The memorable 10th World Cosplay Summit (WCS) was held in Nagoya in the midsummer heat. Dressed up in outrageous costumes, cosplayers from twenty countries, the largest number ever, took part in a series of events this year.  Among them, Britain, Russia, and Indonesia attended for the first time.

So, what is cosplay?  The word “cosplay” originally comes from “costume play”, which involves dressing up in the costumes of characters from anime (animation), game, manga (comics), SF or history as well as wearing the uniforms of certain professions such as nurse and policeman for pleasure.  People who do cosplay are called “cosplayers”.   Having originated in Japan, cosplay is one of the examples of the otaku culture, namely, the subculture associated with anime, game, and manga. 

 Team UK (left)　　

The WCS 2012 consists of several events: the World Cosplay Championship at Oasis 21, the Red Carpet Parade at Nishiki Avenue, the Cosplay Parade at the Ichinomiya Star Festival, and the Cosplay Carnival in Osu, the International Symposium at Nagoya University, the Anison Live (live performance of anime theme songs) and other events.

  Virtual pop star, Hatsune Miku (right)

The World Cosplay Championship is the highlight of the WCS.  The representatives who have won the highly competitive preliminary round in each county are invited to the event and compete for the title.  After they are carefully judged in terms of costume design, stage performance, and faithfulness to the original, the Grand Champion is determined.  This year, Japan won the championship for the first time in three years. Singapore came second and Indonesia came third.  The live broadcasting of the championship 2012 indicates its growing popularity, as it was broadcast after midnight last year.

On the following day, the Cosplay Carnival was held in Osu.  Not only the representatives but also general cosplayers regardless of quality paraded through the narrow Osu Shopping Streets.  People could see the various cosplayers up close and take photos freely.  The number of participants has increased and the procession has become longer every year. 

   Grand Champion: Team Japan

Cosplay used to have a negative image when it started around a decade ago, because it was otaku culture.  It has become increasingly popular and now it is widely accepted. Even the Foreign Ministry and local governments support the cosplay events.  The representatives made a courtesy call to the Nagoya City Hall and the Aichi Prefectural Office.  In turn, the mayor of Nagoya and the governor of Aichi prefecture participated in the events dressing like feudal lord “Tokugawa Muneharu” and the god of thunder “Thor” from the Avengers, respectively. 

Has cosplay just begun recently?  Definitely not!  As early as Renaissance period, aristocrats and powerful people dressed like gods or goddesses from Greek and Roman myths in their portraits.  That can be regarded as the classical version of cosplay.  The Renaissance art is currently considered “high art”, but it was surely considered “contemporary art” at that time.   Therefore, there is a fair chance that cosplay will be classified as high art in the 30th century.

SANDRO BOTTICELLI, Venus and Mars, c1483

In this painting perhaps commissioned by the Vespucci family, Venus may have been Simonetta Vespucci.

What fascinates people about cosplay?  Everyone has the desire to change.  We want to escape from reality into a fantasy world to be someone else who we can’t be in real life.  The desire covers all times and all countries   So, if you have the same desire, why don’t you join the WCS next year?