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[hanakumi]

Hello ^_^

Me and my friend are planning to do a presentation about cosplay for our 10th grade exams. We wanted to compare the cosplay-reasons of Japanese cosplayers and of German cosplayers because we want to answer the question: Cosplay - running away from reality?

Since we found out that Japanese culture is different than German culture, we also think that the reasons of the cosplayers are different.
But until now, we couldn't find a Japanese cosplayer who we could've ask... So I hope at least one of you guys can answer these questions for me ;___;

It would be a really big help for us ~
So thanks for reading this post!

Here are the questions:

1) Your Age?
2) Why do you cosplay? What do you like about it?
3) How long are you cosplaying?
4) How much money do your costumes cost in general?
5) When did you start?
6) What is your favorite kind of cosplay (eg manga, video games)?
7) Which characters do you like to cosplay the most?
8) Do you think western cosplayers have other reasons for cosplaying than asian/japanese cosplayers?
9) Do you go to cons?
10) Have you ever joined a cosplay competition? Did you have success?
11) What do you think about the whole competition thing?
12) Do you buy or sew your costumes?
13) What do your friends/your family think about this hobby?


Thank you so much >ww<

[Tsumanne]

Been a few days and no reply so I'll try and help a little. I'm American, but I have been living and cosplaying in Japan for 8 years. So I know cosplay here pretty well and can help with some of your questions.

Some background information on cosplay in Japan:

Cosplay in Japan is a little different than cosplay in the West. The biggest difference is that there are no "anime cons" in Japan. Most of the time cosplay is done at specific cosplay only events. Cosplay events can be small gatherings at a photo studio or they can be large events like at Tokyo Fashion Town where there can be 1000+ cosplayers. Although there are a few non-cosplay events like Comiket that allow cosplay (last comiket over 7,000 cosplayers showed up). Cosplay is its own separate hobby in Japan. There are even cosplay only magazines like Cosmode and there are cosplay only stores like Cospatio.

But, cosplay is NOT done on the street. Cosplay is only done at events and is very regulated. People are not allowed to arrive at an event already in costume and people cannot leave the event in costume. You must change at the event's changing rooms and register to cosplay. Also, you can only take pictures in designated "picture areas". There is a very clear line of where cosplay is ok and where it is not. Cosplayers are always aware of where that line is. Following these rules is taken very seriously.

Japanese cosplayers rarely "act in character". Well, except for a photograph anyway. Obviously if someone asks for a picture cosplayers do an appropriate pose for the character (some people take photos very seriously and are amazing), but people don't talk or act like the character when they are just walking around. It would be seen as childish and the event staff might talk to them about it. Cosplayers are them self, not the character. Events are more about socializing with other people who enjoy the hobby and taking pictures. It's a very social event really, and just like any other hobby there is a sense of community amongst cosplayers.

The question list:
1. Most cosplayers in Japan are between 20~35 years old. I'm 29 and don't feel old at Japanese events. There are many people older than me.

2. N/A. I'm not Japanese so I can't answer that one.
3. N/A

4. Costumes usually average between Y10,000~Y40,000 (98€~392€). The hobby is expensive so most high school students can't afford it. But that is changing now with all the cheaper costumes available by internet order from China and South East Asia for around Y5,000 (€49). But you still need a credit card so that complicates things for students.

5. N/A
6. N/A
7. N/A
8. N/A

9. There are no "Cons", but there are 3 events that are sort of similar though. Tokyo Game Show (video game industry trade fair), The Comic Market "Comiket" (amateur comic artist's market), and Wonder Festival (amateur figure & toy maker's market) allow cosplay. Most other related events do not allow cosplay. Even the Tokyo International Anime Fair (anime industry trade fair) does not allow cosplay.

10. There are no cosplay competitions at events. In fact, there are no "stage skits" either. That is a Western con thing and doesn't exist in Japan. But, there is one giant exception; The World Cosplay Summit. WCS is like the olympics of cosplay. A cosplay team from each country is chosen and the finals are held in Nagoya Japan. The event is based on Western style group cosplay competitions. Only groups can compete, there are no individual awards. Actually, I was at last year's WCS. Team Germany did a good job lol.

11. N/A
12. Some sew, but most cosplayers buy. "Giant Robot" costumes though are almost always home made. Check out Goldy's website for info on that, he's the master and even teaches classes on armor construction.

13. Cosplay is not publicly acceptable (not even in Akihabara, the police will tell you to get out of costume) so it's usually kept secret. A lot of people keep their normal friends and cosplay friends separate and many keep it a secret from their family if they can. This is another reason why many high school students have trouble cosplaying since they don't always feel they can ask their parents to help them with a costume. Although many cosplayers have Cosplay Meishi (Cosplay business cards) and internet blogs they don't use their real names. You have a cosname that is used instead to protect your privacy. Of course friends will use their real names with each other. It's more to protect your privacy from strangers and the internet since it could cause problems in your normal daily life. Actually, it usually shocks people when they realize my cosname is my real name lol.

