Cosplay

Cosplay (コスプレ) – short form for ‘Costume Play’, is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from anime, manga, tokusatsu and video games.

Cosplaying also applied on dressing as characters from Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, Japanese pop music bands, Visual Kei, novels or product’s moe anthropomorphic form but less common.

However, cosplay has expanded to mean simply wearing a costume in some circles.

“In Japan, “cosplay” as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Likeminded people gather to see others’ costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.” – Cosplay Wiki

In some other cases, people cosplay to show their love for the characters they’re dressing.

Increase in the popularity of non-Japanese fantasy and science fiction movie characters like Harry Potter, Star Wars and more can be seen in recent cosplay events too.

Cosplaying as characters of the opposite sex is called “crossplay” while cosplaying as characters who dress as the opposite sex is called “cross-dressing”.

“Another recent trend in cosplay is a blurring of the distinction between costumes based on characters from games and anime, and “original” costumes based upon a general theme or existing fashions. In particular, the Tokyo teen-fashion trend of Gothic Lolita has attracted some cosplayers who might not have the inclination (or possibly courage) to wear such distinctive clothes around town…” – Cosplay Wiki

Yet, who can ever resist the beauty of cosplaying as a daikon? *laughes*