Making things happen together
We bring together people who want to actively live their passion for anime, manga and Japan. Whoever joins us takes on real responsibility from day one, carried by a team that sticks together.
Association
The association
We are fans who turn their enthusiasm into something for others: a web radio, events for tens of thousands of visitors or close friendships reaching all the way to Japan. Everything is volunteer work, done with heart and with the ambition to create unforgettable experiences.
Our mission
What we burn for.
We live and love Japanese art and pop culture. Our goal is to give anime, manga, J-pop, cosplay and traditional forms of culture a shared stage across the German-speaking countries. For us, cultural exchange and supporting the scene are at the heart of it.
To achieve that, our volunteer team from Berlin organises large events, runs platforms such as AnimeRadio.de and creates spaces for people to meet. As a registered association, one thing drives us above all: to keep strengthening the community and the bridge between Europe and Japan.
How we work
Together, online and with moments that last.
Digitally connected, no pub nights
Our planning, editorial work and tech run entirely digitally, mainly on Discord. We work together from across the German-speaking countries. We meet in person at our events or at information stands, which makes those meetings all the more special.
Moments that last
A concert in the volcano arena, a taiko parade through the Filmpark or a Japanese guest of honour who simply does not want to leave after the farewell dinner: it is exactly these unforgettable moments we work for all year round.
With Japan, not just about Japan
We bring guests of honour to us straight from Japan and maintain our network on the ground in Tokyo. Thanks to Japanese-speaking team members and deep industry knowledge we build real bridges, because we know how both sides tick.
Tobias Weyand interprets the panel of Toshi Aoi (Wistoria: Wand and Sword)
Fireworks over the volcano arena, Anime Messe Babelsberg 2025
MADKID live at the Crunchyroll Shield Hero Special, Anime Messe 2024
Farewell dinner with the guests of honour of Anime Messe Babelsberg 2025
Michael Klement with anime director Nobuyoshi Habara (Sunrise), Anime Messe 2022
Shrine on the matsuri street with Manami
History
On the road since 2003.
It all began in 2003 with a passionate fan community that connected in forums and worked together to establish anime in the German-speaking countries. In 2010 AnimeRadio.de went on air and has been running around the clock ever since.
On 12 October 2014, 20 anime and manga friends founded Anime Kultur e.V. in Berlin to give the community a permanent structure. In the year of its founding, animando started work on the first major documentary about the German anime and manga scene.
2016 saw the first Anime Messe in Berlin. After two editions there it moved to Filmpark Babelsberg, which it turns into a true anime land every summer as Anime Messe Babelsberg. The Anime Festival followed in 2018 and, after its beginnings in Freiburg, found a new stage at the Kongress Palais Kassel from 2023. In between, we delivered MIKU EXPO Digital Stars 2020 in Berlin for Crypton Future Media and brought Shakugan no Shana to Germany with a crowdfunding campaign.
In 2027 a new format starts with Anime on Ice, together with Filmpark Babelsberg. And the bridge to Japan grows a little wider every year.
- 2003A fan community is born
Anime fans connect and actively push the scene forward with first joint projects and passionate exchange.
- 2010AnimeRadio.de goes on air
The internet radio station for Japanese music has been running around the clock ever since.
- 2014Anime Kultur e.V. is founded
On 12 October 2014, 20 anime and manga friends found the association in Berlin. The animando project starts documenting the German scene.
- 2016The first Anime Messe
What is today Anime Messe Babelsberg begins in Berlin.
- 2017Hajime at the Museum for Communication
An anime day in the heart of Berlin, together with the Museum for Communication.
- 2018Anime Festival in Freiburg
The sister event of Anime Messe starts in the south of Germany.
- 2020MIKU EXPO Digital Stars in Berlin
We deliver the event in Berlin for Crypton Future Media, commissioned by a Japanese partner.
- 2021Shakugan no Shana in German
Through a successful crowdfunding campaign we bring the series to Germany with its own German openings.
- 2023Anime Festival in Kassel
The event finds a new home at the Kongress Palais Kassel and brings stars straight from Japan onto the stage.
- 2027Anime on Ice
The first convention visit of the year, together with Filmpark Babelsberg.
Structure
Association and company.
The association is the home of the community and the non-commercial custodian of all projects. It holds the brands, runs the central Anime Kultur Account and decides the direction. It is represented by a board of three, elected by the general meeting.
Large events need contracts, ticket sales, security concepts and a company that carries the commercial risk. That part is handled by AKV Events GmbH as the direct, professional arm of our association. This keeps the community firmly anchored in the association while our projects are delivered safely and on a sound commercial footing.
Board
- Michael Klement
- Abdulkadir Aslan
- Cuong Tran
Documents
Statutes and regulations.
Transparency matters to us. Here you find our statutes in the version of 7 February 2026 and the association's regulations that go with them.
- Statutes of Anime Kultur e.V. (PDF)
- Fee regulation (PDF)
- Activity regulation (PDF)
- Data protection regulation (PDF)
Fancy building something with us?
As a member, in the AKV team or as a helper at an event: there is more than one way to join us.
Ways to get involved