World Cosplay Summit

The World Cosplay Summit (世界コスプレサミット, Sekai Kosupure Samitto  WCS) is an annual international cosplay event, which promotes global interaction through Japanese pop culture.[1][2] It developed from a cosplay exhibition held at the Aichi Expo in 2005.[3]

World Cosplay Summit
StatusActive
Venue
Location(s)Sakae, Nagoya, Aichi
CountryJapan
Inaugurated2003
Attendance248,000 (2016)
Websitewww.worldcosplaysummit.jp/en/

The WCS incorporated in 2012, by which time it had grown to include two weeks of activities, chief of which are a parade and championship held in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, on Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend of August. Other related events are held in the Kanto, Kansai, and Tokai regions. Competitors are drawn from partnering anime/manga events held in the respective countries and regions.

The summit was organized by broadcaster TV Aichi until 2012. It is supported by several city organizations, businesses, the WCS student volunteer organization Omotenashi, and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT), and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Japanese embassy representatives often attend preliminaries of events in foreign countries. The WCS relies heavily on corporate sponsorship rather than ticket sales to fund its activities.

History

The first World Cosplay Summit was held in 2003 to highlight the international popularity of Japanese anime and manga through cosplay (costume play).[4] It was subsequently held as part of Expo 2005 in Nagoya, where it gathered considerable media attention.[5] The event grew to include participants from 40 countries and encompasses multiple activities including the Osu Cosplay Parade and the Cosplay Championship.

WCS key facts
YearDatesNo. countriesChampionshipRef
VenueWinner
2003Oct 124not held
2004Aug 15not held
2005Jul 31 – Aug 77Expo DomeItaly[6]
2006Aug 5–69Oasis 21Brazil
2007Aug 4–512France
2008Aug 2–313Brazil
2009Aug 1–215Japan
2010Jul 31 – Aug 115Italy
2011Aug 6–717[7]Brazil
201212 days22Japan
2013Aug 2–324Italy
2014Jul 26 – Aug 3[8]26Aichi Arts CenterRussia
2015Aug 1–228Mexico
2016Aug 6–730Indonesia
2017Aug 5–634China
2018Aug 3–536Dolphins ArenaMexico
2019Aug 27 – Aug 3140Tokyo Dome, Aichi Arts CenterAustralia
2021Aug 830Germany

2003–2007

Expo Dome, the venue for the 2005 Cosplay Championship
Oasis 21, the venue for the 2006-2013 Cosplay Championships
Aichi Arts Center, the venue for the 2014-2017 Cosplay Championships
Dolphins Arena (Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium), 2018 venue for the Cosplay Championship

On October 12, 2003, the first event was held at the Rose Court Hotel in Nagoya. Activities included a panel discussion and photography session. Five cosplayers were invited from Germany, France and Italy; "International Common Language" (MANGAは世界の共通語), a television programme dealing with the contemporary situation of anime and manga in Frankfurt, Paris and Rome, was produced and broadcast on November 24.

The 2004 event was held on August 1 at the Ōsu shopping district in Naka-ku, Nagoya. Eight international cosplayers were invited, and about 100 cosplayers participated in the inaugural Osu Cosplay Parade.

In 2005, the WCS was reorganized from an invitation-based system to a qualifying system with preliminary events held around the world, leading to the first WCS Cosplay Championship. Four cosplayers in single and group teams represented participating countries. Along with supporting activities, the event took place in two main locations: the Cosplay Parade was held in Osu on July 31 and the Cosplay Championship was held at the Expo Dome on August 7 during Expo 2005. 40 people from seven countries participated in the first Cosplay Championship, with France winning the group category, Italy winning the individual category, and with the overall contest winner being Italy.[6] The initial goal of the event was to bring a part of Japanese youth culture to Expo 2005.

In 2006, the venue for the Cosplay Championship was moved to Oasis 21 in Sakae, Nagoya. Nine countries competed: Italy, Germany, France, Spain, China, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore and Japan, with a total of 22 cosplayers. The grand prize was won by brother-and-sister team Maurisio and Monica Somenzari L. Olivas, representing Brazil. (Dressed respectively as Hughes de Watteau and Augusta Vradica from Trinity Blood, they made their costumes by hand with help from their parents.) The event was supported by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT). Over 5,000 people attended the Cosplay Championship stage event and several thousand more attended the Cosplay Parade. TV Aichi produced and broadcast, "World Cosplay Summit 2006: New Challengers".

In 2007, Denmark, Mexico and South Korea joined the event to bring the number of participating countries to 12, with a total of 28 participating cosplayers. About 10,000 people attended the Cosplay Championship. "World Cosplay Summit 2007: Giza-suge yatsura ga yattekita Z!" (The Super Cool Have Arrived!) was televised, and became a part of MLIT's 2007 "Visit Japan" campaign.

