Cosplaying convention promotes Japanese culture

The George R. Brown Convention Center was jammed pack with people on Apr. 1 to 3. Fancy dresses. Brightly colored wigs. Complex robot suits. This was the annual event anime fans all over Houston and other parts of the United States attended.

Showing off their anime cosplay costumes. Buying anime merchandise. Meeting famous Japanese cosplayers. This was the Anime Matsuri Convention of 2015. Sophomore Fiona Yeung described what happens at Anime Matsuri.

“Anime Matsuri has so many different things going on,” Yeung said. “You could be in the Dealers’ room and Artists’ Alley looking at merchandise or socializing with other anime fans, occasionally taking pictures of cosplayers. Or you could be in the panels room, where you could meet some well known voice actors or cosplayers.”

Anime Matsuri was a famous event for cosplayers and anime fans to go to. Although it’s not always about anime. It’s about promoting Japanese culture and language amongst the people of the United States. It’s about cosplaying not only from anime shows, but also from video games or manga. People would often dress up as their favorite characters from their favorite anime, game or manga.

Sophomore Avery Washington went to Anime Matsuri three times. At this year’s Anime Matsuri, he decided to cosplay as Roxas from Kingdom Hearts, a role playing game.

“I cosplay because the other two years I went,” Washington said. “I saw other people cosplaying and thought maybe this year I should try it out because it would be fun.”

Anime Matsuri was a place for all kinds of cosplayers to meet up and enjoy themselves. However, one doesn’t always have to cosplay to have a fun time. Yeung excitedly described what she liked about cosplayers, although she hasn’t cosplayed at Anime Matsuri.

“I like seeing cosplayers at Anime Matsuri,” Yeung said. “It’s sort of this bonding thing like ‘Oh I recognize who you’re cosplaying as!’ Cosplaying helps you start conversations with strangers, and I could talk with anyone if we share something in common.”

Besides cosplaying, there are also many other things one can do such as meeting Japanese cosplayers. There were two internationally famous cosplayers that went to Anime Matsuri this year, Kaname and Reika.

“Both of them have been cosplaying for years,” Yeung said. “Reika has been cosplaying for longer than Kaname though and is probably more well known. I almost cried when I met Kaname and Reika. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get to meet them, since the lines waiting to meet them were really long. It was a lot of fun though. Kaname and Reika were both really nice about it, even though I’m pretty sure Kaname was still half asleep when I met him.”

Photo courtesy of Fiona Yeung.