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Cosplay

HYPER JAPAN 2014, day 2!

Posted on by marketing

Picking up where yesterday left off, HYPER JAPAN’s two Saturday sessions were a hub of J-culture activity and fun!

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We love the meeting of old and new at HYPER JAPAN, but there are more contrasts which struck us during the course of the day.

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The crowds were raring and ready to go…

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…but the hall was quickly filled with Japanophiles and the J-curious.

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Broken Doll made a smash entrance on our Fringe Stage early in the morning, playing to a very excited crowd with their energetic pop-rock sound! However…

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…at the same time, the traditional sounds of Hibiki Ichikawa and Akari Mochizuki were playing at our main stage, including a folk song written specially for, and about, HYPER JAPAN!

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The clash of swords and bodies hitting mats reverberated around our martial arts display area all day long…

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…but nearby more peaceful traditional pursuits were had in abundance…

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…as well as much less traditional, much less peaceful dance sessions with our ASOBISYSTEM DJs!

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Our Sushi Awards entrants were hard at work on their most impressive creations to date…

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…while around the corner, two cosplayers tucked into some Japanese curry for some fast food!

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Our COSParade featured entrants both big…

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…and small…

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…and very small!

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Our very own Kawaii star Scarlett Young qualified for the final round of NHK’s Karaoke contest…

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…and then J-rockers One Not’e ended the show in their own inimitable style!

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…And these two girls thought their Alpacas were cute enough for our Kawaii!! stage. We think so too!

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See you again tomorrow!

Pixie Bunny to feature Gothic Lolita Wigs and Alexa Poletti at HYPER JAPAN 2014!

Posted on by marketing

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This summer, exhibitor Pixie Bunny will be featuring Gothic Lolita Wigs at HYPER JAPAN for cosplayers and kawaii fashonistas both to try their unique selection of wigs in person before ordering. Not only will cosplayer & model Alexa Poletti be on-hand to assist with fitting and discuss her craft, but there will be giveaways and raffles! Check them out on the day for more details, or see here.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcAPUmyLrXA

More Cosplay Guests confirmed!

Posted on by marketing

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We’ve got more cosplay guests and judges confirmed for ECG and our Cosparade!

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Enja Cosplay

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Benjamin Hunt aka Enja Cosplay is a London based cosplayer and all-round geek. He began competitive Cosplay in 2011 when he represented the UK in the first Season of the European Cosplay Gathering in Paris. He’s since represented the UK at Eurocosplay and ECG Season 4, as well as winning the final of Cosplay World Masters.

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Ben will be sharing his knowledge and answering your cosplay questions at HYPER JAPAN, he also has a special performance in-store with cosplay partner in crime Laura Sindall

Laura Sindall

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Laura Sindall is a London based cosplayer who has been creating costumes for 8 years. During this time she has cosplayed around the world, representing the UK at the 2012 World Cosplay Summit in Japan!

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Laura works as a full time Special Effects Artist for Artem, working on films, events and commercials including Prometheus, the London Olympic ceremonies and the official Halo and Titanfall suits for the launch of the games. She has also created costumes for several other companies within the video games industry including Sony, Namco, TecmoKoei, Nintendo, and 2K.

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Laura will be performing at HYPER JAPAN as part of ECG Team UK 2014 together with her team-mate Enja Cosplay and will be helping to judge the Sunday COSParade.

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Paine

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Paine Cosplay, one of our ECG preliminaries judges, is travelling all the way from Belgium to attend HYPER JAPAN!

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Paine has been cosplaying for 7 years and has represented Belgium twice at the ECG – European Cosplay Gathering
(season 1 and 3) and once at the EuroCosplay finals (season 1). Since then she has been a Cosplay judge in many countries, including Belgium, Scotland, Switzerland, Romania and France judging contetss such as ECG, EC and WCS selections.

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Paine’s favourite costumes are intricate dresses with props. She loves embroidery and discovering new materials. That’s why, at the moment, most of her ‘costume challenges’ involve detailed embroideries and leather work.

