lifestyle

Cosplayers get set for world summit

19 Comments
By Erika Aragon

One of Japan's growing exports to the rest of the world is cosplay. The increase in the popularity of cosplay has prompted the need for a word to describe the people who participate in this hobby -- “kosupureya” or cosplayers, whose passion is gradually becoming a staple of Japanese pop culture.

Cosplayers can be found throughout Japan and countries around the world. Recently, cosplayers in Brazil, China, Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, U.S., Korea, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand competed to select competitors for the Cosplay Championship to be held in Nagoya on Aug 3. Members of the cosplay community around the world, and especially Japan, are developing this hobby into a larger subculture in japan.

Cosplayers are not simply people in costume parading the streets. Many cosplayers devote time to make their own original costumes and spend time searching for the perfect additions to their cosplay wardrobes. Costumes, wigs, make-up, accessories and more are required to compose a full cosplay ensemble.

Some of these talents are self-taught, but cosplay schools can now be found in Japan. Students of these schools learn costume design, make-up and hair styling, as well as how to take sit for professional photographs. Students can spend from half a year to a full year studying at these schools to learn the basics of cosplay.

Not only does preparation and costume matter in cosplay, but cosplayers have hang-out spots throughout Tokyo and other major cities. Cosplayers are found on the sidewalks of Yoyogi park on the weekends in full costume and usually ready to pose for photographers that pass through. Although cosplayers can be found on the streets, there are also less public areas where they hang out. The "otaku" culture is prevalent in Akihabara; maid cafes and the ladies that advertise for the various cafes near that station are proof that cosplay is widespread in Akihabara.

Although cosplay may seem like a separate community in Japan, there are ways for people interested in cosplay to get involved. One way is to participate as an observer in Yoyogi Park, Akihabara or even at the cosplay championship. This year, H.I.S. Experience Japan is offering a tour through a cosplay school in Tokyo, to hidden "otaku" hang-outs in Akihabara and to the cosplay parade and championship in Nagoya.

For 98,000 yen, participants can explore cosplay in Tokyo and Nagoya. The H.I.S. Experience Japan Cosplay Tour includes accommodation for six nights (4 in Tokyo, 2 in Nagoya), round-trip Shinkansen tickets (Tokyo-Nagoya), breakfast for 6 days, Cosplay school fee, Akihabara otaku tour fee, tour conductor, and English-speaking certified tour guide for the Akihabara tour and all taxes.

For more information about this tour, visit http://hisexperience.jp/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=898&Itemid=14.

© Japan Today

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19 Comments
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Cosplay. It promotes Japanese women as having the maturity of 11-year-olds, and Japanese men as sexual devients. Yup, I'd be plenty proud of this silliness.

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This is nothing new. In the 1980s you could go to Yoyogi Park any Sunday and it was like a Halloween party. Japanese have great fantasy lives. They're a nation of Walter Mittys.

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I hate these people like poison

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The same company mentioned in the article are advertising on the site at the same time.

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I try to keep it to the bedroom personally, and the costumes not worn by me... hahaha. Of course, those are the more traditional 'costumes'; no sailor moon crap.

The whole cosplay thing is pretty funny, and somewhat interesting, and there's nothing all that crazy about this. I mean, we have zombie marches in Canada and in other countries, where people get all decked out in ragged clothes and make up, etc.

It's odd, but let them have fun.

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Even as a teenager I never had time for this much fun. My life is all busy-ness and work. It's actually MY fantasy to have such leisure time!

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Why are Japanese so fascinated with remaining child like?

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medievaltimes...yeah how about all the trekis and starwars people from the west and Japanese style cosplayers in the west. And most cosplayers are childern in Japan atlest around 20 years old and under...so maybe think about that.

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It's harmless escapism and a great outlet for creativity. It beats the hell out of boredom, too many drugs, or getting into fights...

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Tim Fox, that's exactly what I tell myself about livin' my life out here at the JT Olympics.

I don't mean to brag but the US invented Cosplay on Castro Street in San Francisco in the early 1940's.

USAR

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They're a nation of Walter Mittys

I would go a step further. Walter Mitty imagined himself as everything from doctor to spy, but Cosplayers fixate on one particular figure from someone ELSE's fantasy.

