Every anime fan’s dream is probably to go to Akihabara, But for those who live in or visit Osaka, the next big thing is Nipponbashi, mostly known as “Den Den Town” or the electric town. This long beaten down street is filled to the brim with everything and anything an Otaku can dream of. From used retro games to maid cafes, it’s all there (Yes I mean ALL).
And what would an Otaku haven be without a bit of cosplay. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, cosplayers don’t just wander around the streets of Japan, not even in areas like Den Den Town. The most I had seen there on normal days were maids and Lolitas advertising the different themed cafes (If you go to Amemura, you will see the Visual Kei themed people, but that’s about it for strangeness).
However, once a year, during spring break, cosplayers are free to show off their talent, humor and whatever else they want to show off. This day is known as “Nipponbashi Street Festa”, a carnival of colors, characters and Otaku delight. And contrary to the popular belief spread by people on the internet, Japanese cosplayers don’t always compete for the most obscure characters, as you will see in the next pictures. (The fact that people outside think they may be obscure is due to the difference between what anime/ manga are popular in Japan compared to other countries)
I found out about this event when I was wandering inside Mandarake (I tend to do that sometimes, especially in their cosplay section). Cosplayers who wanted to participate, had to pay a fee and receive a silicon band (but I had seen many cosplayers without one.) there were also some kinds of idol shows, booths advertising about different shops, food stands, and lots of fun.
Disclaimer: There were more cosplayers that I wanted to shoot, but due to the huge number of people in the crowd it wasn’t really that easy, but that didn’t mean they weren’t all great in their own ways.
Between cosplayers and watchers, it was this crowded all along.
Kneel! The avengers are popular in Japan, and this was one of the first cosplayers I cam upon and could shoot. (I saw a Luke Skywalker, but couldn’t take a picture)
The group also had a Black Widow, along with some other characters. (including a Hulk)
The cutest Eevee evolutions you will see today.
Miku found a job advertising a shop 😉
Ayato and Laito from “Diabolik Lovers” (if you know what that is, I don’t know what to think of you)
Animate shop clerks in “Attack on Titan” cosplay.
If you read RocketNews24, you probably know who that is. If you don’t go here and here to read about it. (I have to say that I was so embarrassed he noticed I was shooting him and smiled)
Animate cashiers were also in cosplay. And the shop was more crowded than I had ever seen.
Suddenly Captain Jack Sparrow (With extra Nami appearance)
Even the creepy goldfish plants from “Hoozuki no reitetsu” made an appearance. (the girl inside was so cute, too bad I couldn’t see her)
Speaking of “Hoozuki no Reitetsu” this Hakutaku had the attitude down right. (Too bad I didn’t see a good Hoozuki to shoot, since he’s one of my favorite characters)
This must have been one of the coolest Final Fantasy groups that day.
Lady Mario and Luigi were also so cute with their little mushroom friend.
Johnny Depp x Tim Burton characters are more popular than you think. (Left to right, the Mad Hatter, Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka)
Madoka Magica group cosplay.
Korosensei from Ansatsu Kyoshitsu (Assassination Class)
Grell Sutkiff form Black Butler (it had started to rain, but she still posed for me)
Erwin and Levi ready to strike (Attack on Titan)
Mikasa and Sasha (Attack on Titan)
Junko Enoshima and Chiaki Nanami??? from Dangan Ronpa animation/ games. (I am really sorry, if you know who the other characters are, please post it in the comments, I haven’t seen or played Dangan Ronpa yet)
It suddenly started to hail, causing everyone to run to the sidewalks.
And everyone started hiding under shop shades.
Yoko Littner from the Gurren Lagann series. It was hailing at the time, but that didn’t stop people from stopping in the crowd to take photos of her.
*bad dubbing voice* It’s a Gundam!!!
This Dandy (Protagonist of Space Dandy) nailed the attitude. The hair? Not so much (I was surprised there weren’t more Dandy Cosplays though, it was what I wished to cosplay myself)
I think this Turkish family sold more food that day than they do most of the year (considering I always find the shop closed on normal days)
Zack Fair and Cloud Strife were gathering a nice amount of attention.
Then, since the walkways were sometimes ushered by policemen, I found myself in the next area, which is usually a parking lot, but was transformed into a display area for “Itasha” or anime themed heavily decorated cars.
Most of them were so colorful, I wonder how come I have never seen them in other places.
Haruhi characters with Vocaloid car, my mind will explode from the kawaii
Blue Rose from the “Tiger and Bunny” series, which is surprisingly still so popular, at least in Osaka.
And then Dante (Devil may cry) appeared.
Nyanko Sensei/ Madara (Natsume Yuujinchou) could not get any cuter.
Snow Miku with Miku car, gathering photographers like nothing else.
I finally managed to find a way out of the car parking (but couldn’t take photos of the Touho project cosplayers inside) and things were starting to wrap up.
This Brook (One Piece) cosplayer even had something to alter his voice.
This Mondo Owada (Dangan Ronpa) crossplayer wasn’t offended that I didn’t know what anime she was from, Or that I was interested in her coat because it looked like a biker’s coat (I later discovered that this character was a leader of a biker gang.)
Not all the friends came in group cosplays. leading to weird combinations like these. Levi and ???
Sanji is still wanted. Also people with the same cosplay seem to like taking photos with each other.
You don’t see Dante Fighting Sephiroth everyday (That is the same Dante from before, but not the same Sephiroth)
This old man had the best Gintoki (Gintama) hair I had seen all day. The cosplay wasn’t that bad either.
While I was going home, I ran into Pip Bernadotte (Hellsing) and that filled me with delinght, because I wasn’t expecting any Hellsing characters, since the manga has fallen into oblivion. I had to stop him to pause for me.
And so my trip to Nipponbashi ended (and so did my camera’s battery) and I went on my way. I really regret not taking more pictures, since there were so many great and humorous cosplays all along the way. I hope next year I may be able to take part in the parade myself (Not sure what cosplays would be relevant by then tough.)
Please leave a comment with your favorite cosplays or questions about the existence of certain cosplays. (Before you ask, Sailor Moon is still so relevant and so is Naruto, but Bleach isn’t)
Mochi-chan discovers Japan 