Reflections on photos

After presenting this photoblog and the photos in the class "Visual Anthropology of Japan", I got to answer some questions about cosplay as well as the photos in this blog. Here are some of the questions. The answers are based on the open interviews I did during this research.

"How do people start to do cosplay?"
The reason is fandom and interest. The people who get into cosplay, do not only want to stay as passive readers and consumers, but they want to customize their experience and be active part of it. The cosplayers that I met so far, do like manga and anime, but some of them also like fashion and the "making of things" by which I mean making of costumes and accessories.

"How many characters does one play?"
One can have just one character, or up to as many as 6 or more. It all depends how much time and money one is willing to give to cosplay.

"Is it common to cross-play?"
As cross-playing means that female plays a male character or vice versa, in the events that I went to, I only saw few persons doing this.

"How long the cons or events last, and is there collaboration with other activities?"
For example, the event in Cafe de Joule in Kyoto lasted for couple of hours, and there were also people who didn't cosplay or wear a costume.
Some bigger cons last for couple of days. And there are other activities and audience as well, for example with doujinshi (unofficial remakes of manga) and videogames.

"Do people wear the costume outside the event?"
It is not so common, because especially in Japan, wearing the costume outside the event might cause some unwanted reactions from by-passers.
In bigger events, for example in 3 day Tokyo Comiket, cosplayers are advised only to wear their costumes inside the event hall.



During the October of 2006 until of today, I got to see only a slight slide of the cosplay culture in Kansai. There are yet plenty of events to come, so I will be checking them out to keep this photoblog updated. Cosplay in Japan definitely has a distinct flavor and it is very visual. Cosplay is made Japanese by customizing the characters with Japanese hints. Also the rules of the events reflect the Japanese culture, hierarchy and values some what. Cosplay might look similar in different parts of the world, but yet it is done by local rules and interests.

Combined with other actitivies related to manga and anime, it forms a colorful youth subculture in Japan.