JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK.
One of the most “trick-a-la-ti-doo” aspects of being a pirate (aka TV host and production coordinator in Japan) is that you get to access and film the most incredible youth gatherings. The Australian travel TV show wanted to explore the world of otaku, so Naomi an I set up the perfect outing: Japan Cosplay Festival, the largest annual cosplayer gathering in Tokyo.
Maid costume: Sebastian helped me pick out the skimpiest possible maid outfit in Akihabara.
Makeup: Green eyeshadow on the lids and orange over the top. Fake eyelashes. Pink lips and gloss.
Stripey bat knee socks: from Bodyline (300 yen only!)
Purple sandals: We had a 12 hour shoot with constant walking, so comfort came first!
The shoot began at Don Quixote in Shinjuku. (TV crews can’t just waltz in anywhere and start filming; that’s why you need us pirates to make arrangements in advance!) As their guide, I introduced The Two Tims to the costume display. They tried on masks and decided to splurge on Keroro and Pikachu full-body outfits — even though it was sweltering hot out.
The Japan Cosplay Festival takes place every year at Toshima-en amusement park. Once again, the pirates negotiated the filming permits and fee ahead of time. The TV crews generally are new to Tokyo, so they rely on us to take them from place to place.
I love kigurumi (left). Since they refuse to speak, we communicate by writing on a little white board hung from their necks. Some people think kigurumi (animegao dollars) are disturbing, but I hope my coverage here and on the TV show changes that perception. They’re the sweetest, kindest people you’ll meet.
Most of the cosplayers were in front of the carousel, where they posed for photos and hung out with friends.
The outfits are so intricate and bright. Pop quiz: can you recognize the manga or anime that these youths are cosplaying?
Cosplay means emulating a fantasy character in appearance and role. It’s different from Goth Lolita Punk fashion, which most consider to be a way of life.
However, cosplaying is certainly a youth subculture — and a fascinating one. Participants put much time and money into this pursuit.
We interviewed the young Japanese about when they started cosplaying and what they love best about it. (Arr, we pirates provide translation.)
So cute to see friends bond over their shared love of cosplay, anime, manga and video games.
This scary dog-demon is a coin-operated ride; insert 200 yen and he walks at a glacial pace. Do you remember the time I rode a Panda version of this device in Odaiba?
Have you ever cosplayed, or been to a cosplay event like this one? Which character did you emulate? Deep thoughts on my maid outfit?
Japanese Word of the Day: En ga kireru = Cut off relations. (There comes a time, me hearties, when it be n’ecessary to deliver… the BLACK SPOT upon a buccaneer. Send’im to Davy Jones’ locker!)
Song of the Day: South Park – Somalian Pirates We (Let’s take it from bar 14; all together now: With a yo-ho-ho! And a yee-hee-hee!)
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LA CARMINA
42 Comments
Some friends and I used to Cosplay every weekend, mostly as Visual Kei stars.
I don’t think it’s really my thing anymore but it does look really good when other people do it and do it well :)
One of my friends does very impressive VK cosplays but also grew out of it… but I do love seeing well-executed cosplays.
NHH! <3 I love this, I love cosplaying (I do it frequently). I'm so glad you took these pictures~ I heard that in Japan, when you're at an anime con or something, you aren't allowed outside of the con in cosplay. is that true? ;n;
Nice! Hmm, in this case, there wasn’t a rule like that (although there were MANY rules that we had to follow, in order to shoot inside the festival!) However, many costumes are very cumbersome, so they provide changing rooms.
The Kuroshitsuji cosplays are pretty good, and I think it’s the first time I’ve seen a Karneval cosplay!
Love it all. ♥
Why is it the only people i know who have worn skimpier maid costumes are men?
And why don’t I have one of my own O_o?
Why indeed? V__V
Is that a why do I know men who wear skimpy maids outfits or a why don’t I own one? XD
You’re the best, I hope this really takes off for you!
Love the photos!
I can only name about half of the cosplayed character.
