Lets Cosplay In Japan

Cosplay in the US and other Western countries have become incredibly popular in a short period of time. However, what we do here in the West varies widely from what is done in its country of origin: Japan. Due to large culture differences, Japan and the US have different rules regarding their cosplaying and the connotations of the hobby in regards to surrounding society. Overall, where the main purpose of the hobby generally remains the same, there is a huge difference in the distribution of the hobby itself.
By “distribution,” I am referring to the way cosplays are created, worn and publicized. What we should remember to keep in mind is that we are dealing with two completely different cultures. We hear all the time about these large cosplay events in Akihabara and the Lolita events in Harajuku, but we do not quite get the “ins” and “outs” of exactly how the people go about displaying their costumes. The events are highly publicized in the Western media, and eventually we all begin to believe that Japan has all these cosplayers everywhere, that you will nearly always see them if you wait in the right spot at the right time…
Well, this is a lie.
There are rules in which everyone is expected to follow in this sub-culture, and these rules are unspoken among fellow cosplayers. In Japan, you do not see random cosplayers walking on the streets just any time of day, unless it is accompanied by an event. There are many cosplayers in Japan, but you would never know it unless you knew your insiders.
Why the shout out about this? In my time in Japan, I have had the honour of being able to cosplay with friends (Japanese and non-Japanese), learning these coded ins and outs of Japanese cosplay. Unfortunately, there have been many misconceptions about cosplay culture in Japan, and I am here to help clarify the general truths surrounding some of the myths.
I know many of you will want to one day go to Japan and see a bunch of anime and cosplay, but you first should learn some of the rules before you do. It is important that you do, or you could risk being kicked off of transportation modes, stopped by police, harassed, etc. Let’s avoid this, shall we?

Some things about cosplaying in Japan: *Japanese frown on those who cosplay on trains. Cosplay is NOT okay on trains.
Avoid cosplaying on trains if at all possible. Trains become incredibly busy on weekends and during certain periods of the day during the week, so you should be considerate of other people around you. A lot of costumes take up a great deal of space, or distract others easily from what
they should be doing. In Japan, distractions are not always a good thing, especially when someone has something they need to be doing. If you have a cosplay that could pass as semi-normal, then sure, go ahead. You are a foreigner in Japan, so they do not expect you to follow ALL the rules, however you should know that you can earn their respect (and also help OUR reputation) by obeying societal norms even when you are acting as part of a sub-culture. The Japanese people appreciate this much more than you could realize. If you have a cosplay with a prop, I don’t care what that prop is, do not utilize the public transportation system (with the exception of your own vehicle or a taxi).

What you should do, is wear something that is easy to slip in/out of, and get dressed at your location in a bathroom or dressing room.Unfortunately for you, you have to pay to use dressing rooms or lockers (especially during a cosplay event). But, everyone else does this as well. It is normal routine for a cosplayer to change into cosplay at their destination. Most Purikura malls have dressing rooms where you can get changed, do makeup and even style your hair at a booth. It may be 100yen to 500yen depending on the place, but it is much more acceptable to do this than to come pre-dressed. A lot of Purikura malls also provide costumes and clothing for rent!

What is the worst that can happen if caught on a train with a cosplay?

It depends. Best case scenario is that no one else is around or it is not crowded. But in most cases (especially in regards to foreigners), you are stared at or talked about by those around you. Worst case scenario you are asked to leave the train by the police.

If you DO decide to cosplay on a train, then just be calm and respectful to others. Try to make yourself appear less stand-outish to avoid appearing suspicious or dangerous to others around you who may not understand. Not all Japanese know or understand cosplay culture, and cosplayers sometimes get mixed into the wrong stereotypes. The last thing you want is to have police called on you because someone thought you were part of a gang or appeared threatening.


*Be prepared
Make sure you are prepared for everything. Bring makeup, a bag to carry your important things, extra yen in case you need to pay for dressing room or locker, etc. Be sure to have everything as well. Don’t forget your gaikokujin card, and keep your passport in a safe place! If you are caught without your card, you could be fined or arrested depending on the officer. The Japanese do not take lightly to foreigners running around without identification, and not everyone speaks English.
*Know your peeps. Get a group together or join a group (if you can). You will now have more fun, know more places, and have a support system. :)
Knowing people is a key to getting into good groups and getting inside information on upcoming cosplay events. There are a lot of events that charge for you to cosplay (like cosplay events at
manga museums and such), but there are also free events too. Cosplay events happen every weekend in Japan almost everywhere, but it is hard to know when you don’t know anyone or know of any place to check out this information. Nipponbashi in Osaka is home to one of the largest cosplay events in Japan (even larger than Akihabara!). The Cosplay Festival is usually in March, and several miles and blocks of streets are blocked off specifically for cosplayers to stand in the streets to get their pictures taken or hand out meishi. It is also a huge attraction for photographers and media! Knowing people will help you get your information from reliable sources. Events in Japan are not always publicized, and people who are part of special clubs or activities are the only ones or the first ones to hear of events. Knowing these people will be extremely useful. In the end, you make friends and long lasting connections with great people just like you! So don’t be too shy!

