I will Join Okinawa Mihama Manga MegaExpo Ver3

I will go to Okinawa where is the southernmost prefecture in Japan to join Okinawa Mihama Manga Mega Expo V3. This will be the first time to go to Okinawa. There is a lot of manga and Cosplay fans in Okinawa as well. I am very looking forward to attend the event :).

Date:
29 and 30 March ,2013.
March 29 start 16:00- close 21:00
March 30 start 14:00- close 19:30

Place:
沖縄県北谷町美浜3　デポアイランド
Depo Island
Okinawa-ken, Nakagami-gun, Chatan-chō, Mihama, 3

As Okinawa is home to 75 percent of U.S. military bases stationed in Japan, there is so many American.

From official HP ‘Okinawa Mihama Manga Mega Expo V3‘
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“Please come here, ALL cosplayers on the world!
This is the heaven of cosplayers, paradise　of　Manga!　JOIN US.MMM!

MIHAMA.MANGA.MEGAEXPO Ver3, MMM V3
IN Depot Island,Distortion Fashion BLDG.,OUK Fashion BLDG.,etc..
Festival of Cosplay, anime, manga, otaku game,.. 🙂
SF and Horror ang Gothic and COMIC and Fantasy movie convention.
It’s MIHAMA MANGA MEGAEXPO. JOIN US.

SF-Car,Movie-Car,OTAKU-Car(ITA-SHA)AUTOSHOW.
FREE　COSPLAY Party! Anime,MANGA,Comic,SF,FreeMarket.
Commemorative photo, Photo session,OK!
No movie shoot. No Voyeur shoot.
Enjoy Costume play.Beginner cosplayer, children Cosplayer,
Families Cosplayer,OTAKU Cosplayers. We will welcome.
We welcome the American cosplayers. ”
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Here is the last year’s video.
MIHAMA MANGA MEGAEXPO 2012

The 9th Nipponbashi Street Festa

There was a lot of events last week. One of the events was The 9th Nipponbashi Street Festa which held in Nihonbashi, Osaka. (This is the difficulty to learn Japanese. There is a town which is called Nihonbashi in Tokyo and Nipponbashi in Osaka although both of them have same character in Japanese.) I joined the event to sell my photos mainly.

Over 3,500 Cosplayers walked on Nipponbashi street to show their Cosplay. Since 230,000 people gathered to see the events in Osaka, some pictures were covered by people. But I found some chances to take Cosplayers.

First, cute cosplayers 🙂 🙂

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Very unique cosplayers. You will know whom they play.

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Heros?!

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So many people were interested in Cosplay.

Other photos on Nicheee.com
Nipponbashi Street Fest 2013 Cosplay Festivals (1st part)
Nipponbashi Street Fest 2013 Cosplay Festivals (2nd part)

Ita-suits

I am sure everyone think ‘What is Ita-suits?’ when you see the title of the article. In Japanese, we write 痛スーツ. If you knew some Japanese, you would be able to assume what the word means.

I’ve ever introduced ‘Ita-sya‘ which is “literally “painmobile”, is a Japanese term for an otaku fad of individuals decorating the bodies of their cars with fictional characters of anime, manga, or video games (especially bishōjo game or eroge). These characters are predominately “cute” female.”, according to Wikipedia.

Now a Japanese company has invented a new product which is ‘Ita-suits’. You understand what it is rather than explaining the word literally.

Image Reference : http://www.kotaku.jp/2013/03/itasuit.html
More pictures are here at MANTAN WEB.

The company says if you have your original illustration, we can accept your order whatever you like.
Comany website: Ita-suits Project (Japanese only)

As you know, many people are tired of working hard. When you feel much stress or tired, your favorite character on the Ita-suits would relieve your stress. Already some retailers from abroad especially from Italy and Malaysia are interested in the products.

Do you want to wear Ita-suits? 🙂

Hakone Cosplay Festa

There is a lot of Cosplayers and Cosplay events in Japan. Hakone Cosplay Fest is one of the indications that there is many types of events outside of Tokyo. If you have ever been to Japan, you would know Hakone as a famous city in Japan for a hot spring. Also if you were a fan of Evangelion, you must know Hakone.

