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JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK.


JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

One of the most “trick-a-la-ti-doo” aspects of being a pirate (aka TV host and production coordinator in Japan) is that you get to access and film the most incredible youth gatherings. The Australian travel TV show wanted to explore the world of otaku, so Naomi an I set up the perfect outing: Japan Cosplay Festival, the largest annual cosplayer gathering in Tokyo.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

Maid costume: Sebastian helped me pick out the skimpiest possible maid outfit in Akihabara.
Makeup: Green eyeshadow on the lids and orange over the top. Fake eyelashes. Pink lips and gloss.
Stripey bat knee socks: from Bodyline (300 yen only!)
Purple sandals: We had a 12 hour shoot with constant walking, so comfort came first!

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

The shoot began at Don Quixote in Shinjuku. (TV crews can’t just waltz in anywhere and start filming; that’s why you need us pirates to make arrangements in advance!) As their guide, I introduced The Two Tims to the costume display. They tried on masks and decided to splurge on Keroro and Pikachu full-body outfits — even though it was sweltering hot out.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

The Japan Cosplay Festival takes place every year at Toshima-en amusement park. Once again, the pirates negotiated the filming permits and fee ahead of time. The TV crews generally are new to Tokyo, so they rely on us to take them from place to place.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

I love kigurumi (left). Since they refuse to speak, we communicate by writing on a little white board hung from their necks. Some people think kigurumi (animegao dollars) are disturbing, but I hope my coverage here and on the TV show changes that perception. They’re the sweetest, kindest people you’ll meet.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

Most of the cosplayers were in front of the carousel, where they posed for photos and hung out with friends.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

The outfits are so intricate and bright. Pop quiz: can you recognize the manga or anime that these youths are cosplaying?

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

Cosplay means emulating a fantasy character in appearance and role. It’s different from Goth Lolita Punk fashion, which most consider to be a way of life.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

However, cosplaying is certainly a youth subculture — and a fascinating one. Participants put much time and money into this pursuit.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

We interviewed the young Japanese about when they started cosplaying and what they love best about it. (Arr, we pirates provide translation.)

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

So cute to see friends bond over their shared love of cosplay, anime, manga and video games.

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

This scary dog-demon is a coin-operated ride; insert 200 yen and he walks at a glacial pace. Do you remember the time I rode a Panda version of this device in Odaiba?

JAPAN COSPLAY FESTIVAL, LARGEST TOKYO COSPLAYER EVENT. ANIME MANGA COSTUMES, JCF MEET-UP IN TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK. cute sexy maid outfit, japanese meido kawaii, maid cafes, Comiket, Wonder Festival, best halloween outfits, kigurumi, akihabara otaku

Have you ever cosplayed, or been to a cosplay event like this one? Which character did you emulate? Deep thoughts on my maid outfit?

Japanese Word of the Day: En ga kireru = Cut off relations. (There comes a time, me hearties, when it be n’ecessary to deliver… the BLACK SPOT upon a buccaneer. Send’im to Davy Jones’ locker!)
Song of the Day: South Park – Somalian Pirates We (Let’s take it from bar 14; all together now: With a yo-ho-ho! And a yee-hee-hee!)

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42 Comments

  1. Alexandriaweb
    Posted October 18, 2010 at 9:22 pm | Permalink

    Some friends and I used to Cosplay every weekend, mostly as Visual Kei stars.
    I don’t think it’s really my thing anymore but it does look really good when other people do it and do it well :)

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 18, 2010 at 9:24 pm | Permalink

      One of my friends does very impressive VK cosplays but also grew out of it… but I do love seeing well-executed cosplays.

  2. Eriko
    Posted October 18, 2010 at 9:23 pm | Permalink

    NHH! <3 I love this, I love cosplaying (I do it frequently). I'm so glad you took these pictures~ I heard that in Japan, when you're at an anime con or something, you aren't allowed outside of the con in cosplay. is that true? ;n;

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 18, 2010 at 9:25 pm | Permalink

      Nice! Hmm, in this case, there wasn’t a rule like that (although there were MANY rules that we had to follow, in order to shoot inside the festival!) However, many costumes are very cumbersome, so they provide changing rooms.

  3. Beatriz Barrett
    Posted October 18, 2010 at 9:42 pm | Permalink

    The Kuroshitsuji cosplays are pretty good, and I think it’s the first time I’ve seen a Karneval cosplay!

  4. Neonprettykitty
    Posted October 18, 2010 at 10:01 pm | Permalink

    Love it all. ♥

  5. Anonymous
    Posted October 18, 2010 at 10:45 pm | Permalink

    Why is it the only people i know who have worn skimpier maid costumes are men?
    And why don’t I have one of my own O_o?

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:25 am | Permalink

      Why indeed? V__V

      • Anonymous
        Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:28 am | Permalink

        Is that a why do I know men who wear skimpy maids outfits or a why don’t I own one? XD

  6. Kitty
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 12:55 am | Permalink

    You’re the best, I hope this really takes off for you!

  7. HagumiW
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 1:10 am | Permalink

    Love the photos!
    I can only name about half of the cosplayed character.
    I’d love to try cosplay sometime but I can’t decide which character to be my cosplay debute.lol. The top 3 of my list lately is Hatsune Miku(Vocaloid character),Kinomoto Sakura,Amano ichigo(from the manga Yumeiro Patissiere). I change my list all the time.
    xoxo

  8. Jrockonhigh
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 1:17 am | Permalink

    I’ve been cosplaying for two or three years and in the planning stages of two costumes; I’m trying to branch out and try to make steampunk and VK looks

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:26 am | Permalink

      Which VK musician are you thinking of cosplaying? That would be awesome

      • Jrockonhigh
        Posted October 19, 2010 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

        It depends. Someone from AN Cafe be awesome.

