Asia’s largest international fan-built LEGO event reached new heights on July 5–6, 2025, as the 10th Japan Brickfest celebrated ten years of creativity, culture, and community. The milestone festival gathered more than 450 builders and fans from around the globe for a weekend of amazing LEGO creations, live music, taiko drumming, hands-on activities, and family-friendly fun—a fitting tribute to a decade of bringing builders together.
Builders, attendees, and volunteers of JBF 2025. Photo from Edwin Knight.
From a Gym to a Convention Center
What began in 2015 as a small gathering in half a gymnasium and a theater has, over a decade, grown into a highly anticipated LEGO fan event. Founded by Edwin and Miki Knight, Sim Cook, and the Kansai LEGO Users Group, the festival gained official recognition as a LEGO Hub Event in 2017, cementing its place on the global LEGO calendar. By 2025, Japan Brickfest was not only an ANE exhibition but a destination for AFOLs around the world.
This year’s festival featured a wide variety of MOCs. Attendees wandered through displays of intricate mechs, dioramas of bustling cityscapes and serene natural landscapes, and life-like sculptures of animals and flowers. Pop culture fans delighted in creations based on Pokémon, Demon Slayer, and Disney (among others), as well as intricate mosaics, custom vehicles, and brick-built everyday items.
Here are just a few of the MOCs on display:
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Photo gallery of JBF 2025 Exhibits courtesy of Jun Heng Wong.
Kobe Module City
One of the highlights of Japan Brickfest 2025 was the Kobe Module City project, created to commemorate the festival’s tenth anniversary. A collaboration among 37 builders and multiple LEGO groups, the exhibit recreated Kobe’s unique landscape including its scenic seaside harbor and mountain vistas. Landmarks, monuments, and neighborhoods were reimagined in minifigure scale.
Kobe City in Bricks. Photo by Jun Heng Wong.
Cultural Experiences
Beyond the intricate displays, Japan Brickfest embraced the spirit of festival culture. The loud beats of some Kojyoen Wadaiko drummers set the pulse of the event, complemented by Ofurosso’s Latin-inspired melodies that filled the halls with warmth and energy. Other activities at Japan Brickfest included hands-on building stations and workshops, a flea market for rare LEGO pieces, stop motion movies, and a LEGO pop-up Store. Add to that a diverse range of food stalls offering both local Japanese and international fare and the event felt more like a global community event rather than only a local EGO one.
“Kojyoen” Wadaiko drummers at JBF 2025. Video by Jun Heng Wong.
This year also introduced a new aspect: fashion. Visitors could rent yukata to immerse themselves in Japanese summer festival culture, while the debut Wearable LEGO Art Competition invited builders to create something they could wear, as seen in the photo below.
LEGO as wearable art! photo by nathan bryan.
A Decade for Japan Brickfest
When I asked what’s next for Japan Brickfest, co-founder Edwin Knight said, “Only time will tell. We created the largest LEGO fan event in Asia for the past 10 years, and I am proud of my team and volunteers as well as appreciate all the AFOL who have participated over the years.”
JBF swag — always one of the best things about jbf!
Looking back on this year’s milestone, Knight also shared what stood out most to him: “The most memorable experience for JBF 2025 was that so many friends made it out here to Japan to celebrate with us, and all the thanks and kind words from everyone.”
After ten years, Japan Brickfest has grown into a welcoming place for builders to share their work, meet new friends, and enjoy a bit of Japanese summer festival culture along the way. Whether you came for the MOCs, the music, or just to connect with fellow fans, JBF 2025 was a reminder of how fun it is when the LEGO community comes together, not matter the location.
Is Japan Brickfest on your bucket list? Tell us below what you’d like to see and experience at JBF!
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