I’d love to try cosplay sometime but I can’t decide which character to be my cosplay debute.lol. The top 3 of my list lately is Hatsune Miku(Vocaloid character),Kinomoto Sakura,Amano ichigo(from the manga Yumeiro Patissiere). I change my list all the time.
xoxo
It’s so much fun… go for it! <3
I’ve been cosplaying for two or three years and in the planning stages of two costumes; I’m trying to branch out and try to make steampunk and VK looks
Which VK musician are you thinking of cosplaying? That would be awesome
It depends. Someone from AN Cafe be awesome.
asians have got it too good.
I love it.
FUN !!!!
¡ Sugoiiiiiii , are unique, wonderful and authentic
I’m your faithful follower of the country of Peru !
Wow! what fun… =) I love cosplayers and any kind of thing that makes life more cartoon-esque.
[tlr]
hehe yes, I agree 100%
absolutely love to cosplay! haha i somehow forced my school to let us wear costumes for halloween so i get to cosplay :) u got some great pics of great cosplay too. and ur maids outfit reminds me of “he is my master”
It was the perfect place to take photos… so much to see, and rollercoasters everywhere!
I’ve never tired cosplaying before. Though – I really really ought to. I wonder who’d I cosplay as? Oh yes it would most likely be my avatar: Ban CHAN! (Midou Ban from Get Backers). Though to be him I gotta grow out my hair a little more, and god damn it why does everyone go beyond the point of pressure to tell me to cut it. It’s getting annoying – SCREW THEM! >_<
Kimuguri truly are the sweetest beings alive. OH I would love to hug them and never let go! The only reason I think people get a bit freaked out is of course the mask. You know the Burger King guy?! How scared would you be if you woke up and saw him in your bed? I mean hell you'd be pretty scared if any stranger was on your bed when you woke up – but I mean his mask is just damn creepy. – Which has a lot to do with psychology basically. We see someone hide their face, we get so suspicious of them – we're not sure what they really are saying. We see so much through body language.
And no – I don't know the anime. I haven't seen some anime series in a while. Right now I'm catching up on all the big time anime films I've missed: Akira, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away (yes…I missed Spirited Away when I was young…and I shouldn't HAVE!), Millenium Actress, and Paprika.
And regarding your maid outfit – ^O^, would you care to serve me, I may not have such a big wallet, but I think I have quite a big heart! ^_^
But please don't go all Miike-Audition on me, if you do at least warn me so I can have some random friend of mine walk in the room and ask whether i'm "alright?" seeing that I have one leg cut off and needles under my eyelids and stomach.
Kiri-kiri-kiri… haha!
I have the Visitor Q DVD from the library; I hear it’s very experimental and strange…
Spirited Away is one of my favorite films, ever. It resonates with me in so many ways…
OH BOY! Visitor Q – now that…THAT…will definitely make you wonder “What the hell is this? And what the hell is this all about?” – at first. But at the very end it all comes together wonderfully and the meaning is quite clear.
It’s so messed up BUT SO AWESOME LOL!
Yey! There’s I can spot two different Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) cosplays! But where is Sebastian??? :(((
At the vegan festival… haha just keeding!
Ooops typo. But I’m sure you get the jist. Amazing, La Carmina, that must have been heaps of fun!
Those pics really remind me of cons back home. ^^
It’s funny that your outfit is skimpy but still covers up certain areas.(by that I mean butt and boobage.)
Yeah, those areas are *kinshi* haha
such a look you have!
I once wanted to cosplay Kiryuu Zero or Kiryuu Ichiru from Vampire Knight. To dye my hair silverish blue and maybe add a red cord with a bell in my hair. But then I found out about the price of the costume T_T
It’s an expensive pursuit, if done well, that’s for sure…
Never cosplayed before!
On the maid outfit.. socks/shoes don’t really match :x
Costumes are beautiful!!!! xD
That looks like a ton of fun
Loved the Southern Belle look!
AHHHHH the Madam Red cosplay is so gooood!!!! So is Ciel in a dress! <3
But where did Sebastian go?
Love your blog Carmina :D
Sebastien… I swept him away muahah! <3
Nice blog post, thanks for sharing this. We are also the Japan based cosplay costume manufacturers.
I know that this is really old, but is this an annual ordeal?