Saturday 1 August 2009

Japanese Cosplay as a Form of Art

By Nichelle Hitomi

The twenty first century has brought a new meaning to Japanese cosplay globally. Cosplay originated in Japan, and today many Japanese think this practice is silly. The younger Japanese generation have given a whole new meaning to cosplay, introducing parties as well as clubs that are dedicated to cosplay.

All over the world in modern day subcultures are forming, concentrating on wearing specific costumes and act out the chosen characters behaviour. Many of the cosplayers take characters from fantasy films, books, comic characters, and science fiction roles, and in instances they imitate the animal kingdom representing mostly mythical creatures such as dragons and unicorns.

Competitions and festivals are held worldwide, with emphasis particularly in Japan each year where people gather to exhibit their exquisite Japanes cosplay costumes as well as viewing other cosplayer's costumes, most of the costumes being handmade and others ordered to specification from shops specializing in costumes.

Browsing the internet you will find lots of pictures of people from all over the world showing off their creations, as well as contests and even lectures on cosplay. Both adults and children take part in cosplay. There is also cross dressing where men take the role of a female character. The Japanese are known for crossplaying. Body suits and masks are worn by the males and they are fully transformed into female characters.

In recent years role playing rather than cosplay of a favourite character has become popular whereby participants are photographed and these photographs are used for magazines, TV, film production and are also shared with other players of social groups and networks.

Terms and conditions have been set by cosplay groups, that whatever character you have chosen to dress up as, you have to become the character, in words, action and nature. Japanese cosplay is not only dressing up and acting out, there are also a rich culture as well as tradition behind the character they have chosen to portray.

Western and Japanese cosplayers are taking on the roles of popular movie characters like, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and many others. These people are usually fanatical fans of the movie characters, and they become the character by Cosplaying. Many cosplayers will follow war heroes, science fiction characters even down to the fairies and gnomes are acted out. Japanese cosplay remains more or less original and follows customs and traditions that have existed for many centuries.

Japanese cosplay has become a hobby for most, and there are special gatherings of like-minded people, viewing and showing off their exquisite cosplayers costumes, some handmade and others made to order. Cosplay is a healthy hobby for all ages enhancing creativity and helping people to act out their fantasies openly.

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