Cosplay vs. Costuming

Cosplay vs. Costuming: The Evolution and Cultural Context

Cosplay: Performance-Based and Otaku-Subculture Origin

• Cosplay (a combination of "costume" and "play") originated in Japan, deeply intertwined with the Otaku subculture, which is a fandom-driven, performance-oriented culture. The core of cosplay lies in embodying a character and performing their persona, often in a social, community-centered environment like conventions or fan gatherings. It’s not just about the costume, but about immersing oneself in the character through interaction, role-playing, and engaging with others.

• In the early days of cosplay in Japan, it was heavily rooted in anime, manga, and related fandoms, where accuracy and craftsmanship were paramount. Cosplayers often create their costumes by hand, engaging in crafting, sewing, and prop making to replicate the characters as closely as possible. Performance and fandom engagement were key parts of this culture.

Costuming: Community-Centered and "Nerd" Culture Origin

• Costuming, in contrast, stems from broader Western "nerd" culture, notably in areas like Star Trek, sci-fi, and historical reenactments. Costuming often has a community-centered focus, where the emphasis is on fandom participation rather than acting out a character’s persona. For example, wearing a Star Trek red shirt uniform might not involve portraying a specific character but simply being a part of the Star Trek universe as a fan.

• The goal of costuming is often less about performance and more about identity expression within a group. People may wear costumes to join a community, share their love for a show or movie, and participate in fandoms, even if they're not performing as a particular character. Many people who are into costuming buy their costumes rather than creating them, though there are still DIY elements in certain fandoms.

Cosplay's Evolution from Japan to the West: Combined Definitions

• As cosplay spread from Japan to Europe and the West, these two ideas—performative immersion (from Otaku culture) and community participation (from "nerd" culture)—merged under the same umbrella of "cosplay." In Western cultures, the term has expanded to include both DIY crafting and buying costumes, as the culture evolved to incorporate these varied aspects. Cosplay is no longer just about performance art or character embodiment; it also reflects the desire for community connection and shared fandom.

The Current Misuse of "Cosplay" in Commercial Contexts

• Unfortunately, the term "cosplay" has also been misappropriated in recent years, especially in the context of kink and OnlyFans marketing. In these commercial spaces, "cosplay" is increasingly used as a marketing tool to attract followers or subscribers, often distorted from its original context as a creative, performance-based fandom activity.

• This trend involves sexualized portrayals of characters, where the focus shifts away from fandom and community to manipulation for profit. This commercialized version of cosplay exploits the term for attention and marketing, straying far from its artistic, craft-oriented roots and original community-driven intentions.

Key Differences Between Cosplay and Costuming:

1. Cosplay:

   • Originated from the Otaku subculture in Japan, where it was about performance, role-playing, and character immersion.

   • Strong focus on craftsmanship (DIY costumes, sewing, prop-making) and community engagement.

   • In the West, it blends crafting, sewing, and performing a character, with a growing emphasis on fandom involvement and character portrayal.

2. Costuming:

   • Rooted in nerd cultures like Star Trek and sci-fi, focusing more on community participation than character portrayal.

   • Involves wearing costumes to be part of a fandom group rather than embodying a specific character.

   • Costumes are often bought rather than made, and the focus is more on fandom identification rather than creative performance.

The Misuse of "Cosplay":

• Cosplay has been distorted in recent years by kink culture and OnlyFans, where the term is now sometimes used as a tool to generate subscribers or create commercialized, sexualized content. This represents a shift away from the creative, fan-centric roots of cosplay into more exploitative, profit-driven uses of the term.

Final Thoughts:

In the modern context, cosplay and costuming are often used interchangeably, but their origins, cultural meanings, and community roles remain distinct. Cosplay started as a performance-oriented activity deeply connected to fan culture, particularly in Japan's Otaku subculture, while costuming is more about community participation and often doesn't require the same level of character immersion or craftsmanship. As the term "cosplay" has gained global popularity, especially in the West, it has broadened to encompass both DIY crafting and purchased costumes, leading to its current multifaceted definition. Unfortunately, this has also led to the term's misuse for commercial purposes, straying from its original community-driven, creative focus.

Cosplay Festa Osaka 2024

Nipponbashi Street Festa: Origins, Cultural Relevance, and Comparison with Major Japanese Events

The Nipponbashi Street Festa in Osaka is one of the most significant cosplay events in Japan, attracting thousands of fans, photographers, and participants every year. Held in the bustling Den Den Town, an area known for its vibrant electronic and otaku culture, the event has become a key gathering for cosplay enthusiasts, anime fans, and pop culture aficionados.

