TAKII 17 Final Schedule & Guest List Unveiled!

UPPER DARBY, Pa. - June 9, 2014 - PRLog -- True to our tagline, "the world's most extreme Asian culture fusion festival" celebrates its 17th season in unique style & is honored to have the following "Brand New Debuts" joining us this Father's Day weekend:

MASATO ITOH (Video Game Orchestra/ANI-ON LIVE) (in his own words ^_^) I came to the US to study music at Berklee College Of Music. After graduating from college, I stayed in Boston & started performing with many Rock, Funk, R&B, & Fusion groups, bands, & projects. My musical talents have had me performing both domestically & internationally in places such as Italy, UK, China, Macau, Guam, & Japan. After joining the Video Game Orchestra (known best for their live concerts & work with the Final Fantasy franchise) in 2012, located in Boston, I expanded my horizons to perform at video game & anime conventions all over the USA. Most recently, I became 1 of the founding members of Ani-On Live (a Fusion group that plays anime music), keeping myself busier than ever before. (read more here: http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/brand-new-debuts.html#masato)

MR. CAKE (Chinese Fusion Band) Mr. Cake is a Chinese Fusion band from New York City. Close friends with The Asterplace, but with their own distinct sound, they have rocked out on the East Coast long enough & are ready to make their Philly debut specifically at TAKII 17 ~Densetsu~! With many collaborative efforts in the underground Asian Rock scene to their credit, words can't do justice to describe the kind of auditory fantasy you'll be taken on in a Mr. Cake live performance. There's an old saying that goes something like "if you don't stand for something, then you'll fall for anything". When it comes to these C-Fusion masterminds, however, they will "stand up for you" as you "fall in love" with their sound at The Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational's celebratory 17th season! (read more here: http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/brand-new-debuts.html#mrcake)

ANASTASIA OXNUTTZ (TAKII Show Champion/Cosplayer/Drag Queen) The name on everyone’s mind, whether it be TAKII Family or those involved in the drag world, is Anastasia Oxnuttz. A Slavic Latina whose face shines with beauty & a lashing, bladed tongue. Being born in Russia was rather tough on Anastasia considering most of the doctors were simply bears on unicycles. She decided to move to New Jersey & begin her career in cosplay/drag....minus the unicycling bears. Her life is dedicated to showing her elegance, beauty, & quick wit by any means necessary. The upcoming hostess of TAKII has performed & competed within previous iterations of the "TAKII Show" under her regular persona, Volkie (Steve, Sarah Palin, the list goes on). Victory in that & "Cosplay Battle Royale" helped transform Volkie into the current queen everyone loves (to hate). (read more here: http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/brand-new-debuts.html#oxnuttz)

LOVE&CHOCOLATE (J-Pop Idol Group) In a time where music has become a result of machines & computers, the hand-crafted art of performance still lives in Love&Chocolate. Comprised of fantastic talents such as Maki, Reika, Pao, & the Rock-stylings of Lady[Ai], these ladies have become the energetic shock this age needs to remember why the arts of singing & dancing are able to captivate hearts & minds, regardless of language. Making their collective worldwide debut at TAKII 17 ~Densetsu~, this new J-Pop girl group on the scene will serve festival attendees an auditory & visual buffet that will satisfy all 5 senses in ways that have yet to be experienced by "the world's most extreme Asian culture fusion festival". There's no need to wait until next Valentine's Day when you can have a lil Love&Chocolate this June 14th & 15th, 2014! (read more here: http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/brand-new-debuts.html#lovechoco)

Not to be outdone, our roster of "Returning Legends" includes an acclaimed Asian vocal musician (D-chan, http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/returning-legends.html#d-chan), a local J-Pop performer ([Ai], http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/returning-legends.html#ai), authentically supreme J-Rockers (The Asterplace, http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/returning-legends.html#theasterplace), a faithful tribute band (HadoukenChicken!, http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/returning-legends.html#hadoukenchicken), & expert panelists (the Manly Battleships, http://takii.pdnmz.com/guests-performers/returning-legends.html#battleships). "Debuts" & "Legends" alike will be lending their talents towards our "Makenai Concert", which has special significance this season....being performed in the loving memory of TAKII Founder, D-chan's late father & lil brother, John Allen Christopher (7/6/61 - 4/12/14) & Allen Dane Christopher (10/15/87 - 4/3/14). D-chan's mother, Marilyn Christopher, will be presenting an AMV in their honor at the conclusion of the "Makenai Concert" & will be accepting this season's "Project "DATTE"" Award on their behalf. Needless to say, there won't be a dry eye in the house.

Of course, your journey to TAKII 17 ~Densetsu~ wouldn't be complete without our Hardcore Handbook, available NOW (http://takii.pdnmz.com/registration.html#hardcore_handbook)! Everyone is encouraged to print out a copy of the Hardcore Handbook prior to their arrival, as Collectors Editions (for pre-reggers) & standard style versions of this guide would be available at-the-door in limited quantities. Speaking of registrants in general, this season ran out of pre-reg slots by the beginning of June 2014 & projections show our fusion festival, for the 1st time ever, SELLING OUT of #1 Contender's Passes at the door during TAKII 17 weekend! If you didn't pre-reg for a Pass over the last several months, you are suggested to come to The Rotunda as soon as possible to purchase one at the door (for only $15.00, which covers the entire weekend). Our official website & social media outlets will be updated in the event that we do (eventually) sell out (*crosses fingers* ^_^).

Thanks to YOUR support, YOUR energy, & YOUR love, TAKII 17 is on track to become the Greater Philadelphia region's most emotionally charged & successful festival/convention of the year! Keep that TAKII fire burning, minna-san -- we are SO CLOSE to making festival/convention HISTORY once again. See you at The Rotunda this Father's Day weekend for the debut of TAKII 17 ~Densetsu~!!