2008–2012

In 2008, with growing recognition of Japan's otaku culture, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) became the third national ministry to join in official support of the event. About 300 cosplayers participated in the Parade. Thirteen countries with a total of 28 representative cosplayers performed in the Championship in front of 12,000 visitors. TV Aichi produced and broadcast the WCS special "Everyone's Heroes Get Together!".

SKE48 Team KII performing at the World Cosplay Summit 2010.

In April 2009, the WCS Executive Committee was created to administrate the development and expansion of the event. The parade had grown to 500 cosplayers, and 30 participants from 15 countries competed in the Cosplay Championship before 12,000 spectators, with Australia and Finland being the two newest participating nations. The first international symposium was held at Nagoya University entitled "Outward Minded: Worldwide Impact of Cosplay and Interpretations in Japan". In 2010, the symposium was moved to the Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers.

In 2011, the Netherlands and Malaysia joined, bringing the total participating countries to 17.[7] In 2012, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Russia entered competitively at WCS, with Hong Kong and Taiwan participating under observer status, bringing the total number of represented countries to 22. WCS expanded to 12 days for its 10th anniversary, with official visits paid to Gifu, Mie, Tottori and Aichi Prefectural offices, and a second parade was held in Ichinomiya during the Tanabata Festival. The sequence of activities were altered, with the Championship held on the Saturday and the Parade on Sunday.

2013–2017

In 2013, Vietnam and the Philippines joined as observer nations, bringing the overall total to 24. The event was held with the help of local and international volunteers since 2009; however, this year saw the beginning of the Omotenashi student volunteer group. This was the first year of the WCS as an independent company after 10 years of being organized by the events department of TV Aichi. This was the first year of the World Cosplay Summit has become available broadcast live via Niconico.

In 2014, the WCS Championship was first held at the Aichi Arts Center beside Oasis 21. Portugal and Kuwait joined.

In 2015, the Championship moved to the largest venue within the Aichi Arts Center called 'The Theater'. Canada and Sweden joined as observer nations.[8]

In 2016, India and Switzerland joined the WCS, bringing the number of participating nations/region to 30. With this large field, the Championship was held in two stages over consecutive days. An error in tabulating the jury votes led to 18 teams being admitted to the final stage instead of the planned 16 teams. This year a backscreen was used for the first time to make a greater spectacle of the performances.

In 2017, Belgium, Chile, Myanmar, Puerto Rico, and United Arab Emirates joined, while Kuwait withdrew, bringing the number of participating nations/region to 34. This was the first year the WCS allowed the use of dialog and scenarios from Japanese live action adaptations for performances. During the final stage of the Championships, participants from Taiwan and Brazil made unexpected marriage proposals on the stage.

2018–2021

In 2018, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, and South Africa joined WCS. Kuwait returned to participate while Puerto Rico and United Arab Emirates were unable to send representatives, bringing the number of participating nations/regions to 36. The Championship was held in a single stage at the Dolphins Arena Gymnasium. The Taiwanese cosplayers who became engaged during the 2017 championship held their wedding ceremony in the Wedding Hall Photo Party event; at the reception, a cosplayer from Singapore made an unexpected marriage proposal. A night parade event was held for the first time at Central Park underground street.

In 2019, Austria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Trinidad and Tobago joined WCS. United Arab Emirates returned to participate after being absent in 2018 while Kuwait and Puerto Rico were unable to send representatives for this year, bringing the number of participating nations/regions to 40. The WCS Championship expanded to a three-stage event: the Tokyo Round at Tokyo Dome City Hall on 27 August, and the semifinal and final rounds at Nagoya Aichi Arts Center. 8 teams from the Tokyo Round were granted an immediate advance to the finals, while the remaining 32 teams competed in the semi-finals with 16 of these advancing. The first two stages were broadcast on YouTube, before the top 24 teams competed in the finals. On 31 August, A bridal cosplay party was held in Wedding Hall Bleu Leman, where the male WCS Alumni 2018 from Chile made an unexpected marriage proposal during the event.

In 2020, the cosplay championship stage was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In place of the event, a 24 hour live stream fund-raising event and a Kickstarter campaign was held to support the event in Japan and its partner organizations around the world. The campaign raised over 11,000,000 yen.

In 2021, Colombia, Latvia, and Ukraine joined WCS and Saudi Arabia participated as an observer. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings and travel, a number of countries/regions were unable to send teams, including Colombia, Latvia, Austria, China, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, UAE, Portugal, Denmark, and Myanmar. This brought the number of participating nations to 30. WCS 2021 was planned to utilize a combination of recorded, online and in-person events. A large mosaic mural of the Oasis 21 complex depicting cosplay images of many of the campaign backers was hung at Chubu International Airport. The WCS Championship was broadcast live on multiple channels: officially on Facebook, Niconico, and YouTube and by recognized broadcasters in various languages on Bilibili, Discord, and Twitch.

