When It Comes to Cosplay… Japan Wins
Cosplay, or ‘Costume Roleplay’, is extremely popular in across the world, but it is especially popular in Japan, where much of the character ideas originate. In Japan, entire subculture of ‘cosplayers’ dress up as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies.
There are pictures all over the web of cosplayers, but this collection showcases some of the more elegant and beautiful examples of the cosplay subculture.
By Sun Tzu on 18-08-2009
Comment by James
August 19th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Title should read: "When It Comes to Cosplay… Japan Has the MOST losers"
These people seriously need to grow up and get a life and leave their pedophile imaginations alone!
Comment by Ryan Lee Hannant
August 19th, 2009 at 6:29 am
I agree with James.
I also think this is an unfair representation of Cosplayers. Most of them are awkward, unattractive people in shitty homemade costumes that can only be socially confident whilst dressed like a complete tit.
Comment by Mika
August 19th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I disagree with both of them. Cosplay can also be an art- the work that goes into costumes (by some), is ridiculous. Some work for over a year to complete some costumes, along with making armor or hand embroidering. Granted, there are those who are awkward & unattractive, like you said Ryan- but at the same time there are plenty who are beautiful and confident regardless if they are in costume or not. It's unfair of both of you to stereotype something like this. It's a hobby, like anything else.
Comment by G-Man
August 19th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I also disagree with the top two. Cosplay is either a hit or a miss. Yes, you got tons of people who look absolutely horrendous in cosplay, but then you also have those who love their craft and are actually accomplished craftsmen (and women). I'd never cosplay, but I respect the cosplayers who know how to embroider, process leather, and even MAKE THEIR OWN METAL ARMOR AND WEAPONS. Are any of you blacksmiths?
This? This is cosplay done right:
http://loyalkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/co...
Comment by pacat
August 19th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I guess if we can put up with goth we can put up with this.Hopefully they will grow up
Comment by Mika
August 19th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
@G-Man : I agree, those cosplayers who can make their own metal armor and weapons are truly masters of the craft.
It takes a lot of time and effort – and it's fun to show off what you have created, it's nothing about being childish, or needing to grow up.
Comment by pacat
August 19th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
It is great,but there comes a time that fantasy overflows to reality. It can be fun but like all things of fantasy,you need to be careful that you keep part of you in reality.
Comment by Jay
August 20th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I bet everyone that has criticised cosplay has or knows someone who has dressed up in there favorite sports teams uniform or something close to it and stood with hundreds if not thousands of people dressed similar and they are perceived normal.
And don't say that its not the same, if you dress up out of your normal clothes into a representation of something then its all the same.
-Jay
Comment by sadmanh
August 21st, 2009 at 10:16 am
i agree with these comments, a lot of craftsmanship goes into making these costumes and we should respect that. And lets face it all country’s have some kind of seemingly crazy obsession ! like america, with muscle cars ! most Japanese would prefer a compact & fuel efficient car.
Comment by Nikki
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
Thank you Photoshop!
Comment by aya
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 am
whatever… its their life so why bother! anyway, nice nice nice ^__^
Comment by Jenn
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 am
Cosplay can be done very wrong or very right. Just because these jewels came from Japan doesn’t mean the country doesn’t have an abundance of awful cosplays as well, and it certainly doesn’t prove that there aren’t diamonds among the rubbish of western cosplay.
Comment by Rami
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
really Japanese ppl Have a lot of time to be wasted
Comment by Mali
September 8th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
And western people haven't? WoW anyone….? It's the same all over the world. Let people have their hobbies, you probably have your own that could be criticised a lot.
Comment by Acky
September 13th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
It's not your own culture…
Just back off and have your own life instead
Comment by zin
October 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
wow, everyone is getting so testy- give it a break
For one I do agree, it seems like a lot of cosplay seems to have to do with fetishes, sometimes bordering kiddie porn- and therefore, personally I know whenever I spoke to people and I did bring up my liking for cosplay here in America, I usually got weird stares because here people automatically associate that with fetish, or perverts since that's the look that many popular anime and japanese culture has impressioned here.
continue-
Comment by zin
October 8th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
continued-
Also, not all people make their cosplay clothes. Infact there are websites that many people do just buy from and there are shops in Japan that many cosplayers admit to buying their outfits from, it all depends on the person. Some people like the look but are too lazy to make it theirselves. Others like the look and are willing to make their own style/attire. And yes, I hope this doesn't start an arguement on Japanese people being lazy, because all people can be lazy and all people buy stuff online at some point.
Comment by zin
October 8th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Continued!
However, I do agree. Not all people cosplay. So don't generalize that ALL Japanese people are childish and play "dress up" too much, or even that that's their cultural thing if you want to get technical. (And if you want to point fingers, remember there are roleplaying shops/conventions here in America based on American concepts like Star Wars or whatabout those people who dress up like dead celebs on Hollywood Bolevard? That can be considered cosplaying as well.) Because not everyone is into that. But just cause you like it, doesn't mean you need to grow up.
And like Acky said, just back off and have your own life.