The 2nd Hakone Cosplay Festa

Place:
Japan, Kanagawa-ken, Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone-machi, Yumoto, 698
In Japanese 神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町湯本698
Hakone Yumoto Map PDF (both in Japanese and English)

– 3min on foot from Hakone Yumoto Station at Hakone Tozan Railway
– No Parking

Time:
10:30am – 4:00pm

Organizer:
Nihon-Genki and Cosplay Q (Contact)

They organize the event to vitalize tourism and boost Hakone’s economy. Not only Cosplayers and Cameramen, but also local people and foreigners who come to Japan can join the event! In the near future, they think they will provide the Cosplay costume to foreign visitors and do contest for Cpospaly event.

If you were in Japan especially around Tokyo, that would be a good chance to enjoy Cosplay event.

P.S.
English ver. HAKONE Instrumentality MAP is available here.
HAKONE Instrumentality MAP

Daily Cosplay Clothes?!

Cosplay is a special term. In your countries, some people know but other people have no idea what’s the cosplay. Yes, it also happens in Japan. Presumably Cosplay becomes a common word in Japan, but not all people know it.

One online clothing company has started selling some ‘Daily Cosplay clothes’. The sales copies say as below.
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When you hear ‘Cosplay’, you may feel it’s a different world term. Everyone (especially women) should have a desire to change. However if you seriously want to try to Cosplay, it would cost some money and have brave….then…. We’ve created Cosplay clothes which even cosplay begginers can wear it as a part of our fashion. Those clothes are based on fairy tales. Since we would like mature ladies to wear the clothes, we focus on the details, colour, quality and everthing. You can be a heroin in the fairy tale!

The more you collect, The more variation you have. Let’s try to fit with different types of heroins. You can do ‘Women’s Cosplay Party’ if you bought it with your friends!
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From those of you who are professional Cosplayers’ point of view, what do you think the costume?

The online company send the costume once a month for four consecutive month. Once you buy it one, you would need to buy the rest of them. It cost 9,800 JPY in month (roughly 80 euro and 103 USD).

From light, Alice – Alice in Wonderland, Dorothy – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Snow White – Snow White and Red Riding Hood – Little Red Riding Hood.
haco. journal Heroins in Fairy Tales Cospaly

Personally if someone were wearing the costume outside, all Japanese would gaze at you…. in Japan.
Also my question is why all models are non-Japanese although they would like to sell them to Japanese….

Cosplay Train in Shimane

Sanko-Line where runs between Hiroshima and Shimane-Prefecture in Japan held a Cosplay event in the train. The train line has lost many passengers because the area of the population has been decreasing.

Reference: Chugoku Shinbun Onlinehttp://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201303110019.html

Professors in Hiroshima University organizes the event to promote the area.27 cosplayers from Hiroshima, Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures enjoy cosplaying in the train.

That’s the great event. Usually we cannot cosplay in the train. I guess if they continued the events more often, some cosplayers who would like to use the train would go to the area.

Regulations for Cosplayers – Tokyo International Anime Fair 2013

I tried to translate some regulations for Cosplayers at Tokyo International Anime Fair 2013 which has updated recently. It may be interesting to compare to other Cosplay events in other countries. Although it does not apply to all of Cosplay events in Japan, It is a good indication to understand big Cosplay events in Japan. Most interesting points I find is that you cannot enter the venue with Cosplaying. It means that you should change your costume at the Cosplay changing room in the venue not allowed you to wear the costume from your home!

Original Version in Japanese: http://www.tokyoanime.jp/ja/visitor/cosplay/

Available time for Cosplay
Cosplay Area 10:00-16:00
Changing Area 10:00-17:00 (last admission till 16:00)
Cloak 10:00-16:00

* You may need to wait when the changing room is crowded.
* The cloak room is only available for Cosplayers.
Since the cloak area is available for all cosplayers,
we do not bear any responsibility to the individual luggage.
Please pay attention to your belongings on your own.

Notice for Cosplay
Not only people who love cosplay but also who come for other objectives on the event. Please be considerate of those people.

All Cosplayers must go through the front desk before you cosplay.

To enjoy Cosplay at Tokyo International Anime fair, you need to register. (500 JPY)
You cannot use the chanign room and cloak without the registration card.

We prohibit cosplayers from coming the the venue with cosplaying.
e.g. wearing wig, costume and cosplay make

Limitation for Costume
We prohibit Cosplayers from wearing a costume for some occupations who have a special authority. e.g. Police, fireman and self-defence official.

