Sonic boss Takashi Iizuka is heading to Anime Expo 2026

Sega's Creative Officer of Sonic, Takashi Iizuka, is attending Anime Expo 2026 as a Guest of Honor. The convention organizers announced a slate of five new guests from Sega and Atlus, with Iizuka headlining the group alongside Persona veterans Kazuhisa Wada and Shigenori Soejima.

Attendees can meet Iizuka during an autograph session scheduled for Friday, July 3 at 10:00 AM in the JW Gold Ballroom. According to SEGAbits, the signing block runs for an hour and a half, which will likely require moving through the queue at blast processing speeds.

From Sonic 3 to the box office

Iizuka has been attached to the Sonic franchise for over 30 years. His tenure started with level design work on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994, where he helped craft the expansive, multi-tiered stages that defined the Genesis era's peak. After Sega shifted focus to the Sega Saturn, he directed NiGHTS into dreams before taking the reins on the hedgehog's transition to 3D. As a core member of Sonic Team USA, he directed both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 for the Dreamcast, establishing the gameplay template that would carry the series through the 2000s.

He is also the original creator of Shadow the Hedgehog. That character has become a massive pillar of Sega's current multimedia strategy, headlining recent games and taking a central role in the Paramount film franchise. Iizuka's role has expanded far beyond level design and game direction over the last decade. He now oversees the broader business side of the property. His current responsibilities involve ensuring each new entry brings something fresh to the table while keeping the core identity intact. He manages everything from classic throwbacks like Sonic Mania to the live-action cinematic universe.

The Atlus RPG contingent

The Anime Expo guest list leans heavily into Atlus properties as well. Kazuhisa Wada, the General Producer for the Persona Team, joins Iizuka on the roster. Wada has been shaping the RPG series for years. He started as a designer on Persona 2: Innocent Sin and eventually directed spin-offs like the Persona 4 Arena fighting games and the Persona dancing titles. He stepped into the General Producer role following the departure of Katsura Hashino, who moved on to direct Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Shigenori Soejima is also on the schedule. As the character designer and art director responsible for the distinct visual style of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, his work has defined the modern look of the series. His sharp, stylized character portraits and UI designs are instantly recognizable. His art books are frequent bestsellers among fans of Japanese role-playing games, and his autograph lines at conventions tend to cap out extremely quickly.

Rounding out the newly announced group are Atsushi Nomura and Yoshiyuki Asai. Sega and Atlus usually maintain a large presence at Anime Expo. The companies often use the event to showcase upcoming localizations, sell exclusive merchandise, or host panels with Japanese developers. The convention takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center over the first weekend of July and draws over 100,000 attendees annually.