2022 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the WCS.

Administration

In 2008, performance by Brazilian cosplayers, the Grand Champion of the year.

Regulations

Regulations of the preliminaries for each country are decided by the event in which the respective preliminaries takes place. The following are participation regulations of the WCS Championship (finals) in Japan.[9][10]

Participant regulations (for WCS 2012)

1. Each country will be represented by one team of two cosplayers.

2. The costumes must be from Japanese anime, manga, and tokusatsu.

  • Dojinshi and unique characters from live-action movies based on anime or manga are not permitted (i.e. Dragonball Evolution, etc.).
  • When doing a costume from a game, the character must be recognizably Japanese (i.e. not a Disney or Star Wars character even though the game may be made in Japan).

3. Cosplay costumes are to be hand-made.

  • It is permissible for family and friends to help with costumes, but the contestants should be actively involved in the construction process.

4. Prospective entrants must be able to travel to Japan for about one week from the end of July to early August for the World Cosplay Summit Championship.

5. Participating minors must have consent of a guardian (rules may vary depending on the preliminary rules in different countries).

6. Contestants must participate in a positive manner in order to ensure the success of the World Cosplay Summit.

7. Legal Documents (i.e. passport application, official documentation, etc.) must be prepared and submitted as quickly as possible at the request of the WCS sponsor (TV Aichi).

8. Media such as TV programs, Internet homepages, newspapers, magazines, etc. may use photos and images of the preliminary contests prior to the World Cosplay Summit. On these occasions, compensation will not be furnished.

9. All image rights in all media exposure, such as news from TV programs and other assorted media involved with the World Cosplay Summit, promotional activities in print media as well as events and performances, and announcements of the Cosplay Summit both prior and during the event, will be attributed to TV Aichi.

10. After the World Cosplay Summit, images, photographs, footage, programs broadcast, Internet homepages and DVDs, etc. of the contestants will come under the jurisdiction of TV Aichi. Compensation will not be furnished for such images used by the media.

Preparation: rules and considerations

1. A minimum of three costumes must be brought to Japan: one for the Parade, one for the Championship, and one for media appearances.

2. In the Cosplay Championship, the costumes of the characters must be from the same Japanese manga, anime, video game or tokusatsu series.

  • It is not necessary to coordinate costumes for the Parade or otherwise.

3. All equipment, costumes and props for the Cosplay Championship performance are limited to a maximum weight of 40 kg (88 lb) combined for both performers.

4. All large props set on stage before the Cosplay Championship performance begins are limited to a maximum weight of 10 kg (22 lb). Prop dimensions are limited to 2,100 mm (83 in) in height, 2,100 mm (83 in) in width and 900 mm (35 in) in depth.

5. All large props set on stage are limited to a maximum of 3 items. Dimensions of hand held props carried onto the stage must be relayed to WCS head office in written form and accompanied by photographs.

6. It is not permitted to directly copy original drawings or logos to your equipment or props.

7. You are required to bear the cost of any overweight luggage charges when shipping costumes and other items. It is not possible to send them to Japan by air or ship beforehand.

8. Please prepare your own music for your performance. A performance sheet stating what you will perform is to be submitted in advance. The use of voice actors voices from original works in your music is prohibited.

9. Please send the documents and sound file at latest one month before the date of the Cosplay Championship.

Championship performances

1. Only handmade costume

2. The costumes must be from Japanese anime, manga, and tokusatsu.

3. The Stage Performance team must in group 2 judging time is 2.30 min for performance

4. Backscreen is available (2016–present)

5. The ranking is determined by the total score of the Character Judging and the Stage Performance Judging

=Video championship performances (2021)

1. The 2021 championship a special "online" edition

2. The national team will not be coming to Japan

3. Videos under 2 minutes and 30 seconds

4. Pair of 2 people (use of extras allowed)

5. Costumes are handmade, no weight or size restrictions

Tokyo Round (WCS 2019)

The Tokyo judges are a panel of usually organizer from participating nations/region, selected so that they are not judging the same group that contains their home team.

Judging criteria

1. Costume stage presence (50 points)

2. Fidelity towards the original (50 points)

Semi-final (for 2016-2018 and Nagoya Round 2019)

The Semi-final judges are a panel, usually of organizers from participating nations/regions. The organizers of each country are unable to participate in judging in the group that has their own country.

Championship finals

Judges are a panel of usually guest judges from the anime, manga and cosplay community.

Prior to 2016, judges awarded points for (a) costume, (b) performance and (c) faithfulness to the characters and story. The former two criteria were each weighted for twice as many points as the last criteria. Beginning in 2013, scoring for costume was increased to a weight of 3 times faithfulness and 1.5 times performance. In 2016, the costume criteria was divided into costume craftsmanship (weighted the same as performance) and costume expression (weighted the same as faithfulness). The number of points was increased in 2017, but the ratio between criteria remained the same. In 2019, the costume or costume craftsmanship criteria was changed to character judging.

