Saturday, August 1, 2009

Japanese Cosplay and The Sex Industry

By Nichelle Hitomi

Japanese cosplay is simply a term for costume play as westerners call cosplay a masquerade. Cosplay covers virtually everything from uniforms, military, fantasy, science fiction, medieval to ones wildest dreams and imagination.

Japanese cosplay has spread globally, and all dedicated cosplayers can join social groups, as well as personalize your cosplay profile on various sites on the internet. You can literally be whoever you choose to, as well as acting out your chosen character with no repercussions or stigmas attached. This is now fast becoming an accepted practice worldwide.

In Japan it is now a trend to have cosplay parties as well as going to nightclubs that are dedicated to cosplay. The costumes are specifically designed to the exact detail of the character they are portraying. Cosplaying is a unique form of art, like sculpturing or painting. A popular trend in Japan now is to act out non-Japanese fantasy as well as science fiction. Harry Potter for instance has become exceptionally popular, as well as various other popular films.

Tailors and seamstresses are now cashing in on this opportunity and make excellent livings from the Japanese cosplayer fanatics. Costumes are made to specification even down to the finest details of the character portrayed; nothing is changed from the original item and design. The finer details are exact matches, like the thread used, ribbons, and colours and so on.

In Japan there are specialized clubs that cater for the sex industry and these clubs are called image clubs. Staff working at the clubs; also dress up as animation characters. Both males and females cross dress while cosplaying.

There are special Japanese cosplay agencies and video game companies that have models, modelling only cosplay costumes. Many film and video companies are scrambling to hire cosplayers. The cosplayers are seen as fictional characters in flesh. Cosplayers have virtually replaced the agency models, as they have the ability to re-create the character they portray with accuracy, and are able to stand apart from standard models.

Japanese cosplay originated in Japan, and majority of cosplay still takes place in Japan. Cosplay is considered to be typical behaviour in Japan, and has spread across the globe just as anime has becoming a popular hobby and various print media features cosplayers.

The Japanese cosplay is not only about sex temples, cafes, and clubs. The younger Japanese generation have given a whole new meaning to cosplay, introducing parties as well as clubs that are dedicated to Japanese cosplay. People come from all over the globe to compete and show off their costumes and to see others costumes. Cosplay is becoming extremely popular worldwide, and cosplay popularity is increasing daily. Online you will find hundreds of cosplay sites you can visit and many cosplay societies and clubs that you are able to join. What a wonderful way of making new friends and contacts worldwide as well as being able to act out your wildest dreams.

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