Over 300 participants from around the world joined the costume parade.
The “World Cosplay Summit” was held in Nagoya, Japan on August 2nd and 3rd. Cosplay (costume play), the practice of animation and comic fans, became popular in Japan in the 1990s, and quickly spread overseas.
The cosplay contest featured plenty of drama.
The first first international cosplay contest was held in 2003, and attracted contestants from four countries. The popularity of cosplay has spread and this year contestants from 12 countries plus groups representing Tokyo and Osaka participated in the contest. There was also a cosplay parade, in which some 300 people donned elaborate costumes and braved the scorching summer heat.
The government of Japan has recognized the economic benefit of tourism and study abroad programs fueled by interest in Japanese comics and animation from abroad, and this year’s summit was sponsored by three national ministries, the Nagoya city, Aichi prefecture, and Aichi Television, and Nagoya International Airport.