In 2021, the hybrid year, the criteria were: (a) character judging, comprising costume precision (30 points), costume quality (10 points) and technique (10 points), and (b) video judging (100 points), comprising conception (45 points), acting (45 points), and "X-factor" (10 points).

List of guest judges

Year Judges
2005 Leiji Matsumoto
Hironobu Kageyama
Ippongi Bang
Akifumi Takayanagi (TV Aichi)
Shin Nagai (Tokyo Mode Gakuin)
2006 Go Nagai
Hiroshi Kitadani
Essai Ushijima (Cosplay critic)
Yuji Tokita (MOFA)
2007 Monkey Punch
Ichirou Mizuki
Essai Ushijima (Cosplay critic)
Yuji Tokita (MOFA)
Ken Nagata (MLIT)
2008 Yumiko Igarashi
Rica Matsumoto
10 general judge
2009 Tōru Furuya
Go Nagai
Ichirou Mizuki
Hamada Britney
2010 Tōru Furuya
Hironobu Kageyama
Himeka
Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Video game nnd anime television series Producer from Capcom)
Nobuyuki Takahashi (Inventor of the word cosplay)
2011 Tōru Furuya
JAM Project (Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endo, Hiroshi Kitadani, Masami Okui and Yoshiki Fukuyama)
Takaaki Kitani (President, Bushiroad)
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Masaaki Nagase (Editor-in-chief, Tokai Walker)
2012 Tōru Furuya
Go Nagai
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
May'n
Rica Matsumoto
2013 Tōru Furuya
Tomokazu Sugita
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Mel Kishida (illustrator)
Ikenotani Ken (ACOS Producer)
2014 Tōru Furuya
Mika Kanai
Mel Kishida (illustrator)
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Andrea Vesnaver (WCS 2013 Champion Italy Representative)
Dr.Oh (Bushiroad Producer)
Azuma Fukashi (TV Tokyo Producer)
2015 Tōru Furuya
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Nek (WCS 2014 Champion Russia Representative)
Nichi (WCS 2014 Champion Russia Representative)
Nakazato Ikuko (Kodansha Nakayoshi Aria Editorial Department)
Nao Hirasawa (Animation Producer of Ultra Super Pictures Ltd.)
Ryutaro Ichimura (Dragon Quest Producer of Square Enix)
Tomokazu Tashiro (Composer)
Åsa Ekström (Swedish Cartoonist)
2016 Tōru Furuya
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Juan Carlos (WCS 2015 Champion Mexico Representative)
Shema Arroyo (Jose Maria) (WCS 2015 Champion Mexico Representative)
Keishu Ando (Japanese Cartoonist Creation of Hentai Kamen)
Kahoru Yasuda (Representative of Comiket)
and more (1st Stage Semi-finals Only)
2017 Tōru Furuya
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Sumire Uesaka
Kazuyuki Okitsu
Minami Tsuda
Sayaka Sasaki
Rian CYD (WCS 2016 Champion Indonesia Representative)
Frea Mai (WCS 2016 Champion Indonesia Representative)
Nao Hirasawa (ID-0 Animation Producer)
Yuiji Yoriko (ACOS Producer)
Mizuno Koichi (Event Organizer In Nagoya)
Kazuki Foo Ming Wei (President of Eight Ministry "Malaysia" South East Asia)
Makoto Shigeno (CosMode Thailand Editor)
and more (1st Stage Semi-finals Only)
2018 Tōru Furuya
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Ichirou Mizuki
Daisuke Tsuda (journalist)
Arina Tanemura
Suguru Sugita (Shueisha Weekly JUMP Media Relations of ONE PIECE)
Natsuko Tateishi (Toei Animation)
Nao Hirasawa (Anime Producer)
Mizuno Koichi (Nippon Domannaka Festival)
Yoriko Iuchi (Acts Executive Producer)
Xue Yan Xue (WCS 2017 Champion China Representative)
Tian Tian (WCS 2017 Champion China Representative)
Eliot (WCS Photo Championship 2018 Grand Prix From Mexico)
Yuyi (WCS Video Championship 2018 Grand Prix From France)
2019 Tōru Furuya
Inui Tatsumi (Site administrator of Cure)
Haruhiko Mikimoto (Illustrator, character designer “Job Tribes”)