  9. Yabla
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 1:37 am | Permalink

    asians have got it too good.

  10. Jrockonhigh
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 1:38 am | Permalink

    I love it.

  11. Tomomi
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 1:51 am | Permalink

    FUN !!!!

  12. Frank
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 1:53 am | Permalink

    ¡ Sugoiiiiiii , are unique, wonderful and authentic
    I’m your faithful follower of the country of Peru !

  13. Anonymous
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:09 am | Permalink

    Wow! what fun… =) I love cosplayers and any kind of thing that makes life more cartoon-esque.

    [tlr]

  14. Kanami
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:22 am | Permalink

    absolutely love to cosplay! haha i somehow forced my school to let us wear costumes for halloween so i get to cosplay :) u got some great pics of great cosplay too. and ur maids outfit reminds me of “he is my master”

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:27 am | Permalink

      It was the perfect place to take photos… so much to see, and rollercoasters everywhere!

  15. shadowpal2
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:59 am | Permalink

    I’ve never tired cosplaying before. Though – I really really ought to. I wonder who’d I cosplay as? Oh yes it would most likely be my avatar: Ban CHAN! (Midou Ban from Get Backers). Though to be him I gotta grow out my hair a little more, and god damn it why does everyone go beyond the point of pressure to tell me to cut it. It’s getting annoying – SCREW THEM! >_<

    Kimuguri truly are the sweetest beings alive. OH I would love to hug them and never let go! The only reason I think people get a bit freaked out is of course the mask. You know the Burger King guy?! How scared would you be if you woke up and saw him in your bed? I mean hell you'd be pretty scared if any stranger was on your bed when you woke up – but I mean his mask is just damn creepy. – Which has a lot to do with psychology basically. We see someone hide their face, we get so suspicious of them – we're not sure what they really are saying. We see so much through body language.

    And no – I don't know the anime. I haven't seen some anime series in a while. Right now I'm catching up on all the big time anime films I've missed: Akira, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away (yes…I missed Spirited Away when I was young…and I shouldn't HAVE!), Millenium Actress, and Paprika.

    And regarding your maid outfit – ^O^, would you care to serve me, I may not have such a big wallet, but I think I have quite a big heart! ^_^

    But please don't go all Miike-Audition on me, if you do at least warn me so I can have some random friend of mine walk in the room and ask whether i'm "alright?" seeing that I have one leg cut off and needles under my eyelids and stomach.

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 3:15 am | Permalink

      Kiri-kiri-kiri… haha!
      I have the Visitor Q DVD from the library; I hear it’s very experimental and strange…
      Spirited Away is one of my favorite films, ever. It resonates with me in so many ways…

      • shadowpal2
        Posted October 20, 2010 at 12:01 am | Permalink

        OH BOY! Visitor Q – now that…THAT…will definitely make you wonder “What the hell is this? And what the hell is this all about?” – at first. But at the very end it all comes together wonderfully and the meaning is quite clear.

        It’s so messed up BUT SO AWESOME LOL!

  16. Emily
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 3:55 am | Permalink

    Yey! There’s I can spot two different Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) cosplays! But where is Sebastian??? :(((

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 3:56 am | Permalink

      At the vegan festival… haha just keeding!

    • Emily
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 3:57 am | Permalink

      Ooops typo. But I’m sure you get the jist. Amazing, La Carmina, that must have been heaps of fun!

  17. Glitch
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 3:58 am | Permalink

    Those pics really remind me of cons back home. ^^
    It’s funny that your outfit is skimpy but still covers up certain areas.(by that I mean butt and boobage.)

  18. Mstrlegend
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 3:59 am | Permalink

    such a look you have!

  19. MichaelMagnales
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 10:57 am | Permalink

    I once wanted to cosplay Kiryuu Zero or Kiryuu Ichiru from Vampire Knight. To dye my hair silverish blue and maybe add a red cord with a bell in my hair. But then I found out about the price of the costume T_T

    • lacarmina
      Posted October 19, 2010 at 8:20 pm | Permalink

      It’s an expensive pursuit, if done well, that’s for sure…

  20. Rocking Doll Museum
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 2:59 pm | Permalink

    Never cosplayed before!

    On the maid outfit.. socks/shoes don’t really match :x

  21. Clare
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 8:22 pm | Permalink

    Costumes are beautiful!!!! xD

  22. Lolitagreyeyes
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 8:25 pm | Permalink

    That looks like a ton of fun

  23. Lavon
    Posted October 19, 2010 at 8:32 pm | Permalink

    Loved the Southern Belle look!

  24. Moon_Wolf
    Posted October 20, 2010 at 4:17 pm | Permalink

    AHHHHH the Madam Red cosplay is so gooood!!!! So is Ciel in a dress! <3
    But where did Sebastian go?

    Love your blog Carmina :D

  25. Cosplay Costume
    Posted December 3, 2010 at 12:59 pm | Permalink

    Nice blog post, thanks for sharing this. We are also the Japan based cosplay costume manufacturers.

  26. Travis
    Posted December 20, 2012 at 3:17 am | Permalink

    I know that this is really old, but is this an annual ordeal?

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