Kamome Shirahama at Anime Expo

Anime Expo has added Kamome Shirahama, the creator of *Witch Hat Atelier*, to its 2026 guest lineup for the Los Angeles convention in July. (anime-expo.org) Anime Expo lists Shirahama as an official guest for the July 2-5, 2026 event at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The convention’s main site says Anime Expo 2026 runs four days in downtown Los Angeles. (anime-expo.org 1) (anime-expo.org 2) The announcement came as Kodansha said Shirahama will also appear at its Los Angeles “Kodansha House” pop-up in Little Tokyo from July 2-12. Kodansha said she will have separate panels and signing events at Anime Expo, with attendance details still to come. (anime-expo.org) Shirahama arrives at the convention with a larger audience than she had a year ago. The official *Witch Hat Atelier* anime site says the television adaptation began airing on April 6, 2026, and Anime Expo’s guest page says the manga “inspired the hit anime in 2026.” (tongari-anime.com) (anime-expo.org) Her convention profile ties that attention to awards that helped make the series a fixture in English-language manga circles. Anime Expo says *Witch Hat Atelier* won the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia and the Harvey Award for Best Manga. (anime-expo.org) Kodansha’s 2020 announcement says *Witch Hat Atelier* won the Eisner that year, and coverage of the 2025 Harvey Awards says the series won Best Manga again last October. That gives Shirahama a guest profile that spans both manga awards and a current anime broadcast. (kodansha.us) (crunchyroll.com) Anime Expo’s guest page also notes Shirahama graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts and lives in Tokyo. Outside *Witch Hat Atelier*, she is also known for illustration work tied to Marvel, DC, and *Star Wars*, according to biographical listings. (anime-expo.org) (en.wikipedia.org) For Anime Expo attendees, the practical takeaway is simple: Shirahama is now on the official guest roster, and the convention and Kodansha have both said panel and signing logistics will be announced later. (anime-expo.org 1) (anime-expo.org 2)