*Meishi! Use them!
Meishi are business cards. Nearly every Japanese person worth their salt in Japan has a business card, and it does not matter what company or group they are from, they still have one. The Japanese people believe in their groups, and love to be associated with a specific group. Groups are important, because they run the society and make it work. These groups watch out for you and you them. This is a working high-context, group oriented culture. Just as with knowing your people and making connections, it is also important to have business cards if you want to be taken seriously. Most cosplayers in Japan have their own cards. This not only promotes them, but also establishes them in a type of “class” within the cosplay community.

What to put onto these cards? Your name (or alias), your Deviant Art or other networking site. Something that displays and showcases your work!


*Ask before doing!

Some cosplayers at large events expect you to take their pictures, and you don’t need to ask. But, there are others at large and small events (especially small ones), where you are expected to ask first before taking shots. Some cosplayers in the West would like to be asked first, and it is no different in Japan.
Don’t touch another cosplayer!!! You can look all you want, but no touching!

*Be kind and Respectful

Obviously this is important. You should be respectful of others even in cosplay. Just because you are suddenly being part of a Japanese sub-culture in Japan, does not give you rights to be rude to other people. The Japanese already have negative views of foreigners; you do not need to solidify those views by acting ridiculous. Remember to treat others the way you want to be treated. Because you are in Japan, you should try to conform to their culture, at least a little. This
IS an integrated and immersed experience, so why don’t you get out of it everything that you can? Use polite Japanese when speaking (hopefully you know enough to get around and survive for a few weeks to a few months at LEAST), use polite gestures such as bowing, and follow the everyday rules like a person with common sense. Just because gaikokujin are not expected to conform because the Japanese do not think we are capable of it, does not mean you shouldn’t make a good-hearted attempt.

*Learn Japanese
You are in Japan; you should learn the language enough depending on your duration of being there. If you plan to live there long term, you should expect to know or learn a decent amount of the language. You cannot expect the Japanese to cater to your own language, because they won’t. In fact, most Japanese do not know English very well. You will get the occasional few who will want to practice with you, but do not expect this to be a frequent occurrence. Learn basic polite expressions and grammar, make sure you can travel and get around, and try to remember that depending on where you are, the Japanese may be different.

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara tend to speak a different form of Japanese than those in Tokyo, Yokohama or other parts of Kanto. Kansai-ben is the popular Japanese in those lower regions, so some things may be completely different than your own learned dialect. The standard is Tokyo-ben, but not everyone speaks it, though they may know it. Don’t expect them to speak it for you so you can understand them. No, it does not work that way. Try to brush a little bit on the dialect of the region if you can. It is a little tough, but imagine the amount of knowledge you would obtain!

Fashion vs Cosplay
The Japanese have drawn a fine line between what is “fashion” and what is “not”. Cosplay is not considered to be “fashion”, and therefore only acceptable when with a group or during an event. You should not ride public transportation in cosplay, and you should also be careful how you present yourself in public in cosplay.

Fashion, however, you have much more slack with where you go and what you do. You may not see someone in cosplay on a train (at least often because you DO get people who do it though they shouldn’t), but you will definitely see someone dressed in full Lolita wardrobe. Why is it different? Fashion. Fashion is valued in Japan. It shows status as well as a person’s ability to keep with the times and if they are capable of dressing themselves good or not. Fashions vary from age to region, so these are not always discernible. A person is more likely to ignore someone in Lolita than they are a cosplayer.

However, for Halloween and Christmas, many people wear costumes to parties and such. Certain holidays you get breaks, and no one really cares so long as you are not bothering anyone and minding your own business.
Fashion that is generally acceptable: *Nearly all forms of Lolita can be worn anywhere *Traditional Fashion (including kimono and martial arts uniforms) *Gyaru/Other street fashions *regular stuff


All of these are very simple rules and very basic information on cosplaying in Japan. There is so much more that you can learn, but I feel it is important to touch on the basics before delving into anything more. Cosplay subculture in any society is rather complex, with many rules and expectations and connotations attached that we obey unspokenly. These do not change just because you travel to another country. Japan is a beautiful country with an amazing culture, but its downside is that it can be a complicated enigma to try to unravel. The Japanese mind is truly unique, and many Westerners have difficulties understanding the Japanese “why do they do that?” if they have not taken time to study the culture. Cosplaying should be a fun experience, but attempting to do it in a complex and high-context society may be disastrous if you are completely unaware of the norms to the sub-culture. Learning the rules will not only make the experience smoother and fun for you, but you will also find it easier to make friends and find your group of connections.

Article Written By: Mimiru Riley