Makuhari Messe (幕張メッセ?) is a Japanese convention center outside Tokyo, located in the Mihama-ku ward of Chiba city, in the northwest corner of Chiba prefecture. Designed by Fumihiko Maki, it is easily accessible by Tokyo's commuter rail system. Makuhari is the name of the area, and Messe is a German word meaning "trade fair".
The convention center opened on October 9, 1989. It hosts many high-technology events.
Makuhari Messe is conveniently close to Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, and to Chiba prefecture's black sand beaches. It is easily accessible from Kaihin-Makuhari station on the Keiyō Line of East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The center is the host of the annual Tokyo Auto Salon (modified car show, in January), the biennial Tokyo Motor Show (in October), the annual Tokyo Game Show (video game hardware and software exhibition, in September), and the annual Jump Festa (manga, anime, and video game exposition, in December). The venue was noted in 2005 for hosting the first round of the Live8 concert. Event information, access details, and other information can be found in English at the official site.
On 1 July 2005, the company that owns the convention center changed its name from "Nippon Convention Center" to "Makuhari Messe".
The "Jack in the Box 2009 Summer" convention was held here on August 15, 2009, where numerous well-known acts performed, including the reunion performance of influential metal band Dead End.
The center also hosted the Magic: The Gathering World Championship in 2010.
It was scheduled to host the Anime Contents Expo, hosted by the Comic-10 Shakai in March 2011 to counter the Tokyo International Anime Fair as part of their boycott of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government under Governor Shintarō Ishihara, but both events were cancelled after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The first Anime Contents Expo was held on March 31 and on April 1, 2012, and was visited by 42000 people. The next one is scheduled for March 30 and March 31, 2013.
The heavy metal annual festival tour Ozzfest will take place here on May 11-12, 2013. This will be the festival's first appearance in Japan.