Hisayoshi Hirasawa (Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki Animation Director)
Nao Yagi (Announcer)
Ryuji Kuwahara (Hakone Ekiden gen 2nd god of the mountains marathon runner)
Miki Kitagawa
Junko Iuchi (Akos Corporation Executive Producer)
Ed Lalo Peralta (WCS 2018 Champion Mexico Representative)
Luis Sáenz Gamboa (WCS 2018 Champion Mexico Representative)
Yuegene Fay (WCS Photo Championship 2019 Grand Prix From Thailand)
Hummy Cosplay (WCS Video Championship 2019 Grand Prix From Spain)
Diana Tolin (USA Representative)
Shirou Tang (Germany Representative)
Kazuki Foo Ming Wei (President of Eight Ministry "Malaysia" South East Asia)
Ayman Ali (UAE Representative)
and more (1st Stage Tokyo Round and 2nd Stage Nagoya Round)

2020 A.K. Wirru (2019 Champion Australia Representative)
Banana Cospboys (2018 Champion Mexico Team)
BOYS AND MEN
Chris Glen (Announcer)
K (2019 Champion Australia Representative)
KANAME☆
KaoruLily (2019 Netherlands Representative)
Mahio (2017 2nd Runner-up Japan Representative)
Mariko (2006 1st Runner-up, 2017 2nd Runner-up Japan Representative)
Matsuri nine.
Maurício Somenzari (WCS 2006, 2011 Champion Brazil Representative)
Osamu Masuyama
Reika Arikawa
Tatsumi Inui (Site administrator of Cure)
Tōru Furuya
Yaya Han
Yuriko Tiger
YO!YO!YOSUKE (Announcer)
and more
2021 Asaka (musician)
Asu
BMK (Big Monster Kite)
BOYS AND MEN
Chirs Glenn (Announcer)
Daisuke Nakamoto (Voice Actor)
Dakara
Eri Sakazaki (Voice Actress)
Faras
Guren
Hana Isogai (Voice Actress)
Hideaki Omura (Aichi prefectural governor)
Iwori (Voice Actor)
Komazawa Isolation (Video Creator)
MATSURI nine.
Michi Yokoi (Announcer)
Miho Mashiro (Voice Actress)
Mikeneko Kyouju
Miki Yakata (Voice Actress)
Monster
Nagoya Cosplay Host Town PR Team
Natsuki Ochiai (Voice Actress)
Nishizuma
Reika Arikawa
Shingo Yoneyama (Voice Actor)
Shoto Mizukami (Voice Actor)
Tatsumi Inui (Site administrator of Cure)
Tōru Furuya
USAKO (Announcer)
K (2019 Champion Australia Representative)
A.K Wirru (2019 Champion Australia Representative)
YO!YO!YOSUKE (Announcer)
Yudai Noda (Voice Actor)
Yuto Arai (Voice Actor)
and more

Attending countries

  Countries that have at one time participated in the World Cosplay Summit (as of 2021)

Attending countries in bold indicate first attendance for that year:

