Making and enjoying cosplay: costumes, makeup, photography, events and more.
For related culture, see Subculture
Shibuya Ward's slogan for this Halloween is 'Goodbye Bad Halloween.' A year-round ban on drinking in the street, a 2,000-yen fine for littering, and road closures from October 30: the rules to know before you head out in costume, from the ward and police announcements.
A cosplay day at Comiket starts at the registration desk and the changing room, and the organizer's official cosplay support page lays it out from there. I followed it as a first-timer would: the 500-yen-a-day registration, the changing rooms in the Conference Tower and TFT, the cosplay areas, the rules on costumes and photos, and what the cloakroom costs.
Before you post a cosplay photo, the copyright question tends to surface — what about the costume itself? The Cabinet Office's press conference summaries and the Agency for Cultural Affairs' explainer show what the government actually says, with examples of rights holder guidelines that mention cosplay, and the order to check things in before shooting or posting.
Five events, five different answers to 'what does the cosplay registration fee actually cover?' Side by side, the official guides for acosta!, Ikeharo, Stofes, Tokyo Game Show and Comiket show how far your fee or pass gets you for changing rooms and bag storage — and which events also need a separate entry ticket.
Shooting cosplay at an event, posting it online — each step has its own consent question. The official rules of Comiket, Ikeharo and acosta!, plus guidance from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and Japan's Ministry of Justice, cover whose consent you need, how crowding shots and low angles are treated, and where to turn if your photo is posted without permission.
Can you bring a prop sword or gun to an event — and how do you carry it there? Comiket's and Ikeharo's official rules, with explanations from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and Nagano Prefectural Police, cover Japan's Swords and Firearms Control Law and Minor Offenses Act, and who to ask when in doubt.
Cut, heat-bend, prime, paint — before making armor from EVA foam, it pays to know how the material behaves. Official materials from a foam maker, a craft supply shop and glue and tool manufacturers cover heat-bending, priming and painting, and the safety points for contact cement and heat guns.
'Up to 180°C' on a heat-resistant wig — so how hot can the iron actually be? I wanted to check, so I read up on Assist Wig, Classe and Aquadoll's official guidance: the difference between the heat limit and the recommended temperature, how each maker's guideline differs, what to watch for when styling, and how to wash your wig.
A car-sharing service was breached, and about 1.6 million accounts had identity verification documents, including driver's license images, affected. ID photos show up not only at events but in everyday life. What the company's announcements say, how to read a leak announcement, and the small habits that help.
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes 2026 runs three days: the night of October 30, then October 31 and November 1. The official site covers Ikehalo Night hours, ticket prices, the parade application window, changing rooms and bag storage, and the key participation rules.