Even Trekkies and Ren.Fair types usually try to come up with their own names and identities. With the exception of the Ren. Fair girls who call themselves Guinevere. they made me roll my eyes when I saw them... they are probably Cos-Players now.

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supuncho - I suppose every culture has some people that are child like. Japan just seems to have a lot more of them. "Amae" is quite common in Japan, I just want to know why.

My question wasnt meant as a slam against Japan. Im curious and would like some insight from other posters....so Ill ask the question again.

Why are Japanese so fascinated with remaining child like?

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I don't get it. Not the cosplay. The big deal people make about it. People have been dressing up in costumes since the 15th century in Europe. i.e. Masquerade, Carnival, etc. I don't view it as childlike per se. It's just something people do.

If I had to choose between being in a place full of Japanese Cosplayers all dressed up, or western football fans all dressed up, I'll take the Cosplayers.

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medievaltimes if we are just talking about cosplay (since this story is aobut it) I say the west is more child like if we take that point of view. Why? first there are way more trekis and starwars cosplayers in the west comapared to those Japanese style cospalyers and not only that most of their average age seems to be 40 years old plus (I assume and come to this conclusion from small clips i have seen of them)where as the Japanese average age seems to be 20 years or younger. So again I disagree that the Japanese are more child like and that they are more of them (at least just from cosplaying). Also there are alot of halloween parties where people dress up and sometimes even newyears parties in the west.

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supuncho - you said there are "way more trekis and star wars cosplayers in the west compared to those of Japanese style cosplayers"

Couldnt disagree more. Back home when I see someone in a Darth Vader costume it is when they are A) At a costume party B) At a Star Wars convention or C) A child

Conversely, in Japan about twice a month I see a grown adult wearing a costume out in public for no apparent reason. My guess is its an attempt at escapism and living through fantasy (something most kids enjoy doing on a frequent basis). Most western adults do this (if at all) on the odd occasion like Halloween parties etc. In Japan it seems to be more hard wired into thier identity and sense of self. And by the way, which is more child like, Vader or Pikachu?

I dont know if you live in Japan or how long you have lived there. Japan has several positive traits that the west could learn from. But maturity, interpersonal relations and basic social skills are not Japans strong point. I have met a large number of adults in their 20's that dont have to pay bills, cook, clean or deal with failure. Sure this happens in the west, but as I said before it happens a great deal more in Japan.

These are not just observations I have made myself, but have also been reinforced by many Japanese themselves, especially the ones that have lived in the west and can compare.

For better or for worse, "AMAE" is a part of the fabric of Japanese society.

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I would agree that cosplayers can sometime be ridiculous and here in the states you get people well, that shouldn't be wearing female animation character outfits but people do it. Some guys even do too. It's fun to people watch. My friend and I decided we should get yellow referee flags and a whistle and flag those that well "shouldn't be wearing that outfit." Theres a lot of craziness goes on from promiscuity to peoples maturity level dropping by 50%. However, this goes on only during conventions like the above poster mentioned and not during so called normal days. Either these people are in highschool, college, or have professional jobs. I have noticed while in Japan that every once and a whiel I will notice someone dressed up like a cosplayer. I wonder if there is anything going on and I find out that there isn't.

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H.I.S Experience Japans tour http://hisexperience.jp/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=898&Itemid=14. sounds so good. It is a bit pricy but it seems worth it, and without hotels in Tokyo the price drops to 78,000yen. anyone intending to attend the tour? seems like a chance for seasoned cosplayers and closet cosplayers

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I hate to tell you...Cosplay is spreading! There is a horrible gaggle of them in Sydney city. Overweight Australian girls in cosplay outfits are not a good sight. And sometimes it is hard to tell whether they are cosplayers, or just goth/emo (since costume level has not reached the quality of those in Harajuku etc)

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H.I.S Experience Japans tour http://hisexperience.jp/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=898&Itemid=14. sounds so good. It is a bit pricy but it seems worth it, and without hotels in Tokyo the price drops to 78,000yen. anyone intending to attend the tour? seems like a chance for seasoned cosplayers and closet cosplayers

he's a shill!

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