Year No. Attending countries Guest commentator/s Date Venue
2003 4  France,  Germany,  Italy,  Japan October 12 Rose Court Hotel
2004 5  France,  Germany,  Italy,  Japan,  United States August 1 Ōsu shopping area
2005 7  China,  France,  Germany,  Italy,
 Japan,  Spain,  United States
Tōru Furuya
Tomoe Shinohara
July 31 Ōsu shopping area
August 7 Expo Dome
2006 9  Brazil,  China,  France,  Germany,  Italy,
 Japan,  Singapore,  Spain,  Thailand
Tōru Furuya August 5 Ōsu shopping area
August 6 Oasis 21
2007 12  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  France,  Germany,  Italy,
 Japan,  Mexico,  Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Thailand
Tōru Furuya
Shoko Nakagawa
August 4 Ōsu shopping area
August 5 Oasis 21
2008 13  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  France,  Germany,
 Italy,  Japan,  Mexico,  Singapore,  South Korea,
 Spain,  Thailand,  United States[2]
Tōru Furuya
Natsuki Katō
August 2 Ōsu shopping area
August 3 Oasis 21
2009 15  Australia,  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,
 France,  Germany,  Italy,  Japan,  Mexico,
 Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Thailand,  United States[2]
August 1 Ōsu shopping area
August 2 Oasis 21
2010 15  Australia,  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,
 France,  Germany,  Italy,  Japan,  Mexico,
 Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Thailand,  United States
July 31 Ōsu shopping area
August 1 Oasis 21
2011 17  Australia,  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,
 Germany,  Italy,  Japan,  Malaysia,  Mexico,  Netherlands,
 Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Thailand,  United States
August 6 Ōsu shopping area
August 7 Oasis 21
2012 22  Australia,  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,
 Germany,  Hong Kong (Observer),  Indonesia,  Italy,  Japan,  Malaysia,
 Mexico,  Netherlands,  Russia,  Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,
 Taiwan (Observer),  Thailand,  United Kingdom,  United States
August 4 Oasis 21
August 5 Ōsu shopping area
2013 24  Australia,  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,
 Germany,  Hong Kong (Observer),  Indonesia,  Italy,  Japan,  Malaysia,
 Mexico,  Netherlands,  Philippines (Observer),  Russia,  Singapore,
 South Korea,  Spain,  Taiwan (Observer),  Thailand,  United Kingdom,
 United States,  Vietnam (Observer)
August 3 Oasis 21
August 2 Ōsu shopping area
2014 26  Australia,  Brazil,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,
 Germany,  Hong Kong,  Indonesia,  Italy,  Japan,  Kuwait (Observer),
 Malaysia,  Mexico,  Netherlands,  Philippines (Observer),  Portugal (Observer),
 Russia,  Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Taiwan,  Thailand,
 United Kingdom,  United States,  Vietnam (Observer)
August 2 Aichi Arts Center
August 3 Ōsu shopping area
2015 28  Australia,  Brazil,  Canada (Observer),  China,  Denmark,  Finland,
 France,  Germany,  Hong Kong,  Indonesia,  Italy,  Japan,
 Kuwait,  Malaysia,  Mexico,  Netherlands,  Philippines,  Portugal,
 Russia,  Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Sweden (Observer),  Taiwan,
 Thailand,  United Kingdom,  United States,  Vietnam
August 1 Aichi Arts Center
August 2 Ōsu shopping area
2016 30  Australia,  Brazil,  Canada,  China,  Denmark,  Finland,
 France,  Germany,  Hong Kong,  India,  Indonesia,  Italy,
 Japan,  Kuwait,  Malaysia,  Mexico,  Netherlands,  Philippines,
 Portugal,  Russia,  Singapore,  South Korea,  Spain,  Sweden,
  Switzerland,  Taiwan,  Thailand,  United Kingdom,  United States,
 Vietnam
August 6 Aichi Arts Center
August 7 Ōsu shopping area, Aichi Arts Center
2017 34  Australia,  Belgium,  Brazil,  Canada,  Chile,  China,
 Denmark,  Finland,  France,  Germany,  Hong Kong,  India,
 Indonesia,  Italy,  Japan,  Malaysia,  Mexico,  Myanmar,
 Netherlands,  Philippines,  Portugal,  Puerto Rico,  Russia,  Singapore,
 South Korea,  Spain,  Sweden,   Switzerland,  Taiwan,  Thailand,
 United Arab Emirates,  United Kingdom,  United States,  Vietnam
August 5 Aichi Arts Center
August 6 Ōsu shopping area, Aichi Arts Center
2018 36  Australia,  Belgium,  Brazil,  Bulgaria,  Canada,  Chile,
 China,  Costa Rica,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,  Germany,
 Hong Kong,  India,  Indonesia,  Italy,  Japan,  Kuwait,
 Malaysia,  Mexico,  Myanmar,  Netherlands,  Philippines,  Portugal,
 Russia,  Singapore,  South Africa,  South Korea,  Spain,  Sweden,
  Switzerland,  Taiwan,  Thailand,  United Kingdom,  United States,  Vietnam
August 3 Central Park
August 5 Ōsu shopping area, Dolphins Arena
2019 40  Australia,  Austria,  Belgium,  Brazil,  Bulgaria,  Canada,
 Chile, China,  Costa Rica,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,
 Germany,  Hong Kong,  India,  Indonesia,  Israel,  Italy,
 Japan,  Malaysia,  Mexico,  Myanmar,  Netherlands,  Philippines,
 Portugal,  Russia,  Saudi Arabia,  Singapore,  South Africa,  South Korea,
 Spain,  Sweden,   Switzerland,  Taiwan,  Thailand,  Trinidad and Tobago,
 United Arab Emirates,  United Kingdom,  United States,  Vietnam
July 27 Tokyo Dome City
August 3 Aichi Arts Center
August 4 Ōsu shopping area, Aichi Arts Center
2020 24 hour global online broadcast - August 1 - Aichi TV, Osu Studio
2021 30 The national representative no coming and send video only

 Australia,  Belgium,  Brazil,  Bulgaria,  Canada,  Chile,
 Finland,  France,  Germany,  Hong Kong,  India,  Indonesia,
 Israel,  Italy,  Japan,  Mexico,  Netherlands,  Philippines,
 Russia,  Saudi Arabia (Observer),  South Africa,  Spain,  Sweden,   Switzerland,
 Taiwan,  Thailand,  Ukraine,  United Kingdom,  United States,  Vietnam

August 8 Oasis 21

Teams at the most recent edition of the WCS

The following representative teams were present at the most recent edition of the World Cosplay Summit.[11]

