This weekend, the Comic Market, aka Comiket, tore through Tokyo. And earlier this month, new rules were revealed for skimpy Comiket cosplay: cover up!
But as thongs throngs of cosplayers descended on Tokyo Big Sight for the expo, one thing was certain: Rules schmules!
Comiket is a twice-a-year event. Traditionally, the event's main draw has been limited run, self published comics. In recent years, cosplay has become a major attraction, with daring cosplayers wearing even more daring outfits.
Hence, new regulations that hoped to dial back the skin and underpants. As previously posted, tabloid Tokyo Sports reported that outfits that display underwear or genitals were banned—ditto for any outfits that placed extreme emphasis on genitals or not wearing underwear. Those who wear swimsuits also had to wear underwear or undergarments as well as tights and stockings to mute excess skin.
In year's past, provocative might have meant a see-thru top or ridiculous underpants. This year, it meant ditching tights, and showing lots of leg.
Because slapping on a pair of pantyhose and trying to pass a sexy character off as PG-13 can ultimately ruin a cosplay—and this year, did. A few, however, pulled off outfits that adhered to the new regs effortlessly.
If Japanese comics or adult movies are any indication, the country can get very creative when circumventing censorship.
Even with these new rules (and new rule bending), many of the cosplayers at this year's summer Comiket did push the envelope, rebelling in small, yet significant ways. With the laundry list of rules at Comiket, other Japanese nerd events like the Tokyo Game Show or Wonder Festival, could see a new round of regulations—and a new round of rule bending.
If Japanese comics or adult movies are any indication, the country can get very creative when circumventing censorship.
Check out the gallery with photos courtesy of Asagawo Blog, Gigazine, and sister site Kotaku Japan. Some photos might be NSFW.
コミケ80・3日目その７, 3日目その６, 3日目その５, 3日目その３, 3日目その２, 3日目その１, 2日目その６2日目その５, 2日目その２, 2日目その１, 1日目その５, 1日目その３ 1日目その２, 1日目その１ [アサガヲBlog]
［コミケ80］『シュタゲ』『アイマス』『ラブプラス』などなど。ゲームヒロイン,［コミケ80］まさかのパンツ1枚コス。薄着＆セクシーなコスプレあれこれ [Kotaku Japan]
怒濤の枚数で魅せる, 魅惑のポーズを決めまくるハイレベルな女子, タイバニから安西監督まで, レディガガもいれば岸田メルも [Gigazine]
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You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at bashcraft@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.