#tokyo comiket

[thelastblackmoon]

🌸💚✨FAQ✨💚🌸

❓How do I know which ticket to buy?

↪️Convention websites usually stipulate if you’ll need a special ticket to cosplay or take photographs. Some cons require you to purchase an additional “Cosplay License” ticket along with a General Admission ticket. It’s typically inexpensive, tacking on about 500~1,000￥ to a 2,700￥ (on average) daily ticket.

❓What are the change rooms like?

↪️Rooms vary by con, but typically the larger/more popular the con is the more cramped the rooms can get. The floor is usually covered with a tarp that has spaces taped out for cosplayers to get ready. These squares can be quite small, measuring as little as 60cm x 100cm from what I’ve seen. In stark contrast, smaller cons with fewer attendees can have far more space, and I’ve had an entire room to myself before.

❓What are some “exceptions” to the rules?

↪️One main rule I see a lot is “underwear or clothing that can be mistaken for underwear is forbidden” but I’ve also seen a LOT of cosplays that toe that line. It usually comes down to wearing tights/body foundation and also the discretion of con staff, but it’s better not to bet on the latter.

❓What if someone asks for a photo outside the cosplay area?

↪️Mistakes happen! It’s best to politely turn them down, although they shouldn’t have asked in the first place. The rules are in place to not only protect cosplayers, but also to prevent blocking foot traffic or accidentally photographing guests who don’t want to be photographed/filmed. Commemorative selfies are usually permitted so long as you don't obstruct anything or include people outside the subjects.

[thelastblackmoon]

Here's an explanation of the Unspoken Rules of Cosplay in Japan!! There are SO many written rules for Japanese Cosplay Conventions, but those are all easy to read up on and understand. What's not as easy to figure out are the unspoken rules that are rooted in Japanese culture & society. If you don't understand the way of life in Japan, you may feel a little lost! Let's learn about the fine print within the fine print.

If you have any questions that aren't in the FAQ, please ask away int he comments!!

✨FAQ✨

❓How do I request/give permission if I don't speak Japanese?????

↪️The short answer is to either study key phrases or to simply print out a cheat sheet to show to people. I'll make a post on the best phrases to know for cosplay events both as attendees and cosplayers.

❓Why can't I cosplay in public? I've seen it on social media before.

↪️This is another question that needs its own post. The short answer is that many places require permission to shoot, and you also don't want to be a public nuisance and risk damaging the reputation of the cosplay community as a whole. Just because you've seen people do it doesn't mean you should copy them!!

❓What is SNS?

↪️It stands for Social Networking Sites, and is the most common umbrella term for Social Media. I also want to make another post for the many strange acronyms and phrases that Japanese people/the cosplay community have that are worth knowing.

❓What do you mean by "chaos" at American Conventions?

↪️Think about Katsucon, Holiday Matsuri, or Colossal Con (sorry West Coast people, I can't vouch for cons over there) and the 🫣festivities🤐 that occur there. Many hotel cons turn crazy after dark and include drinking, 18+ events, partying, and a general atmosphere of lawlessness--despite the valiant efforts of the organizers. It's kind of the opposite of Japanese cons which are incredibly organized and quite sterile in comparison.

The main takeaway is to THOROUGHLY read and understand the rules of the con and take them seriously. Japan has a lot of societal rules and while you may see some people break them, it can be irritating or downright rude to the people around them 🆖🚫

Try to understand Japanese culture and see things through the lens of Japan 🇯🇵🗾

It's ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry!! The last thing you want to do is make a fool out of yourself and/or your community when you're a guest in Japan. Let's do our best to learn the ways of Cosplay in Japan!! ⛩️👘