What's Behind Cosplay Outfits:
Harajuku Fashion's Secret Sub-Culture

Get the inside stories about Japanese youth culture and how Cosplay costumes inspire international fashion designers and celebrities.

Cosplay is different from Halloween costumes in many ways.
It is not limited to a few days of holiday during the year.
And the goal of Cosplay costumes is to actually become the Cosplay character. Like an actor plays a role on stage.

The Japanese Cosplay followers even adopt the body language of the character they represent.

The Characters that inspire Japanese Cosplay usually come from Manga, Anime (Japanese comics) video games and fantasy movies.

Japanese Cosplay takes a very large part of a fan's life, filling their spare time and weekends.

Cosplay Girls and Boys put a lot of time and effort into creating the Cosplay costumes. It is their hobby, and each outfit can take months to put together.

It starts with careful study of the character and continues by putting in meticulous crafting work.

The more details to the costume – the better...

Japan Cosplay has many subgroups. Check to learn more on the different Harajuku Clothing.

Some of the Tokyo Cosplay followers complete their Cosplay outfits by buying accessories like wigs, plastic weapons and face paint in a Cosplay store. There are shops in Tokyo that specialize in Japanese Cosplay.

Tokyo fashion industry and international celebrities are inspired by Tokyo Cosplay. They closely watch Harajuku girls style and subcultures.

Harajuku fashion like Harajuku Gothic Lolita style is worn by popular celebrities, from Gwen Stefani to Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Cosplay Girls have some famous gathering places. They come to show off their design and share tips.
Secretly they are hoping that their photo will be taken by the many international Magazine photographers.

Every Sunday they create a fantastic parade of colorful Cosplay outfits on Jingu bridge (above Yamanote Line) in Harajuku district.

Tokyo’s Akihabara district has a large number of Cosplay Cafés, where fans can show-off their costumes and exchange ideas.

The waitresses in these Cafés dress in outfits taken from the world of Anime and Otaku.
Otaku is a sub-culture in Japanese youth culture that has an obsession for Anime and Manga comic books.

Some of the cafés are called a Maid Café. In the Maid Café waitresses wear maid costumes and serve the clients as servants.

There is a mixed reaction towards Cosplay in Japan today.
Harajuku Girls don't think of their Harajuku outfits as sexy. But some people associate Japan Cosplay with Fetishism.

Continue Reading:

The different styles Of Harajuku Girls

Harajuku Girl outfits

Japan Cosplay-the Top 3 Gathering places for Cosplay followers

The latest from Tokyo on Harajuku Fashion

More Fun Cosplay Girl Photos and info

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