Tokyo's very first Comic Con kicks off with superhero and comics fans flaunting their costumes on stage

Record ID: 75672

  • Title: Tokyo's very first Comic Con kicks off with superhero and comics fans flaunting their costumes on stage
  • Date: 3rd December 2016
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) 18-YEAR OLD STUDENT DRESSED AS JILL FROM HORROR GAME, "RESIDENT EVIL" (BIOHAZARD), SAKURA HAMASAKI, SAYING: "Biohazard (Resident Evil) isn't very known in Japan so I am happy that people, including foreigners, are getting to know it through this event." MAN DRESSED AS RESIDENT EVIL CHARACTER POSING MAN DRESSED AS RESIDENT EVIL CHARACTER, FUMIYA HIROSE, SAYING: "The quality is very good. I've been to many cosplay events but the characters I see from films, games and American comics are amazing." MAN DRESSED AS STAN LEE HOLDING RADIOACTIVE DRINK FROM THE INCREDIBLE HULK GREEN RADIOACTIVE DRINK FROM THE INCREDIBLE HULK (SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) COMEDIAN DRESSED AS STAN LEE, GENJIRO YAGIU, SAYING: "Everyone except us were dressed really amazing. But we are happy since we got to make people laugh." WOMAN DRESSED AS DC COMIC'S BIONIC WOMAN POSING IN FRONT OF CHRISTMAS TREE BIONIC WOMAN POSING PEOPLE AT STAR WARS BOOTH DRESSED AS STAR WARS CHARACTER, AND BOY POSING WITH R2D2 BOY POSING WITH R2D2
  • Embargoed: 18th December 2016 15:08
  • Keywords: Comic Con Japan DC Comics Marvel
  • Location: DECEMBER 3, 2016
  • City: DECEMBER 3, 2016
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA0035BBXIS9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Film and comic fans flaunted their costumes on stage as Tokyo kicked off its very first Comic Convention on Saturday (December 3).
    People dressed as characters from America's DC Comics and Marvel were commonly seen, and some fantasy fans also dressed up as J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Ring characters.
    About forty participants took to the stage in the hopes of winning air tickets to Kuala Lumpur to be given away by fashion show sponsor, Air Asia.
    In between the costumed cat walks, a group of men dressed as American comic-book writer, Stan Lee, showcased a performance depicting some of his cameo appearances in his movies.
    Although Japan is known for its endless supply of anime or comic characters, recent demand for American comic books and Hollywood films in the country has paved way for this event to take shape, after one of the main founders, Steve Wozniak, announced last year he would be bringing the convention to Japan.
    A preview was also held last year, at Tokyo's Shinagawa district, to kick-start the excitement before its official inauguration.
    However, even though Comic Cons usually draw American comic fans, many event-comers also chose to dress as characters from Japanese franchises, the most popular being Resident Evil, or Biohazard, a survival horror video game series.
    Sakura Hamasaki, who was dressed as Jill from Resident Evil, said that since the game was still only known among limited fans, she was happy the event could raise more awareness toward the franchise.
    "Biohazard (Resident Evil) isn't very known in Japan so I am happy that people, including foreigners, are getting to know it through this event," Hamasaki said.
    Many also expressed admiration toward the overall quality of the costumes.
    "Everyone except us were dressed really amazing. But we are happy since we got to make people laugh." Genjiro Yagiu, dressed as American comic writer Stan Lee, jokingly said.
    The biggest and most famous Comic Con is held in San Diego, California, every July, and brings as many as 130,000 attendees.
    Tokyo's Comic Con will be held over two days from Saturday (December 3) to Sunday (December 4).
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