Please take into cosideration your costume especially when you wear an armor which may hurt others. When you move in the venue, please remove the parts to avoid hurting others.
Also please remove a helmet, eyepatch and mask which interrupts your sight, when you walk.

* You need to a person to help you if you wear the special costume which may interrupt your sight. The person you help has to register as a cosplyer.
* We may ask you an area you can walk and move if we consider your costume is too dangerous.

We prohibit you from wearing an overexposure costume or a costume makes other people unfomfortable. If you wear a plunging costume, please follow the front desk staff.

About an exposure of your costume
Tokyo International Anime Fair prohibit the overexposure.

Please don’t show your skin by painting yourself or wearing body tights.
Please don’t show your skin directly. When you wear a mini skirt and costume has a deep slit, you need to wear a stockings, tights or spats.
We prohibit Cosplyers from showing your underwear. Our staff will check your costume if it is suitable for the event.

About an limitation for cosplay, properties and fake weapons.
Please take care of those costumes because a lot of general attendees come to the event.

There is no limitation of the size of the weapon, but please pay attention to your weapon when you walk and move at the venue.
Only big weapon which can dissolve are admitted.

* The defintion of the big weapon is over hight 1.3m * width 60cm.
You may have a limitation depending on your size of the weapon.
Please don’t bring the weapon outiside of Cosplay area.
* There will be a place where you can leave your weapon.

Prohibited items
Real sword and guns and other edge tools.
Model gun and Air gun which can shoot.
Burnable dangerous objects or drastic medicine.
Ridable things (e.g. Bicycle and roller blade)
noisy stuff (e.g. whistle and radio casette)
Things which may make the venue/people dirty (e.g. paint and stage blood)
Other things the staff consider it’s dangerous

Others
Here is the notes within the Cosplay room/floor.
– You cannot change your costume or make up without the changing room.
– Please share the area and room. You cannot share a large area on your own.
– You cannot use the stage blood and hair spray at the venue.
– Please don’t play the weapons and take photos which men and women embrace/hold.

You can smoke only smoking area.
Please don’t leave your belongings at the venue.
We cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.

Shooting Cosplayers
Only Cosplay floor is the area you can take Cosplay photos.
When you take a group photo, we may ask you a time constrain to avoid a heavy congestion.

Before you take photo, you should have permission to Cosplayers.
If not, it will be considered a spy photo. It applies to when you take a photo by your mobile.

When we find any voyeuristic behavior, groper and spy photo, we will call the police.
We allow you to take a photo and prohibit you from shooting video.

Please note that it is my roughly translation not official version. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask them directly.

Cosplay Camera

Don’t you need to cosplay because you can get Cosplay photo just taking a photo? No, I know Cosplayers enjoy cosplaying and want to create their costume, meet people and communicate with a lot of people. However if you don’t have enough time to do cosplay, you would have an alternative option here.

This is free APP. Let’s enjoy cosplaying on your mobile.
Cosplay Camera

Domino Pizza featuring Hatsune Miku

Domino Pizza must be famous in US because it’s originally from US. Domino Pizza Japan has had a lot of interesting marketing campaigns which seem to focus on Otaku (geek) market. They have collaborated with Tiger & Bunny, Star Wars and finally Hatsune Miku!!
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Domino Pizza’s APP featuring Hatsune Miku

First, let’s enjoy watching the You Tube video by Scott K.Oelkers who is a CEO of Domino Pizza Japan. All are in English, so you know what we can do on the APP.
Domino’s App feat. 初音ミク

As Scott says on the video,
1. You can order Domino Pizza by GPS! Miku-icon stands up your place on the map.
2. Original Hatsune Miku Vocaloid songs let you know when your pizza delivers.
3. You can take a picture with Miku 🙂
4. You can see Miku’s dancing when you see your pizza box by your mobile.

Another interesting thing is that the discount rate is 39% (3 is ‘mi’ and 9 is ‘ku’ in Japanese).

Unfortunately the Miku campaign is only available in Japan, but you may try to download the APP on your phone although you cannot order from outside of Japan!! Let me know how it works.

App: Domino’s App feat. Hatsune Miku – Domino Pizza Japan

P.S.
Miku bike comes to your home when you order Miku-Pizza. It must be excieiting for Miku fan!