World Cosplay Summit Kicks Off in Nagoya

Now in its 21st year, the event celebrates Japan’s globally loved pop culture and offers a platform for international exchange. On the eve of the summit, overseas cosplayers gathered in downtown Nagoya and paid a visit to Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura—who made a surprise appearance dressed as the Dragon Ball character Piccolo, even performing the fictional character’s signature "Makankōsappō" move. While the appearance drew applause, it also prompted some humorous reactions, with attendees joking, "Don’t break the image!"

The annual event has become a tradition, with organizers and fans donning elaborate costumes, including glasses and accessories that often make characters hard to identify. Despite the playfulness, the event is serious business.

The three-day summit is projected to bring in an economic impact of 90 billion yen. Globally, the cosplay market continues to grow. A recent survey estimated last year’s global cosplay industry at around 780 billion yen, and the market is expected to exceed 1 trillion yen by 2030.

But the summit isn’t just about dressing up—it also features a world championship to determine the top cosplay performers. This year’s Japanese representatives are portraying characters from the manga Kingdom, with costumes that took extensive effort to create. One participant noted, "The most time-consuming part was making this part look like fish scales. I used around 2,600 meters of thread with a household zigzag sewing machine."

Representatives from 41 countries and regions competed in preliminary rounds before being invited to Japan. Among them are contestants dressed as characters from Death Note, Tales of Arise, Spirited Away, and One Piece. A representative from Kuwait expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you for welcoming us to Japan. It feels like a dream." Bulgaria’s team spent six months creating their costume.

The global championship will conclude on August 3rd, when this year’s world cosplay champion will be crowned.

Source: TBS