[Photo]Nittatanishi cosplaying Hosho Marine (Hololive)
Along with content such as manga, anime, and games, cosplay is now a culture that Japan is proud of and is widely popular overseas. From August 2nd to 4th, the large-scale event “World Cosplay Summit 2024” (commonly known as WCS, Kosumi), known as the world’s largest cosplay festival, will be held in the Sakae area of Aichi. A large number of cosplay fans came from both Japan and abroad, making the event a huge success.
WEB The Television conducted an interview at the event, which attracted 253,700 visitors over three days and featured various stage projects and a cosplay parade. We asked the cosplayers who adorned the venue to talk about their “commitments to cosplay.”
■What are the commitments of the cosplayers who decorated “WCS2024”?
■Uruha Ichinose (Buispo!)/Okura Yamanaka
The costumes will be prepared by collecting ready-made items with similar designs and processing them. It’s sculpted to show off the lines of your body, so you’ll have to resist the urge to eat Nagoya’s delicious food. Another point is that I tried my best (!?) to make sure my stomach didn’t get bloated!
■Hosho Marine (Hololive)/Nitatanishi-san
Since it was a summer event, we prepared swimsuit costumes. If I were to pick a point that I was particular about, it would be that I wanted to dress neatly and coolly, so I was careful to maintain my style.
■Hosho Marine (Hololive)/Reia-san
In order to make her legs look longer, she increased the length of her skirt to the point where her innerwear was not visible, and finely adjusted the size of the costume itself so that it fit her body perfectly. In order to recreate the size of her breasts, I put a towel around her chest to enlarge her bust, and other things that I am particular about. Captain Marine is an attractive character who is not only sexy but also cute and innocent, so we were conscious of recreating as many facial expressions as possible.
■Aimi Aizono (Nijisanji)/696
Speaking of Aizono Manami-chan, she is a nice and sensitive older sister, so she is particular about how to make her style look good. For the costume tights, I prepared 30 denier tights, which she said in a broadcast that she “prefers to wear them.” Also, you can’t really tell from the photo, but I’m also very particular about the fact that I secretly wore the same Dior perfume as myself called Hypnotic Poison.
■Akina Saegusa (Nijisanji)/Kurumi-san
This was my first time making a costume from scratch. I’m a complete amateur when it comes to making clothes, but I did a lot of research and went to stores to find fabrics that matched my interpretation, and somehow I managed to complete it. Although it was a little rough at times, it was a great experience for me as I learned how much fun it is to make clothes.
■Large cosplay events will continue to be held nationwide from September onwards.
Following “WCS2024,” which ended with great success, large-scale events where you can enjoy cosplay will continue to be held across the country from September onwards. “Tokyo Game Show 2024” (September 26th to 29th, Makuhari Messe, Chiba), “Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2023” (October 25th to 27th, Ikebukuro East Exit Area), “Tokyo Comic Con 2024″ (December) Also coming up are “Comic Market 105” (December 29th and 30th, Tokyo Big Sight).
What kind of manga, anime, and game cosplay will be popular at these events? It would be interesting to analyze trends from now on and compare answers at the venue.
◆Interview and text: Somtam Tai
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[Photo]Reia dressed as Hosho Marine (Hololive)
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[Photo]Kurumi dressed as Akina Saegusa (Nijisanji)
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World Cosplay Summit 2025
The Unbridled Creativity of Cosplay: A Glimpse into the World Cosplay Summit 2024
As I read through the article about the World Cosplay Summit 2024 (WCS 2024) in Aichi, Japan, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the creativity, dedication, and passion that went into this grand event. With over 253,700 visitors in attendance, it’s clear that cosplay has become an integral part of Japanese culture, and its global appeal continues to grow.
What struck me most about this article was the attention to detail that each cosplayer brought to their craft. From Uruha Ichinose’s (Buispo!)/Okura Yamanaka’s elaborate costume making process to Reia-san’s deliberate adjustments to recreate the perfect proportions for Hosho Marine’s (Hololive) costume, each cosplayer’s commitment to their art form was evident.
One of the most fascinating aspects of cosplay is the way it blends artistry, craftsmanship, and self-expression. Cosplayers like Nitatanishi-san, who channeled Hosho Marine’s carefree and playful spirit, and 696, who painstakingly recreated Aimi Aizono’s (Nijisanji) costume down to the tiny details, including perfume, showed a level of dedication that was both inspiring and humbling.
Moreover, the quotes from the cosplayers themselves offered a glimpse into their thought process and creative decisions. For instance, Uruha Ichinose’s goal of sculpting the costume to accentuate her body, or Reia-san’s focus on perfecting the proportions of the costume to capture Hosho Marine’s signature charm. These quotes humanized the cosplayers and highlighted the amount of effort and thought that went into their creations.
It’s also worth noting that cosplay has become a platform for self-expression and identity exploration. As the cosplayers in the article mentioned, they not only aimed to accurately portray their characters but also to infuse their own personalities and flair into their costumes. This blending of creative expression and personal style is a unique aspect of cosplay that sets it apart from other art forms.
The success of WCS 2024 serves as a testament to the power of creative communities to come together and celebrate their passions. As the event continues to attract visitors from Japan and abroad, it’s clear that cosplay has transcended its niche origins to become a beloved and inclusive aspect of global popular culture.
As I reflect on the article, I’m struck by the sheer creativity and enthusiasm that defines the cosplay community. The World Cosplay Summit 2024 is more than just an event – it’s a celebration of imagination, creativity, and self-expression.
