The Anime Contents Expo (ACE) will be held for the first time on 31st March and 1st April 2012, at Makuhari Messe in nearby Chiba prefecture — a mere thirty minute train ride away from central Tokyo.

The expo — a rival event of the longer-established Tokyo International Anime Fair, was established amidst controversy surrounding the TAF censorship of animated material aimed at adults. ACE was supposed to debut in March of 2011, but the event was postponed in light of the natural disasters that struck the country at that time.

ACE features an impressive lineup of exhibitors (many of whom had pulled out of TAF over the censorship controversy) that include: ASCII, Aniplex, Animate, Enterbrain, Kadokawa Shoten, Good Smile Company, Cospa, Star Child, Nito +, Nico Nico Douga, and Bandai Namco.

Some of the titles on showcase at the event include: The Idolm@ster, Ao no Exorcist, AnoHana, Gintama, Steins:Gate, Naruto, Fate Zero, Bleach, Blood C, P4 the Animation, Nanoha, and Rurouni Kenshin

Tickets will be available starting 2nd February 2012. For more information, visit the official site at animecontentsexpo.jp.