Cosplay Matsuri 2018: Celebrating Japanese Pop Culture, Festival Style!
Now on its third year, Cosplay Matsuri 2018 has upped their game and continued to be one of the best year-end anime and cosplay events in the country.
Fans of the subculture flocked together to enjoy festivities, watch performances, and get their hands on some merchandise last December 28 to 30, 2018 at the SMX Convention Center Manila!
Convention attendees flock the merchant booths as soon as the halls opened to score some goods!
Organized by Cosplay.Ph, the first Cosplay Matsuri was held in 2016. The event prides themselves in integrating aesthetic Japanese elements, such as their famed Japanese bridge and lanterns.
Cosplay Matsuri celebrates the hobby as well as Japanese culture, hence the use of the Japanese term “matsuri” that directly translates to festival.
Cosplay Matsuri 2018 boasts their Japanese displays at the convention
Aside from their merchant booths where con-goers can score exclusive and official merchandise, local artists were also able to showcase their art in Cosplay Matsuri’s Fan Fair area.
This year, 42 artists came and collaborated to exhibit their work, which features characters from various Japanese animation.
Homegrown artists exhibit their artwork at the convention, which features characters from Japanese animation as well as characters from Western animation
Official merchandise was also available for purchase during the convention!
Guest cosplayers were also invited to Cosplay Matsuri in partnership with One Final Dream.
Japanese cosplayers Kiyorami and Kimina, Hisui from Hong Kong, and Diane from Cebu were the guest cosplayers that graced the event and spent time with their fans. The fans were able to connect with their cosplay idols during their stage presentations and their meet-and-greets that were held during the event’s three-day run.
Cebu-based Cosplayer Diane joins the fun at Cosplay Matsuri 2018
Aside from the Japanese elements that they included in their design, some of Cosplay Matsuri’s off-stage activities feature a touch of Japanese culture such as their Charms Wall, Cosplay Diorama, and Sumo Skirmish.
The event also featured contests such as the Anisong It Singing Contest, Dokuen Cosplay Competition, and the Doujin Group Cosplay where individuals were not only able to showcase their costumes but also their talents.
Cosplay Matsuri, like most cosplay conventions, is the ideal platform for cosplayers to collaborate with each other to form groups of their favorite series
Cosplay Matsuri 2018 was indeed the event to cap off the 2018 cosplay convention season!
Cosplay.Ph also announced their event series line-up for 2019 during the event, which gives con-goers a sneak peek of what to look forward to this year!
