Nan Desu Kan?
Nan Desu Kan (a Japanese pun translating loosely to ‘what is it?’) began its life in 1997 at the Tivoli Student Union as a small, fan-run convention with about 200 attendees.
These days, several hotels (currently the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center) and over 20 years later, NDK is still a fan-run convention, sponsored by the RMAA. And with a total weekend attendance around 30,000 (over 9,000 people per day), it’s now the largest anime convention in Colorado and 14 surrounding states (excluding Texas).
Since 2000, NDK has featured a charity auction with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to a select organization. In 2011, the RMAA held a special one-day event for Japanese disaster relief and matched all funds raised dollar-for-dollar. NDK’s Rave2Save Japan raised $13,440 (included matched funds).
More than $100,000 has been donated to previous worthy recipients: the Japan America Society of Colorado, American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Diabetes Association, Child’s Play, the United Way Gulf Recovery Fund, Japanese Red Cross, We Heart Japan/JCIE, Stomp out Bullying, Colorado FIRST, Denver Dumb Friends League, and Canine Companions for Independence.
The RMAA also sponsors NDK NYE, the New Year’s Eve Costume Ball. NDK NYE (at the Denver Marriott South) features a fusion of Japanese cultural activities and refined anime cosplay elegance in an all-ages atmosphere, a variety of music by NDK’s own DJ Jeremy, door prizes, charity casino and other games, and a balloon drop at midnight.