Cosplay

I definitely think that this girl is the
perfect cosplayer for Rikku!! HOT HOT!!

I’m sure many of you all have heard of the word “cosplay”. Well basically cosplay means you dress up as someone who looks like a character from an anime, games and many others. To be honest, i can’t think of any ways to define the term “cosplay” since everyone knows what is it already so i guess i shall let wiki do the talking in the end.

Wiki says:

Cosplay (コスプレ), short for “costume play”, is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, Japanese pop music bands, Visual Kei, fantasy music stories (such as stories by the band Sound Horizon), and novels. However, in some circles, “cosplay” has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.

The most specific anecdote about the origin of the word “cosplay” was that Nov Takahashi (from a Japanese studio called Studio Hard) coined the term “cosplay” as a contraction of the English-language words “costume play” while she was attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. He was so impressed by the hall and masquerade costuming there that he reported about it frequently in Japanese science fiction magazines. This point is debatable, however, as the word fits in with a common Japanese method of abbreviation: combining the first two syllables of one word with the first two syllables of a second word (or, more precisely, the first two moras of each).

Cosplay can be seen at public events such as video game shows, as well as at dedicated cosplay parties at nightclubs 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 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 who congregate on the roof of the exhibition center, often in unbearably hot or cold conditions.

Rei Ayanami.
Hot + Sexy = Nosebleed!

Cosplayers in Japan refer to themselves as reyazu; pronounced layers (by writing the word cosplayers in katakana, it is possible to shorten it in this way). Those who photograph players are called cameko, short for “Camera Kozo” or “Camera Boy”. The cameko give prints of their photos to the players as gifts. Tensions between players and cameko have increased due to perceived stalker-like behavior among some obsessive males who push female cosplayers to exchange personal email addresses or do private photo sessions. One result of this has been a tightening of restrictions on photography at events such as Comiket.

Meow?

Cosplay costumes are radically different from typical Halloween costumes. Because the object of cosplay is to literally become one’s character, the intricate details of the costumes are critical. Costumes must meticulously adhere to the designs of the characters’ attire, and even more generic costumes are often elaborately artistic.^[3] Rigorous attention to detail may include ensuring the seams are aligned properly, thread colors are appropriate, and fabric colors precisely match the character and their attire. Some cosplayers will buy their costumes from talented artists, while others may spend months creating the perfect cosplay outfit. Because the costumes are so elaborate, like-minded people gather to see others’ costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests at different cosplay events. Theres even a cosplay building in Akihabara which sells cosplay costumes? Duh! lol

In Japan, there are 2 cosplay magazines, Cosmode(コスモード) Dengeki Layers (電撃(でんげき)Layers). COSMODE has the largest share in the market. There are also 2 emerging cosplay magazines outside of Japan, USA’s AniCoz and Mexico’s Cosplaymix. An English digital version of COSMODE is also in the making. While in the working industry, theres even a job for cosplay such as Kipi who is a 20 year old girl. She was awarded the Most Beautiful/Best Cosplay Actress of 2006 by China’s offical cosplay association. She is also the official cosplay character representation of Haruhi Suzumiya. Here are a few of her cosplaying photos.

In Japanese, the term can also mean the use of costumes for sexual purposes, in which case the “play” refers not to dressing up, but sexual play while dressed up. The term hence overlaps what would usually be known in English as sexual roleplaying or sexual fetishism: for example, wearing a schoolgirl uniform before or during sex would be known as seifuku cosplay (制服コスプレ, seifuku cospla), and many Japanese love hotels offer costume rental services. In the Japanese sex industry, sex clubs that specialize in sexual cosplay are known as image clubs. In addition to standard fetishistic standbys (schoolgirl, nurse, policewoman, etc), an increasing number, pioneered by the now defunct Wedding Bell chain, cater to otaku with staff dressing up as anime characters.

To be honest, when i first saw this picture.
Something occured to my body BUT! i didnt do anything!!
Its none other than her legs that i kept on looking at.

Hmmm now thats one long definition about “cosplay” by wiki. Well I apologize for the lack of originality about this post. As for cosplay, its not only in Japan but all over the world too! But sadly i have seen anyone cosplay in my place T_T. I shall be the first one to! Muahaha, ya right! i don’t even have my own cosplay costume! I keep on thinking if i were to have a chance to cosplay, i think i chose to be Ichigo’s bankai version. Firstly, his costume is really cool together with his sword and i think i can somehow make my hair looks like Ichigo’s so i don’t need to get myself a wig. Once again, like the usual i will be leaving you all with the best and fine pictures in the end. Enjoy yoh!

The Kid’s Section

Cute + Cute + Cute = Super Kawaii.
Theres mini Urahara! Mini Naruto and Hinata!!
Chibi Haruhi!!!

The Adult’s Section

No BRA??! o.0

Those are some high heels shes wearing.

Lei Fang from DOA. What a pretty young lady.

Beautiful lady with Pink hair. What else can i say?
Every single guy who sees this picture are having
the same thoughts like mine.

I used to love the game “RO”.
Rogue, Knight and Priestess.
All 3 are so hot and cute. XD

Err… Ouch?

So how does it feel to see a ton of hot and cute cosplayers pictures then
suddenly appear a guy cosplaying as rock lee with his *pose*. Muahaha
Thats all, i’m guessing that some of you still want to see more right?
Fear not, i have prepare you with all the information you are gonna need.
Here are the all the sites where i get all my sources from. Enjoy ^^
If you are going to post or use their pictures, make you give them the credits.
Well i didnt get any sources from Cosplay.com but you guys
might want to check out that site. Its pretty cool though.

Special Thanks to:

~MPzero~, Cosplay Photo Gallery,
Cosplayers Photo Studio, Nanao’s Research,
JapanForum.com and Hongfire.