Participants of the World Cosplay Summit 2008 pose with Vice Foreign Minister Itsunori Onodera at his office in Tokyo.

Gov't gives foreign cosplayers official welcome

Thursday 31st July, 06:18 AM JST

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mountaineerone at 12:21 PM JST - 31st July

I think you need to realize that more money is spent on halloween these days for adults than for kids and we passed that threshold in the states many years ago. Anime and manga is a tremendous export from Japan now. So much so now that.. hey look at this article!! They are giving these cosplayers from around the world a state welcome. That is NOT by accident. And the money involved drowns out nay sayers. Go to one of the 120 anime conventions across the United States alone and realize that there are conventions on nearly every continent. Cosplay is a creative outlet. And if anime and manga gets people to learn the Japanese language and certain cultural items to better understand what they are reading and hearing, that is NOT a bad thing. Those people in that picture, they are having the time of their life this week.
Zen_Builder at 12:27 PM JST - 31st July

I am with mountaineerone.

It is a good thing I follow the trends both in Japan, USA, and Europe and that is not just anime, etc.

Same way more koreans/chinese/etc and japanese interact now and exchange views/culture and it is good. Just the politicos want to wish it away.

If you view the politics vs the views on the ground you will get a totally different picture.

Like I said Japan is a BIG seller now. Might not agree with that the image sold is accurate, but it works as did the "American Dream".
delitachan at 12:35 PM JST - 31st July

Haha...well go on to my university where 90 percent of the students entered in Japanese class are big anime fans. They lose interest rather quick and the class size reduces to about 8 (last I enrolled, Japanese Level 2, there was only 3 of us). A friend of mine runs a Japanese club at the high school (he's a teacher) and he says he had 50% of them drop out after they learned they wouldn't be watching anime but instead learning about the culture and language. And a BIT of anime. I'm not saying they SHOULDN"T do it or that anime is VERY VERY WRONG. My point was that anime fans generally aren't very serious about the culture and language. They believe that Japan is strictly all about anime and it's sad because Japan has much more to offer. :(. I hope they discover all that when touring Japan. Well we're in agreement in one thing, they're having fun. I wouldn't spend hundreds of dollars on a costume though...
Zen_Builder at 12:45 PM JST - 31st July

Delitachan.

I am sorta an Otaku(like the stuff just not too heavily into it). My wife used to work as an animator/manga-ka for most of her life. Some of her seniors from school are big names now, met them and many other guys in the industry. So I got a fair view into the industry.

And I have seen the best and the worst of the industry after coming to japan. Same way I am into resin kits and KNOW that 95+% of the japanese kits available in the west are pirated/copies same as with most anime goods.

But that is their game, some guys spend tons of cash on getting a hot-rod, improve their golf-game, etc.

Would I dress up myself, no way but I understand the guys/gals same as the trekkies and harry potter fans.
delitachan at 12:53 PM JST - 31st July

Of course, as I stated earlier, it's thier deal, thier money. That doesn't mean I can't state my opinion on what I think about it :P

Most of my Jfriends over there live in Tokyo and all of em pretty much don't like the otakus a lot :P. My boyfriend loves foreigners, but he wishes that they'd enjoy Japan for other things than anime.

I wouldn't compare it to hotrods though because in the end, a hotrod has more use/value than a costume.
Azrael at 03:16 PM JST - 31st July

Why is the photo so small? I'd like a larger photo n.n;.
dennis0bauer at 03:21 PM JST - 31st July

Useless hobby which cannot benefit the hobbyist

Most hobbies are useless, it is the enjoyment what counts not its usefullness to society.

Like collecting stamps or trainspotting.

There is this unwritten law that you have to stop these "childish" hobbies when you grow up, and become one of many in the working force.

Although i rather see a girl in a cosplay outfit then a 22 year old male guy :p
thepro at 03:29 PM JST - 31st July

Ever try to have a conversation with one of the cosplayers? Strange, strange people.
Zen_Builder at 03:32 PM JST - 31st July

Thepro.

Yes, I had and just as interesting as talking to an EMO, Goth, Punk, Rocker, etc.

So what is your point.
Zen_Builder at 04:14 PM JST - 31st July

My point is they are people like you and me. Neither better nor worse.
kinniku at 10:13 PM JST - 31st July

Zen Builder,

I agree. As long as they aren't hurting anyone, why should it be a problem?
usaexpat at 11:43 PM JST - 31st July

Welcome geeky gaijin we hope you'l make friends with some otaku while you're in Japan.
motytrah at 02:54 AM JST - 1st August

And these guys are different from Sports Fans who dress up how?
delitachan at 10:20 AM JST - 1st August

Question, how do a lot of Japanese natives feel about this? I'm guessing the teenage crowd likes it. My Jfriends are over 30 and they call the otakus "idiots" but I'm curious about what the younger generation thinks :P
Zen_Builder at 10:22 AM JST - 1st August

I would say most japanese don't even know about it nor would they care if they did.