Why is Japanese Anime Cosplay a Popular Hobby Among Many?

Cosplay, or costume play, refers to dressing up as a persona or a character. Cosplay is often associated with Japanese culture, as it is prominently featured at Japanese festivals. In fact, almost every Japanese festival held in different countries, including Indonesia, includes cosplay.

Brief History of Cosplay

Many people believe that Japan was the first country to invent the idea of cosplay. However, the first cosplayer was actually Myrtle Rebecca Douglas Smith Gray Nolan, who wore futuristic costumes in Los Angeles.

At that time, the term cosplay did not yet exist. In 1984, a Japanese reporter named Nobuyuki Takahashi attended the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and was impressed by the costumes worn at the event. In his writing, Nobuyuki Takahashi coined the term cosupure (cosplay in katakana) to describe these costumes and the term was later copied by other magazines.

Why Do People Enjoy Cosplay?

For decades, cosplay has remained a favorite pastime and hobby for many. People choose to cosplay characters from anime, games, and comic books. Some even prepare multiple costumes to cosplay their different favorite characters at different events.

So, why do so many people love doing cosplay? Here are some reasons:

1. An Outlet for Expression

Being a cosplayer takes work. You have to style your hair, wear costumes, and apply makeup to resemble your chosen character. All of this requires creativity to make yourself look as identical as possible to the character.

2. Showing Love for Their Fandom

By dressing up in costumes as their beloved character, cosplayers demonstrate their love for that character. Not only their appearance, but many cosplayers also mimic the behavior and personality of their chosen character.

3. Making New Friends

When you cosplay a certain character, you have the chance to meet others who share the same fandom as yours. So, you can expand your circle of friends to include new people. This is one of the key advantages of cosplaying.

4. An “Escape”

According to Forbes, cosplay can be a way for someone to escape from the mundaneness of their daily activities. By cosplaying, you can step away from your real-life persona and fully immerse yourself in the character you are portraying. By cosplaying, you can live out your dreams and fantasies that you cannot achieve in the real world.

5. A Source of Income

Did you know that cosplay can also be a way to earn money? You can become a model or an influencer. However, before becoming a successful one, you definitely need to work hard, such as by building a following on social media first.

Things You Need to Know About Cosplay

Interested in becoming a cosplayer? There is one important thing you should know: the cost. That’s right, being a cosplayer can be quite expensive, especially if you want to become a professional or participate in various cosplay competitions.

While you can cosplay on a budget, the results may be less impressive or inaccurate. This is especially true when you are cosplaying a character with lots of accessories, such as weapons or additional props.

But, if you have skills in sewing, designing costumes, and doing makeup, you can reduce your costs by making everything yourself. If you are a beginner cosplayer and doing it for the first time, you should start with a simpler character.

However, if you are not ready to cosplay but still want to learn more about it, you can attend Japanese festivals often held in Indonesia. If you want to see cosplay in its country of origin, you can visit Japan. Make sure to purchase your International Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia before your trip to Japan to ensure protection throughout your journey.