Country/region Cosplayers Team name
 Australia TallJoke
ElvisDitto
 Belgium Muralu
Nyapy
 Brazil Jessy
Kitsune Raposa
 Bulgaria Aleks
Loki Afuro
 Canada Doll Damage Cosplay
Harlot Queen Cosplay
Team DollQueenie/Double Queenie
 Chile Eriza
Daiki
Pastel Aliens
 Finland Tor-Leif Design
Hapsu Cosplay
 France Beryl
Ariel (Hazariel Costumes)
 Germany Calssara
Elffi
C&F Cosplay Factory
 Hong Kong Kizoku
Koshi
 India Hotaru Juno
Kitsune Blood
Team Lapis Lazuli
 Indonesia Gilbert
Gerard
Genesis Art Semarang
 Israel Torekun
Lenuchka
 Italy Diaboliko Cosplay
Nero Cosplay
 Japan Usio
Hazama
Team Hakumai
 Mexico Lorraine
Chris
Team Power Up!
 Netherlands Alana
Mirai
Team Metamorphe Sister
 Philippines Jin (behindinfinity)
AC Hernandez
 Russia Zero Khan Kotyan
Spirit Mint
 Saudi Arabia Memo cosplay
Himocosplay
 South Africa Maoukami Cosplay
Creative Chia
 Spain Ladysaphira
rhue
 Sweden Shiroiaisu Cospla
Grimalkin Cosplay
  Switzerland Chech
Tanysa
 Taiwan Takahashi-LNG
陳小刀(CHEN SIAO DAO)
雞鴉戰隊 Team Jiya
 Thailand Ryou
Reizier
 Ukraine Borf Animal
Ririt
 United Kingdom Nomes
Minney
 United States ChibiTifa
Barracuda Cosplay
 Vietnam Fuu Kiragani
Týt 四十雀
O.E.K. Team

Results

Yearly results for the top awards:

Year Grand Champion Runner-up 1st Runner-up 2nd Special award from "brother"
2005
1, 2
Giorgia Vecchini
Francesca Dani
Emilia Fata Livia
Nakamura-han
2006
3
Maurício Somenzari L Olivas (Mah Psylocke)
Mônica Somenzari L Olivas (Kawaii Aeris)
Mariko
Cyoko
Goldi
Aoisakuya
2007 Damien Ratte
Isabelle Jeudy
Kikiwan
Naoki Shigure
Linaloe Rodriguez Rivera (Linamoon)
Alejandra Rodriguez Rivera (Yunnale)
2008 Jéssica Moreira Rocha Campos (Pandy)
Gabriel Niemietz Braz (Hyoga)
Zhao Chin
Zhang Li
Yui
Mino
2009 YuRi
RiE
Bereniç Serrano Vidal (Piruletosa)
Laura Fernández Ramos (Madoka)
Elizabeth Licata (fatwetdog)
India Davis (Dia)
2010 Luca Buzzi
Giancarlo Di Pierro


Gabrielle Christine Valerio
Gabriel Niemietz Braz (Hyoga)

Orawan Aggavinate (Alexis Seiz)
Patawikorn Uttisen (Pat)

Laura Salviani (Nikita)
Cecile Auclair (Sikay)
Orawan Aggavinate (Alexis Seiz)
Patawikorn Uttisen (Pat)
2011 Maurício Somenzari Leite Olivas
Mônica Somenzari Leite Olivas
Marika Roncon
Daniela Maiorana
Deng Ya Qian
Zheng Jia Hong
Tessa Beattie
Jessica L. Allie
2012 Yukari Shimotsuki
Kaito
Frank Koh (Raistlin03)
Valerie Seng (ayatenshi)
Konnichi (Yesaya)
Zhuge (Rizki)
Frank Koh (Raistlin03)
Valerie Seng (ayatenshi)
2013 Andrea Vesnaver
Massimo Barbera
Cassandra May (Breathlessaire)
Tiffany Tezna (Starlighthoney)
Pongwat Honghiranrattana (Hisa Minuet)
Chittaworn Veeraroj (Scarleta Win)
Cassandra May (Breathlessaire)
Tiffany Tezna (Starlighthoney)
2014 Nek (Neko-tin)
Nichi
NadiaSK
MOGU
Dharma (Guriinko)
Ryan (Ryan no Ryu)
Shinji
TinYasuo
2015 Juan Carlos Tolento (TWIIN Cosplay)
Shema Arroyo (TWIIN Cosplay)
Akiba (Manuel Capitani)
Luca Buzzi
Alpacosplay (Ashley Rochelle)
Yummy Gamorah (Sarah R.)
Alpacosplay (Ashley Rochelle)
Yummy Gamorah (Sarah R.)
2016 Rian CYD
Frea Mai
Shinji
TinYasuo
LucioleS
Lyel
Jesmo
Yumi Koyuki
2017 Xue Yan Xue
Tian Tian
Al Squall
Doritaa
Mahio
Mariko
Milou
Aluota
2018 Banana Ed
Banana Luis
Yumaki
Machibun
Jasper Z (Zei)
Kutto
Aik0hime
TinYasuo
2019 K
Ameno Kitarou (A.K. Wirru)
Joshua Hart Design
Garnet Runestar (Elrowiel)
Kalimsshar
SakuraFlame
Feder
Cita
2020 Championship not held due to COVID-19
2021 Calssara
Elffi
Diaboliko Cosplay
Nero Cosplay
Nomes (Nomes Cosplay)
Minney (Be More Shonen)
Jin (behindinfinity)
AC Hernandez
  • ^1 Group Champion:  France (Pauline Mesa, Laurence Guermond Wendy Roeltgen)
  • ^2 Individual Champion: Giorgia Vecchini
  • ^3 3rd:  Italy (Alessandro Leuti, Alessia de Magistris)

