Fighter 6 on PS5 as well as Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero on PS5 and Overcooked 2 on PS4. Neo Legends arcade cabinets served as a source of retro gaming nostalgia whereas virtual reality moments were added by Meta Quest II station. Immersion and surprise was added to quiet spaces filled with creative energy by XPPen conducting digital drawing workshops on graphics tablets system that mingled between both ancient ways of artistic exploration and technology so that people could settle into quiet pockets of focused creativity amidst the festival’s energy system.
Different from contemporary culture, the festival program did not make any contradictions to its performance schedule. Alishina Juju’s Nihon Buyō performances caught the eye by careful and very slow gestures that combined both the past military discipline and a modern stage presence. Each movement wasn’t loud; rather it was slow just enough for kimono fabric to make slight rustling sounds. In addition to his words this made audience members feel they were in a poetic Japanese drama.
By way of contrast, however, the Terpsi company animated the main stage in Korean choreography a la K-pop. Youthful dancers moved technically with synchronization and clear expressiveness transforming each song into a show capturing the spirit of contemporary Japanese pop. These performances convey emotion to attendees by weaving together both reflection and exhilaration in a seamless progression.
SO Kore’art: more than just a K-pop association, a full-fledged company
In the Hautes-Pyrénées region, a new cultural energy is emerging around K-pop and Korean culture: Sud Ouest Kore’art (SO Kore’art). Founded in 2023, the association provides a space for young enthusiasts of Korean culture to gather and share their passion. This intercultural environment allows participants to express themselves through visual and performing arts : creating, evolving, and progressing through dance, singing, and other forms of artistic expression.
SO Kore’art offers unique formats for K-pop lovers, in the form of workshops and events, guided by an engaged artistic direction with broader goals: encouraging creativity, fostering values through exchange and sharing, and making Korean culture a genuine tool for social cohesion and openness.
The Terpsi Company: a springboard to the stage
At the heart of the association lies an intermediate level between leisure and advanced amateur practice. Designed as a springboard, the Terpsi company introduces young performers to the realities of the performing arts professions. It exposes them to professional expectations: rigor, discipline, responsibility, independence, commitment, and artistic development. Terpsi supports performers in their growth with both rigor and kindness, offering a true collective experience close to the professional world and an authentic introduction to the performing arts. With Terpsi, SO Kore’art invites audiences to experience K-culture differently: as an artistic, human, and cultural project deeply rooted in its local community.
Next stop: Saint Jean de Luz, February 21–22, 2026.
Interactivity still dominated the entire weekend. Siphano conducted pop culture quizzes and played blind tests as he led groups to work together and have fun in knowledge sharing and playful competition. Farod and Tartin spent more time with their fans and tried to make that connection among them by personally interacting with the creators at the moment. The show held on Sunday displayed technical skill, creativity, stage presence, etc. Participants walked on the stage in costumes well designed and presented by Ayato Cosplay, Cerise Noire Cosplay as well as Océane Gremory Cosplay for evaluation. The jury combined a collective technical judgment and appraisal of performing artistry; moreover, rules provided that weapon replicas should be shown on stage only for safety reasons. At the end of the event all winners were announced making not only participants but also viewers feel a great sense of fulfilled expectation along with a common fun experience.
The drawing contest brought in yet another level of engagement by welcoming participants of all ages to explore the theme “Mage and Sorcerer.” Entries could come in the form of paper sketches or digital art displayed on a dedicated stand with each one being viewed closely. Winners were given graphic tablets from XPPen which bridges creativity with professional tools and also aligns with the festival's objective to support creative growth across generations.
François Durand took charge of the stage with clear and rhythmic programming. Saturday was marked by Siphano’s pop culture quiz, Juju Alishina’s traditional dance and a conference with Arnaud Laurent, Aurélien Ringelheim, and Laura Préjean. Laurent spoke on his work as the official French voice for Natsu Dragnir and other lead roles, Ringelheim conveyed the wisdom he gained in the many years he portrayed Sasha in Pokémon and Préjean pointed to her experience in animation, cinema, gaming.
The gap between these sessions was filled with Terpsi returning to the stage, and drawing battles had active participation of both guests and the audience. Sunday went on with blind tests, K-pop showcases, interactive mime games, traditional dance and cosplaying in which at the end of all that they gave awards. Each component was not crammed in there giving a room for so that the story progressed well making the visitor have an easy flow through the weekend’s experiences.
During the event, sensory details remain the key to live it up. Families who had stopped by a food stand to taste some melonpan and crepes, children who were having fun made their laughter echo through the aisles and you could hear the subtle click of game controllers at intervals in a crowd. The soft rustle of fabrics, styluses tapping on tablets, and gentle hum of conversation altogether created a living human environment. Visitors congregated seamlessly between art, performance, and gaming zones not only finding novel experiences but also preserving an overall sense of continuity and connection to the festival.
When the Limoges Japan Geek Festival 2026 came to a close, Parc Expo was more than just an event space. It had been turned into a place where people could share their cultures. Just like it was during ancient times, dances could be performed along with K-pop choreography and there were also video games, drawing and cosplay shows to keep people busy. The people who came did not just go back home with souvenirs only but also with the memories of spectacular performances, involvement in personal relationships as well as creative exploration. The festival was a great lesson on how all forms of cultural arts can be united truthfully, skillfully, and thoughtfully so that an amazing feeling of interconnection is created among those who take part in it leaving an irreversible mark at their hearts for the rest of their lives.
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