Origins and Evolution

The festival, which started in 2005, was originally conceived as a way to celebrate Osaka's otaku culture, which has been thriving for decades. The Nipponbashi district, also known as Den Den Town, is the Osaka equivalent of Tokyo's Akihabara, housing numerous shops selling anime, manga, video games, and electronics. The event was designed as a public celebration of this subculture, providing a space for people to express themselves through cosplay, as well as a place for vendors to engage directly with fans.

Over the years, Nipponbashi Street Festa has expanded, becoming one of the largest outdoor cosplay events in Japan, drawing around 250,000 visitors annually. The festival includes cosplay parades, live performances, vendor booths selling anime merchandise, and special photo zones where cosplayers and photographers alike can create memorable moments. It has now become a cornerstone of Osaka’s identity within the otaku community, celebrating a mix of traditional Japanese fandom and modern pop culture.

Cultural Relevance for Cosplay and Otaku Culture

Nipponbashi Street Festa holds a special place in Osaka’s otaku culture and in the wider context of Japanese pop culture. In Osaka, Den Den Town serves as the heart of the otaku community, similar to how Akihabara is viewed in Tokyo. The festival attracts people not only from Japan but also from overseas, highlighting the global appeal of Japanese pop culture, particularly anime and manga. Cosplay is the highlight of the event, with participants dressing as characters from popular anime, manga, video games, and movies, showcasing Japan’s deep connection to visual storytelling and character-driven entertainment.

For cosplayers, the festival offers a rare opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals, share their creations, and participate in one of Japan's largest cosplay celebrations. It’s a moment of creative expression where fans transform into their favorite characters, often spending months on costumes and makeup. The festival encourages inclusivity and appreciation for the art of cosplay, helping it to evolve from a niche hobby to a mainstream cultural phenomenon.

While the event's crowds and challenges with photography (especially during rainy weather or overly crowded conditions) may limit certain aspects of the experience, they also reflect the immense popularity and cultural relevance of the event. The queues of photographers waiting for a chance to capture a perfect shot underscore the importance of Nipponbashi Street Festa in both local and international cosplay communities.

Comparison with Other Major Events: Comiket and Tokyo Game Show

When comparing the Nipponbashi Street Festa to other major events such as Comiket (Comic Market) and the Tokyo Game Show, it is important to understand their unique roles within Japan’s pop culture scene.

• Comiket: As the world's largest doujinshi (self-published works) convention, Comiket is primarily focused on the exchange and sale of indie manga, art, and fan-made materials. Held twice a year in Tokyo, it attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees, many of whom are there to buy and sell self-produced works, while cosplay plays a secondary role. Unlike Nipponbashi Street Festa, which focuses on outdoor cosplay and fan engagement, Comiket is more of an indoor, vendor-oriented event, offering a distinct atmosphere centered around fan creativity and self-publishing. Comiket’s emphasis is on fan-made content rather than professional cosplay, making it a more niche event compared to the wider public appeal of Nipponbashi Street Festa.

• Tokyo Game Show (TGS): The Tokyo Game Show, held annually in Chiba, is Japan’s most significant video game expo, drawing large crowds of gamers, industry professionals, and media. It is not focused on cosplay or manga, but rather on the latest developments in the video game industry. While the TGS occasionally features cosplay as part of its promotional efforts, it is primarily a trade and media event aimed at showcasing new games and technologies. The Nipponbashi Street Festa, by contrast, is much more about the fan experience, allowing for direct interaction with other otaku and cosplayers in a celebratory public space.

Both Comiket and Tokyo Game Show have a much larger scale and international recognition in their respective domains, but the Nipponbashi Street Festa offers something unique with its street festival atmosphere, the integration of cosplay into the urban landscape of Osaka, and its ability to bring together cosplay fans, anime lovers, and pop culture enthusiasts in an open and festive environment.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Nipponbashi Street Festa

As for the future of Nipponbashi Street Festa, there are high hopes that the event will continue to thrive in the coming years. Despite challenges such as the unpredictability of crowds and weather, the festival's ability to adapt and grow remains a testament to its importance in Japanese pop culture. The festival’s relaxed outdoor vibe and its focus on cosplay and fan-driven creativity ensure that it will remain a beloved event in the Japanese otaku calendar, alongside other major events such as Comiket and the Tokyo Game Show.

In conclusion, Nipponbashi Street Festa stands as a significant event for Osaka’s otaku culture, offering a unique blend of cosplay celebration, community interaction, and cultural expression. While it shares some similarities with larger events like Comiket and the Tokyo Game Show, it remains a distinct and cherished part of Japan's broader fandom culture. The event’s dedication to cosplay and fan engagement ensures that it will continue to draw passionate participants and fans in the years to come.

Picture of the Day #21 - Monster Hunter Stories - RIDE ON!!!

