'Man at Arms' Hosts to Return to Otakon

Baltimore, MD (July 15, 2016) – The master craftsmen behind the hit YouTube series "Man at Arms: Reforged," Matt Stagmer and Ilya Alekseyev, will return to Otakon this year, according to Otakorp Inc.

Stagmer, a bladesmith, has been making swords for 17 years. He is the lead blade grinder at Baltimore Knife and Sword. In the summer of 2014 he began hosting the hit web series "Man At Arms: Reforged." Teamed with other talented craftsmen, he brings to life the most requested fantasy arms and armor from viewers' favorite video games, anime, and other pop culture genres.

Alekseyev was born in Troitsk, Russia. Since an early age he developed a liking for the art and craftsmanship of bladed weapons. He likes to bring his background in art history, Asian studies and philosophy into his craft. He is currently an armourer working with Baltimore Knife and Sword, as well as one of the product designers. Among the skills that he brings to the "Man at Arms" project are his expertise in armor, Damascus steel, bloomery steel, and engraving.

Otakon 2016 will be held August 12-14 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD.

ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its twenty-third year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 34,000 people for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 100,000 turnstile attendees). Otakon is a membership based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.

For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see http://www.otakon.com/otakorp/index.asp
For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2015, see http://www.otakon.com/