This is a Japanese sub-culture to act of dressing up in costume as favorite anime/manga/game characters. Those fans often make their costumes themselves. Cosplay is very popular and it is a practice, especially at anime conventions.
In Japan, cosplay as a hobby is typically an end unto itself. Like-minded people gather to see others’ cosplayer costume, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, contact lenses, wigs and take lots of pictures. In some cases, just to participate in cosplay contests.
Cosplay competitions held at conventions (or they say it as short “con”) allow cosplayers to dress up as their favorite characters, pose for pictures and win fabulous prizes. Hardcore fans can treat cosplay very seriously, sometimes spending months making their costumes. In Japan Cosplay Cafés are the common place- where the staff (and occasionally the visitors) dressed up as anime and manga characters – are quite popular too, and many merchandise companies have twigged that making replica costumes and accessories for cosplayers is a useful source of extra income.
Cosplay can be seen at public events such as video game shows, as well as at dedicated cosplay parties at cafes or amusement parks. It is not unusual for Japanese teenagers to gather with like-minded friends in places like Tokyo’s Harajuku district to engage in cosplay. Since 1998, Tokyo’s Akihabara district has contained a large number of cosplay cafés, catering to devoted anime and cosplay fans. The waitresses at such a cafés dress as game or anime characters; maid (or meido) costumes are particularly popular.
Possibly, the single largest and most famous event attended by cosplayers is the semiannual doujinshi market, Comiket. This event, held in summer and winter, attracts hundreds of thousands of manga otaku and many thousands of cosplayers which assemble on the roof of the exhibition center, often in unbearably hot or cold conditions.
Cosplay Heroes Unmasked by Animax on Anime Festival Asia 2009
part 1 - featuring Kaname who is renowned japanese cosplayer
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part 2 - featuring 2009 AFA at Singapore, amateur cosplayers, Regional Cosplay Championship
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part 3 - featuring story behind the Cosplay experienced. Cosplay photographers, Spectators, Colleagues, Friends and Parents.
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