You should check out Cure and Cosplayer Archive, they are the largest online cosplay community sites for Japanese cosplayers. Sadly most of us on the Japan part of the cosplay.com forum are foreigners who live in Japan.

I know it's not what you were looking for, but I hope I was of some help.

[hanakumi]

Thank you so much for your answer! *u*
It was very helpful! ;A; ♥

Some stuff was really interesting, such as the thing with the cons.
(I didn't know that there were no anime cons XD)

Besides, I always thought that good cosplayers in Japan would be seen as a kind of "idol" (Even for non-cosplayers) and that if they become "famous", then with their real name.
But now it seems that the society doesn't really like cosplayers .. as if they'd be idk underdogs of the society? (don't know how to express it in proper English lol I hope you get what I mean XD)
Could you tell me more about it? ^^
Btw, did/do you keep cosplay as a secret?

And regarding your remark about cosplay in public:
On TV, when there's a documentary about Japanese fashion & street life I always see tons of cosplayers, visus and lolitas on the streets (especially in Akihabara).
But you were saying that they usually don't cosplay in public so I am a lil bit confused >_<

I hope I don't bother you with those questions ...
I'd be really happy if you answered ;u;

(And sorry for all the mistakes I am not a native English speaker ^^")

And I'll try finding some japanese cosplayers @ curecos~

[Tsumanne]

The reason you see Ganguro, Lolita, and Visus on the street is because they are not cosplay. It is considered cosplay in the West, but not in Japan. These are types of street fashion and are not costumes. You don't really see many of them at cosplay events. They are fashion groups with their own independent cultures and are separate from cosplay.

Cosplay is specifically a costume. "Costume Play" and not fashion. So anime, manga, games, TV characters, Hollywood, and military costumes would be cosplay.

If the documentary video you saw was old then it might have showed cosplay in Akihabara. Cosplay used to happen in Akihabara on "Pedestrian's Paradise" Sunday until 2008. The main road was closed so people could walk freely. Many people came to do street performances and some people did cosplay (AKB48 was born from this). But that ended in June 2008 after an insane man drove a truck through the middle of the crowd, jumped out, and started stabbing people to death with a knife. Pedestrian's Paradise was cancelled and street performances & cosplay were banned. Pedestrian's Paradise reopened last year, but performances and cosplay are still banned. Only maid cafe workers are allowed stand outside in costume to attract customers.

Because I am American, I am more "open" about cosplay than most Japanese, but I am still careful who I tell since It can be bad for a person's professional career and it can make people feel uncomfortable. I had a friend who was a teacher and when her school found out she cosplayed they were very upset, although the students thought it was awesome lol. I only tell friends that are really interested in anime/manga/games or have a similar hobby. I have my cosplay friends and my normal friends. They are separate. Sometimes I'll mention cosplay if I am at a maid cafe in Akihabara if the person I am talking to seems like they would be interested, but I think most Japanese wouldn't unless they became friends. Although, sometimes people in Akihabara recognize me from otaku news interviews so they learn I cosplay from that lol.

A lot of people cosplay, but it is still something you don't say in public. This kind of thing is very normal for Japan though. Tatamae the "public you" and honne the "private you". Every culture has it, but it is very distinct in Japan and often taken very seriously. Cosplay does not fit the "public you" so you keep it quiet, but there is nothing wrong with you enjoying the hobby on your free time at events with your cosplay friends. You just keep it separate and the world is happy. No one really cares what you do on your personal time so long as you keep it in "the right place" and fulfill your public expectations. So people don't "hate" cosplayers, it is just cosplay has no "place" in public life because it doesn't fit tatamae... It's complicated, I know lol. Look up tatamae and honne, I am sure there is information in German about it. It's a very famous part of Japanese culture.

Real names/cosnames and "idols" is a good question. There is a link, but there isn't a link. It's weird:

I've met many women cosplayers who are professional models. Work and hobby are separate, but people taking your picture is an important part of cosplay so it makes sense that a model would enjoy cosplay as a hobby. But they still use a cosname.

There are some women who do something like being an "idol" with cosplay. Cosplay seems too underground to become a professional idol, but some people do get fans and try to do something similar to being an idol. They have very fancy homepages, twitter accounts, and go to many cosplay events and have fans that come meet them. Actually, I met someone like this today at an event lol. She was trying to attract people to take her photos and was giving out her cosplay name card and an information flyer to everyone who took her picture. She used a cosname, not her real name.

So some people use cosplay as a way to be an idol as a hobby. I've never really looked very much into it, but it seems like it would be good practice for becoming an idol. Now that I think about it, I used to know someone who was trying to become a professional idol. She cosplayed as a hobby. Her idol work was being a DJ/MC at bars, clubs, and events. She didn't cosplay at work, but I think she did use some of her cosplay photos on her idol website.