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Kemono Square is a smaller Japanese furry event based in Shizuoka, Japan. It is not trying to be JMoF-sized. The draw here is a lighter, regional single-day format that still has enough recurrence to show up in serious convention tracking.
Kemono Square wrapped its tenth edition on June 20, 2026 at Granship in Shizuoka, and no date has been published yet for the next one. Since the event's 2023 revival it has returned every year in late May or June, so a 2027 edition (KS11) is the expected pattern, but until the organizers post it, treat the next date as to be announced.
If you are planning ahead, Kemono Square is a compact, single-day regional stop rather than a JMoF-sized convention. The draw is a lighter plaza format with enough recurrence to show up in serious convention tracking, and a location distinct from Japan's larger hotel and resort conventions. Attendance has climbed from 245 at KS8 in 2024 to a record 358 at KS9 in 2025, so it is clearly larger than a casual furmeet while staying small and local in feel.
The most practical route is via the Tokaido Shinkansen to Shizuoka Station, which takes about 1 hour from Tokyo or 2 hours from Shin-Osaka. From Shizuoka Station, take the JR Tokaido Main Line one stop east to Higashi-Shizuoka Station, and Granship is a 3-minute walk from there. Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport (FSZ) also serves the area, with buses connecting to Shizuoka Station in about 55 minutes.
Curated stays near Granship Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
Since this is a single-day event, many attendees make a day trip from Tokyo via Shinkansen. If you want to stay overnight, Shizuoka Station has several business hotels within walking distance, including chains like Toyoko Inn and Hotel Associa Shizuoka. The area around the station offers good dining options and is only one train stop from the venue.
Kemono Square 10 was held at Granship Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center (6F Exchange Hall) on June 20, 2026, running 10:00 to 19:00. Tickets sold through Peatix on a four-tier ladder: General ¥3,000, Character (fursuit) ¥5,000, Sponsor+General ¥8,000, and Sponsor+Character ¥10,000, with the sponsor tiers adding photo-studio priority and a front-row spot in the official group photo. The organizers had not published an official attendance figure at the time of writing.
Kemono Square 9 took place at Granship Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center on May 31, 2025, drawing a record 358 attendees and using an outdoor plaza area for the first time in the event's history (rain limited its use). Special guest was Roki of Yamainu Cafe, who ran coffee service. The one-day event kept its focus on kemono culture and local creator interactions.
Kemono Square 8 ran at Granship's 6F Exchange Hall on May 11, 2024, with 245 attendees. The edition marked the return of the after-dinner segment after a multi-year gap.
Historical data and growth track record
See how this convention grew over time.
| Year | Dates | Theme | Attendance | Charity Raised | Guest(s) of Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2027 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | None Announced |
2026 | Jun 20-20 | TBA | TBA | TBA | None Announced |
2025 | May 31-31 | TBA | 358 | TBA | Roki (Yamainu Café) |
2024 | May 11-11 | TBA | 245 | TBA | None Announced |
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3 quirks & policies that don't fit the highlights grid.
Four-tier photo-centric sponsor ladder via Peatix
Kemono Square 10 sells four tiers through Peatix: General ¥3,000, Character (fursuit) ¥5,000, Sponsor+General ¥8,000, and Sponsor+Character ¥10,000. What makes the ladder distinctive among single-day Japanese events is that the sponsor uplift buys photography access rather than the usual swag-bag bundle, sponsors get a priority shooting slot in the on-site photo studio, a guaranteed front-row position in the 15:30 official group photo, name listing on-site and on the official website (芳名掲載), and exclusive sponsor goods. Registration also runs on dated phased gates: staff April 5, sponsors April 12, all tiers April 19, with sales closing June 10. That makes the sponsor tier a real priority gate, not just a marketing label.
Themed-table activity grid as the floor format
Since Kemono Square 5 (2016) the floor plan has been built around per-table activities, a mahjong table, a DJ booth, a darts station, video-game stations, a photo booth, and a kigurumi character roster zone, rather than a Western programming track with panels and a main stage. KS3 (2014) was the first edition that "enabled sound activities and greater creative freedom" after a venue change to the 6F Exchange Hall, and KS5 codified the themed-table grid that every subsequent edition has reused. This is the structural distinctive that separates Kemono Square from the Kemoket and Furrymosa doujinshi-fair model (where vendor circles dominate the floor) and from JMoF-scale conventions (where panel tracks dominate the schedule).
¥1,000 gift exchange with minor-safe rules at 17:30
Every recent edition has run a recurring 17:30 gift exchange (プレゼント交換) as one of the day's scheduled set-pieces. The rules are published and concrete: each attendee brings one wrapped item with a hard ¥1,000 cap, and alcohol, tobacco, and adult-themed items are explicitly banned because minors attend Kemono Square. The minor-safe framing is also why the surviving event sits inside the all-ages plaza identity rather than following the 2019 Hashimoto Lounge spin-offs the same organizers ran as 18+ adult bar nights. Confirmed for KS8 (2024), KS9 (2025), and KS10 (2026).
