HYPER JAPAN 2012 Christmas

We are delighted to announce that from 2012, HYPER JAPAN will be hosting the official World Cosplay Summit UK preliminary! One chosen pair will be whisked off to Nagoya, in Japan, to take part in the World Cosplay Summit 2012 as official representatives of the United Kingdom. That means a chance to meet some the world's best cosplayers and perform alongside them!

About the World Cosplay Summit

The World Cosplay Summit (WCS) is a cosplay event held in Nagoya, Japan. Organised by TV Aichi, WCS  began in 2003 as a gathering of cosplayers from around the world. The event has grown year by year and currently includes 38 cosplayers from 19 countries.

More than simply a cosplay competition, the World Cosplay Summit aims to promote friendly international exchange through a shared interest in Japanese pop culture. As well as the cosplay competition, the WCS representatives take part in activities such as the Osu Cosplay Parade, an open-air parade through the streets of Nagoya. This year, Danish, Italian and Spanish representatives also made a visit to the Earthquake-hit Sendai region.

Since 2008, WCS has been supported by three government ministries - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Tourism. 

World Cosplay Championship

Since 2005, WCS has included a cosplay competition as part of its schedule, known as the World Cosplay Summit Championship. The final is a stage competition held at Oasis 21 (a famous entertainment complex in Nagoya). A judging panel made up of celebrities from the world of anime and manga and respected members of Japan’s cosplay industry grade the teams on their costumes, performance and faithfulness to the original characters.

How to Enter

The WCS UK preliminary will take place at HYPER JAPAN at 3:30pm on Saturday, 25th February.

Rules and entry form can be downloaded HERE.

Online entry opens on 6th January and closes on 12th February 2012. Places are limited and will be first-come, first-serve.

FAQ

Who can enter?

Anyone aged 18 or over who is the holder of a valid British passport or has permanent residency in the UK. You must enter as a team of two people.

Which type of costumes can be entered?

Costumes based on characters from Japanese anime, manga and video games only. Any characters from these genres may be entered for the UK preliminary.

However, there are some guidelines for which kind of costumes may be entered at the final in Japan. Please email your costume choice to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as soon as possible, so we can advise whether it would be suitable for the final.

For more details, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the official World Cosplay Summit website: http://www.tv-aichi.co.jp/wcs/e/