Results of the most recent Championship

Results of the 2021 World Cosplay Championship:[12]

Award Winner
1st Place (Grand Champion) Calssara
Elffi
2nd Place (Runner-up 1st) Diaboliko Cosplay
Nero Cosplay
3rd Place (Runner-up 2nd) Nomes
Minney
Brother Award (Best Costume) Jin (behindinfinity)
AC Hernandez
Best Prop Making Award Lorraine
Chris
Tamakoshi Award (Best Visual Directing) Kizoku
Koshi
Best Sound Directing Award Eriza
Daiki
Arda Wigs Award (Best Actor) Shiroiaisu Cosplay
Grimalkin Cosplay
Environmental Consideration In Costume Making Award Hotaru Juno
Kitsune Blood
Best Drama Performance Award Zero Khan Kotyan
Spirit Mint
Best Action Performance Award Usio
Hazama
Best Comedy Performance Award Beryl
Ariel (Hazariel Costumes)
The COTY 2021 Award (Selected By Grand Prix Of Cosplayer Of Year 2021) Muralu
Nyapy
The NFT Sponsorship Award (Super Massive Global) Gilbert
Gerard

Performance by country

This list contains the champions of World Cosplay Summit.

Club Wins Winning Years
 Italy
3
2005, 2010, 2013
 Brazil
3
2006, 2008, 2011
 Japan
2
2009, 2012
 Mexico
2
2015, 2018
 France
1
2007
 Russia
1
2014
 Indonesia
1
2016
 China
1
2017
 Australia
1
2019
 Germany
1
2021

Preliminary conventions, organizations and events

The following conventions, organizations and events have held or organized the preliminary contests to select the representatives of each country for the Cosplay Championship since 2005:

Former preliminary conventions, organizations and events

Mascots

The WCS official characters

WCS has four official characters (mascots): Yuni, Ras, Glora and Barry.[18] They were designed by Japanese illustrator Mel Kishida, who worked as character designer on projects such as Atelier, Sound of the Sky and Hanasaku Iroha.

  1. Name: Yuni
    Age: 18
    Birthday: June 27
    Height: 153 cm (5 ft 0 in)
     
  2. Name: Ras
    Age: 29
    Birthday: August 5
    Height: 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
     
  3. Name: Glora
    Age: 22
    Birthday: April 27
    Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
     
  4. Name: Barry
    Age: 19
    Birthday: August 18
    Height: 170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
     

Other international cosplay competitions

In addition to the World Cosplay Summit, there are other international cosplay competitions:[19]

See also

References

  1. "World Cosplay Championship regulation: Article 8". World Cosplay Summit 2008 official website. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  2. "Japan hosts government-sponsored costume contest as diplomatic tool to promote culture". Mainichi Daily News. Associated Press. July 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  3. "World Cosplay Summit". www.centraljapan.jp. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  4. "What's WCS?". World Cosplay Summit 2008 official website. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  5. "World Cosplay Summit 2003 official website" (in Japanese). World Cosplay Summit 2003 official website. 2003. Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  6. "World Cosply Summit Ends in Aichi". Anime News Network. August 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2011-03-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Anime News Network". Animenewsnetwork.com. 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  9. "FanimeCon - 2010 Regulations". Forums.fanime.com. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  10. "Australia Animania - 2010 Regulations" (PDF). Animania.net.au. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  11. "Introduction of each team 2019 - WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT 2019 - WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT OFFICIAL SITE". Worldcosplaysummit.jp.
  12. "World Cosplay Summit". Facebook.com.
  13. http://animesexpo.com/. Retrieved 2018-08-05. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. "Indonesia Cosplay Grand Prix website". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  15. "Philippines @ WCS". Ph.animealliance.asia. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  16. "FanimeCon 2010 Forums". Forums.fanime.com.com. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  17. "Anime News Network". Animenewsnetwork.com. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  18. "WCS Official Characters - WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT OFFICIAL SITE". Worldcosplaysummit.jp.
  19. "CICAF 2017 preliminaries". Animecon.nl.
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