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Niconico and Animate Ltd. are together hosting the “Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2017” which will be held in Ikebukuro East Exit Area Tokyo, Japan from Saturday, Oct. 28th until Sunday, Oct. 29th. This annual event has a plethora of cosplay related activities such as a cosplay fashion show, a cosplay parade, a VOCALOID cosplay gathering, photo sessions and more. Participation and viewing is free of charge, and anybody (cosplayers and non-cosplayers) is welcome to join. In addition, people all over the world can also catch the excitement live via Niconico Live Streaming.
About the Festival
The Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival is an annual event where cosplayers dressed as their favorite anime/video game characters gather to mingle and take part in many activities held throughout the event period. During the festival, the entire town of Ikebukuro becomes its venue; cosplayers are seen on main streets, parks, and even inside stores.
The event began in 2014 with the aim to spread cosplay culture, a famous subculture which originated in Japan, throughout the world from Ikebukuro, one of the epicenters of Japanese subculture. This year marks its 4th year and the event now garners more than 10,000 cosplayers from around the world each year. In 2016, the event attracted approximately 90,000 physical visitors and 240,000 online viewers on Niconico Live Streaming, making this one of the largest cosplay events in Japan. Participation is free and open to everyone – cosplayers and non-cosplaying visitors alike.
The festivities take place at JR Ikebukuro Station East Exit Area – known as an “otaku” subculture mecca with Otome Road as its hub. This year, the event space has been expanded and will include Minami Ikebukuro Park – a park with spacious green lawn for participants to enjoy cosplay photography and open food stalls for refreshments. In addition, the event will be streamed live worldwide via Niconico Live Streaming.
Schedule
There are a ton of events happening the weekend of the festival! Fans in Ikebukuro will have a lot to look forward to doing. And, of course, those tuning into the live stream will have a lot to see all weekend long.
Niconico Live Streaming Schedule
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2017 – Stage Live Streaming- [DAY 1]
Date: October 28th 10:45~ JST
URL: http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv306994443
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2017 – Stage Live Streaming- [DAY 2]
Date: October 29th 11:00~ JST
URL: http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv307031877
Main Events
●Niconico Cospllection (Oct.28th & Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
Niconico Cospllection, which will be held at the main stage in Higashi Ikebukuro Chuo Park, showcases a plethora of cosplay related activities. These include cosplay fashion shows, cosplay stage performances, cosplay karaoke stage and cosplay arm-wrestling tournaments. Cosplayers selected by the lottery will get a chance to walk the runway and show their cosplay in front of a large audience. Stage guests include cosplayer Miya, Kuroneko, Eiji and Kuroko Kiki.
●Cosplay Parade (Oct.28th 13:00-14:00)
For the first time ever, the festival will hold a cosplay parade. Lead by the Rikkyo University Marching Band, approximately 250 cosplayers chosen from the lottery will march across Sunshine Street to Sunshine 60 Street, which is known to be the busiest street in the area. Viewing is free of charge. However, participation requires a prior application.
●Hatsune Miku 10th Anniversary Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Gathering (October 28th 12:00-13:00)
In this special collaboration project, participants cosplaying as the VOCALOID virtual diva Hatsune Miku or Kagamine Rin/Len will all gather in one photo area to celebrate Miku’s 10th anniversary. Anybody cosplaying as a VOCALOID character can take part in this gathering – no prior reservation/application required.
Meeting Spot: In front of the UNIQLO Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 Dori Store
●Cosplay Photography Session (Oct.28th & Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
Guests: Iori Moe, Yuriko Tiger, LOPE, Momotsuki Nashiko and Miyamoto Saki
Visitors can get a hands-on experience on cosplay photography with their own camera/smart phone or with a rented high-end DSLR camera provided by Canon Marketing Japan Inc.
●Cosplay Videography Gathering (Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
Cosplayers can have their pictures and videos taken professionally by the cosplay videographer Rescue the Princess at Naka Ikebukuro Park. Photos and videos will be uploaded to the official website at a later date.
●Themed Cosplay Gathering (Oct.28th & Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
In this program, cosplayers matching a certain “theme” will all gather at Naka Ikebukuro Park to network and take photos.
Special Areas
●Cosplay Photography Area (Oct.28th & Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
Dedicated photo spots will be placed in photogenic locations in the venue. This year, an elevated platform will be placed in certain areas broadening the range of expression in cosplay photography.
●Cosplay Prop Area (Oct.28th & Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
This area offers handmade cosplay props crafted by skilled modelers from around Japan. Visitors can pose and take photos with memorable weapons and items from anime/manga/game. Located at Naka Ikebukuro Park.
●Cosplay Repair Dock (Oct.28th & Oct.29th – 11:00~17:00)
Cosplay Repair Dock offers cosplay outfit repair service by veteran cosplayers and seamstress. Located at Naka Ikebukuro Park.
Main Timetable
More Information
Dates: October 28th (Sat.) ~ October 29th (Sun.) 10:00-18:00
Main Sponsor: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival Executive Committee (niconico / Animate Ltd. )
Co-host: Toshima-ku / Sunshine City
Management and Production: Animate Ltd. / Dwango Co., Ltd. / Hacosta Inc.
Support: acosta! / Cure World Cosplay / COSPLAY MODE / Cosplayer’s Archive / World Cosplay Summit / niconico / Hareza Ikebukuro Developer / Vantan
Participation Fee: Participation and viewing are free of charge.
Cosplay Changing room / Luggage Storage Area: 1000 Yen (tax included)
Official Website: http://ikebukurocosplay.jp/
