Layers Paradise is, according to DannyChoo.com and several other good sources, one of the largest cosplay events of the year in Japan. This is where many cosplayers come out with all their glory, to exchange high quality photography time with one another, compete in the costume contest, and dance at the DANPA (meaning Dance Party, I think) where everyone has memorized literally dozens (or more) of dances that integrate Para Para (hand motion dances). We decided to go in a group this year and cosplay ourselves, so I want to share that experience with you. I apologize in advance that I cannot upload the high. res. photos of any cosplayers at this time because you have to get special permission to do so. I will put up a couple of nice sweeping photos of crowds, but that's all I can do for now. Although I did register for a press pass, they ask that you don't upload anyone's "posing" photos without permission, so I'm going to abide by the actual rule and the social guideline.

This is the mass of preparing cosplayers in the morning. The center itself and some of the layout almost reminds me of the inside of Anime Boston, actually.

     So, first of all...we were the ONLY Americans (actually, foreigners, period...lol.) at this event other than THREE press people who were running around like maniacs with press passes and getting avoided by as many cosplayers as possible. Note #1 for you to take in: if you're not a cosplayer, you don't have well-known credentials, or you're not Japanese...you will probably be somewhat off-putting to Japanese cosplayers and they may shy away from taking your photo. Why? Because tons of Otaku foreigners flock to Japan interested in the origins of cosplay and do a lot of very socially unacceptable things like taking photos without permission (ALWAYS ASK!) and worse yet they upload them to the internet (which is definitely not good to do without asking and you better speak fluent Japanese for this one because believe me they will just outright say no if you don't speak enough). It's not that they don't want their pictures online... just put yourself in their shoes for a minute. Would you really want some random stranger uploading pictures of you to the internet without your permission? Or, what if you were a cosplayer but during the week had an office job where (in Japan) it was bad if your employer or co-workers found out you were a cosplayer and found your photo on the internet!?! I can totally understand and respect why many Japanese people don't want their photos to just end up on some persons website. I don't even know if these cosplayers realize that the American press that went to this event are totally going to use their photos on their site. Seriously, I hope they at least gave them business cards.

    Note #2 for you to take in: we had no idea that we'd be the only foreigners cosplaying at this event. Now, we normally stand out a whole bunch as foreigners, which is fine. I've gotten over the fact that some people descriminate against us or think we're some kind of oddity...and I've heard the word gaijin so much that it just kind of washes over me now. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that much because many Japanese people don't care and are happy to see some foreigners in Japan. At the con...this experience took on a whole new...shade? It was interesting to see EVERYONE that passed us staring at us. Most said different things...but then we realized the main reason we were being stared at was because we were cosplaying as the one thing that NOBODY cosplays at these types of events = horror characters. I had been wondering for quite some time why I never saw any characters from the myriads of horror series and games from Japan at these events, but apparently it's because scaring the public - particularly children, is an unfortunate side effect of dressing scary and walking around Tokyo Dome. Woops...well...needless to say we cosplayed as some Zombies and a Frank West from Dead Rising and this got some ridiculous attention by cosplayers and staff. Many people told us we were scary, some said they recognized Kona (who cosplayed as Frank West from Dead Rising), and the staff from the event said "Please do not go outside the building because you are scaring the public." Alright, well, so much for that idea! Note to self, do not make realistic zombie costume at cosplay events in Japan...

     I raced to wash the blood off myself (which was a huge challenge because we had used theatrical makeup and all I had to wash was my Zombie-ripped, white T-Shirt turned inside out and some soap from the bathroom sink) and change back into my street clothes so I could return to anthropologist mode. I was trying to hang out and observe! Not stand out like a sore thumb and cause a big scene in which we got scolded by staff!!!

     Other than our immensely entertaining event in the morning we had a pretty awesome day and met some really great cosplayers who were, in every sense of the term - "Hard Core." The costumes were INCREDIBLE. Full detail, excellent craftsmanship - even weapons were done with an ultimate level of perfection. I think this event was something most people had been planning for a while, but it was definitely impressive when it came to the judging for the costume contest. A fantastic "Final Fantasy XIII" team won (I think Best in Show) an award, as well as some "Kamen Riders" and "Pokemon" (which were actually female personifications of Piichu, Pikachu, and Raichu...SO CUTE!). An honorary award was given to an ADORABLE team of two little kids who dressed up as Pokemon Trainers. SOOO CUTE! I didn't take pictures of them because that's totally socially unacceptable but I can assure you they looked perfect and looked like they were having a great time. Their mother was also cosplaying (I'm not quite sure who she was because it was from a newer Pokemon series I haven't seen). All I have to say about that is Family Cosplay is made of win.

     The DANPA was pretty cool. I've never seen so many people know so many choreographed dances in my life!!! Granted that most of the motions are with the hands and I was told uploaded online so that people can learn them in their bedroom before going...but still...the fact that people took all this time to learn all these dances is awesome. I have to admit, I really wish I knew some because it looked really fun! They even had a dance to "My Oh My" by Aqua, a song I haven't heard in a long time but it made me laugh because I had no idea that it ever came to Japan!

     All in all it was a pretty fun event and next time we decided we're going to cosplay as some acceptable characters. I have wanted to cosplay as a certain Lady Une for quite some time now...so maybe I'll be getting to that for the next event. Since the cosplay club at TUJ is trying to budget for a Sewing Machine now, we should be able to start making some neat outfits for the next event. Wish me luck!