Tokyo Game Show has come again. At the Capcom booth the biggest part was about Bio Hazard 7/Resident Evil 7 and Monster Hunter Stories.

At this year's TGS they presented a Demo of Monster Hunter Stories, which is a lot longer than the demo of 2014.

In Japan Monster Hunter is one of the most famous game series ever. The new game is an RPG where you fight against wyverns and other creatures together with your own partner mount as a Rider to defeat the evil dangers that are spreading. The best thing is that you breed, collect and train your own wyverns, but more about later.

There's also an anime called Monster Hunter Stories Ride On.

Here's the direct Link to the Instagram Picture of a sculpture of the male hero (can be female, too) together with your Ratahlos partner and your felyne companion.

Other daily pictures can be found in the Picture of the Day section and on INSTAGRAM, where you can also find a few more pictures about my many trips to Japan, as well as some video game stuff.

RIDE ON!!!!

Picture of the Day #19 - Ho-Oh in Kyoto

The Pokémon Center in Kyoto has been opening a few months ago. The second Generation of Pokémon symbolizes the area of the Kansei region and the place where you can catch Ho-Oh, the packshot monster of the Golden Edition which is based on the mythical Chinese phoenix like creature, would be Kyoto in the real world, that's why the flagship monster of the Kyoto Pokémon Center is Ho-Oh.

Other daily pictures can be found in the Picture of the Day section and on INSTAGRAM, where you can also find a few more Pokémon Pictures, e.g.Charizard

Now enjoy Ho-Oh and Pikachu on its back

Create Yourself - Monster Hunter Generatons #1 Character Creation on Monster-Monday

It's Monster-Monday and finally I present my first Monster Hunter Generations Videos.
Especially because I am currently unable to play myself because of a broken wrist.

To give you a small overview about the Monster Hunter Series, this article might help you:
What is Monster Hunter?

Monster Hunter Generations is the latest installent of the famous Monster Hunter series. In Japan this was released as Monster Hunter X (cross). It's a perfect fan service for everyone, who played the Monster Hunter Freedom (portable) Games on PSP, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd was never released in the West, so MHGen is the first chance to visit Yukumo village.

If you have a save data of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, you can get a few bonus items, e.g. a Tigrex "costume"-armor for your Palico (Felyne-Comrade)

Enjoy:



Here You can find other Playlists.

Hamamatsucho, a Tower @Night and some pirates

I had to face the results of climbing Mt. Fuji, I needed sleep and felt sick, so I had to rest for half of the day - lucky and not really lucky at the same time.

Bad Luck - too late at the Zōjō-ji temple (Buddhist temple) so I couldn't buy charms

Bad luck again - too late to go to the observation deck of the Tokyo Tower - it was still possible, but there was and endless queue of people who wanted to get up. In my opinion the Tokyo Tower lost a lot of it's fame within the last years, the Skytree might be one of the main reasons. But it rewon a lot of fame - not its "own fame" - because of the One Piece shop and the One Piece exhibition.

Good luck - late enough to make great pictures of the TT at darkness.

But before reaching the temple I had to eat at MOS Burger - so delicious, especially the nuggets and the melon soda.

Some scenes of the X-Men Wolverine Movie were shot here, but I still can't find the exact place, except for the entrance in front of the main hall, but the rest seems to be one the restricted areas.

There was something wrong about this figurine, the tatoo of a cross on his left arm was missing.

Here Ruffy has the tatoo..

Well, One Piece is quite famous in Japan, so it results in overrunning this shop or restaurant right next to it.

Let's get back to the Tower itself... here it is, with some pictures. I didn't bring my tripod so it was kinda hard to keep a calm hand or to find a spot to take a good picture.

I couln't get anymore centric than this without my tripod ;)

Some last pictures of the Zōjō-ji temple

That's it again, I hope you liked it and not only the One Piece fans ;)

It's WhateverWednesday and time for Cosplay

Greetings fellows,

it's WhateverWednesday and today's topic is Cosplay, you might know what that means and if you don't it's Costume play - dressing up as a character from Manga, Anime, Games, Comics, etc. and presenting the costumes on Conventions or Cosplay Events.



The best known magazine about this sort of pop culture is the COSMODE, a Japanese magazine about Cosplay. The structure of every issue is almost the same, it starts with photoshots, followed by event pictures and concept arts and ends up with pattern for costumes and other props, explained via a step by step instruction, make-up tips or even advices to make better photoshots.

You can easily buy it in almost every book store in Japan - you can also get preowned ones in perfect shape in Book Off Stores (I recommend the one in Ikebukuro in Tokyo - many issues for a good price)

Importing them is also very easy, just ask your local Manga / Comic Book Store.

Just follow me on Youtube or hereon my Blog for further cosplay related stuff and comment, what you would like to see in later shows.

See you soon.