Go Cosplaying in Tokyo

Male speaker: When the workday is done, many Japanese find a way to escape. Some hit the bars or immerse themselves in fantasy books and animate. Others take a escapism deep stream. This is Yuriko Kato. Also known as Video game rock star Gakuto Kamoi and this is the world of cos play. This is where folks come to get their gear. Yuriko Kato: Yes, this is a place where we can get the costume and cos play material. Male speaker: Yuriko is a nurse working and living on the grounds of a busy Tokyo hospital. Cos play short for costume play is an antidote to her high stress job. I can see why this is tremendously appealing though. It's a lot of fun and it's cool to sort of get lost into another world. Yuriko Kato: Exactly. Male speaker: Cos players dress up an outfit inspired by their favorite animated characters from manga books, animate cartoons and video games. One of the hottest trends, right now in this world is women going as boys. Yuriko Kato: I am a girl already. So I do wear skirt in daily life. So I want to try to become more like a handsome boy in the - Male speaker: Japan is still a male dominated society and cos play allows a women to explore a more and powered role. Cos play events are often underground parties with no outsiders allowed. Participants get in character and cyber geek photographers called Comico take their photographs. I don't know what you are supposed to be, but whatever it is, it's awesome. Most of the cos player are women and yes, most of the comico were men. Most comico keep the photos for there personal collections, giving the copy to a cos player as a gift. Some comico post the photos to blog, then social networking sites is well. You have got about a hundred participants in a roll playing fantasy, costume kink that sort of relay's on the approval of others in the taking of photographs and yet at the same time they really nervous about us taking pictures and participating with them because they don't want a picture being taken unless every little nuance little of their costume is just so. These people take this very, very seriously. Yuriko is Gakuto Kamoi, a male video game character or a localite based on a real Japanese rock star, think friends in Tokyo. Very, very nice. Change, complete transformation and look at you. Hi! Andrew. He is a Yuriko's friend. Aieo Kawais a cos play's super star who makes a living and travels the world through cos play. Today she is Micu Hasume, a character from a karaoke style video game. You even walk a little differently. When you are in character you must be a very empowering. Yuriko Kato: That's what is cos play's purpose. You rank out there. You will realize. Male speaker: I am inspired to try my hand at being a comico, but the girls have something else in mind. Yuriko Kato: We have goal for you. Male speaker: You do? Yuriko Kato: Yes. Why don't you change? Male speaker: Alright my costume is based on a popular teenage super natural samurai character named Ichigo. You know here's the deal. In Japan, I need real big boy sizes. I am digging this. I can leave behind my TV travel show host life and dive into a completely different world in a galactic samurai warrior par excellence. I have managed to squeeze into this outfit, but I am missing my crowning glory. I wanted hair for a long time. Yuriko and Youno are doing my view and we are ready for our close act. Like this. Let's pose it off. Who would not want to escape into this world for at least little while? I may have to make a room for a wig and a sword in my suitcase.