Photos and videos of costumed attendees selling “fresh feet juice” outside FanimeCon in downtown San Jose went viral this week, turning an unofficial late-night anime gathering into one of the stranger post-Memorial Day stories on the internet.
The stunt appears to have taken place during Park Con, an informal outdoor gathering that draws FanimeCon attendees and other cosplayers to downtown San Jose after the convention’s official programming wraps for the day.
Several videos appear to show alcohol involved, including what is described in the footage as vodka “feet shots” and Everclear being used to rinse or sanitize feet.
FanimeCon, which ran Friday-Monday, May 22-25, is billed by organizers as Northern California’s largest anime convention. The annual event brings thousands of fans to downtown San Jose for cosplay, panels, gaming, artist booths and performances.
The “feet juice” images spread quickly on social media and were picked up by gaming and oddity websites, where commenters seemed torn between revulsion, disbelief and grudging respect for the hustle.
According to comments from fans who said they were there, the drinks sold out in less than an hour.
Still, several basic questions remain unanswered: Who organized the sale? What exactly was served? How many people bought it? And did anyone involved have food, vending or alcohol-related permits?
The episode also raises a practical question: Was this legal?
San Jose says outdoor food vending is regulated by both the city and the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. The county says organizers of public events where food is served generally need temporary food facility permits, and that selling food or beverages without a valid environmental health permit can result in immediate closure, possible fines or a misdemeanor citation.
It was not immediately clear whether county health inspectors were aware of the “feet juice” sale or whether the activity met the county’s definition of a food facility. There was no public record Wednesday, May 27, showing enforcement action tied to the viral incident.
FanimeCon’s own code of conduct applies to people with badges or those invited into the Convention Center, South Hall and San Jose Civic. The viral photos appear to have been taken outside those official spaces.