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As well as judging, Paine also hopes to provide a workshop on embroidery over the weekend!

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Our other ECG preliminaries judge is the one and only Tabitha Lyons!

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Tabitha has been making props with her dad since she was 12 and is part of Artyfakes Action-Props. As well as an avid cosplayer she has been LARPing since she was 8! Tabitha will be at Hyper Japan SUNDAY ONLY and will have a stall selling signed prints! Tabitha is an experienced cosplay contest judge and she can’t wait to see all your cosplays on the day!

“KimoCos” singing stars YANAKIKU make their triumphant return to London

Posted on by marketing

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HYPER JAPAN veterans YANAKIKU will be returning to London for our 2014 event this summer! Channelling both mainstream and sub-cultural Japanese influences, this cool and quirky decora influenced J-pop duo have a unique perspective on the world. Having earned themselves a sizable UK fanbase the last time they visited, their next step along the road to global culture domination includes an English version of crowd favourite “Fujiyama△Disco”,

YANAKIKU WHATS NEW BANNER

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Along with their trademark catchy melodies and dance routines, this pair distinguish themselves from the rest of the J-pop crowd with their ‘Kimocos’- a totally original mashup of cosplay and kimono that are taking the music and fashion worlds by storm!

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Aiming to demonstrate the awesomeness of Japanese culture to the world, this pair wants to show ‘hot’ Japan, injecting their own spicy originality into an already crowded cool Japan culture scene.

Cosplay Events at HYPER JAPAN 2014

Posted on by hj_developer
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This year we are pulling out all the stops for Cosplay at HYPER JAPAN!

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Ready, steady, suit-up: after the spectacular shows last year we’re getting set for even more cosplay fun in 2014! HYPER JAPAN is the event where UK cosplayers get to step up to the world stage, so all eyes will be on HYPER JAPAN in 2014 for the next ultimate UK cosplayers!

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The HYPER JAPAN cosplay team will be involved in the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) 2015 UK preliminaries this November, but there’s plenty more action before then:

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EUROPEAN COSPLAY GATHERING

We’re proud to announce that we will be one again hosting the UK Preliminaries for the European Cosplay Gathering (ECG) contest this year, an exciting contest bringing together cosplayers from all over Europe!

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More details about the ECG at HYPER JAPAN 2014 can be found here. You can download the rules and entry pack in advance here

COSParade

Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July

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The COSParade is a chance for both experienced and beginner cosplayers to show off their costumes on the HYPER JAPAN stage! Simply strut your stuff on our catwalk, and we’ll be dishing out prizes for the best costumes. Prizes TBC.

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There are two ways to enter:

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Online

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You can download the rules and entry form here. However, pre-registration is now closed.

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On the day

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There will be a small number of places reserved for on-the-day entries. Arrive early to avoid disappointment!

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HYPER OTACHIDAI & Photo Gathering

HYPER JAPAN 2014 will feature our biggest and best HYPER-OTACHIDAI to date!

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Taking advantage of Earls Court 1’s larger area, we’re setting up a special space for cosplaying HJ attendees to show off their costumes and get some lovely snaps taken, with lighting set up especially for photography. While it is open to all attendees, we are organising slots for meetups and gatherings with a theme, you can see the details here.

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Cosplay workshop & Guests

Learn how to make costumes with community staff
Our HYPER JAPAN Cosplay area isn’t just for the finished product this year, as more experienced and knowledgeable members of the cosplay community will be on hand demonstrating techniques to help you make the costume of your dreams just that little bit better.

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Facilities for Cosplayers

HYPER JAPAN offers full changing room and costume repair facilities for cosplayers. The changing rooms are open to all cosplayers attending HYPER JAPAN, but priority will be given to event contestants during busy times.
If you have any questions about cosplaying at HYPER JAPAN, please email cosplay@hyperjapan.co.uk

Weapons and Props

For safety reasons, cosplayers are allowed to carry props as part of their costume as long as they are shorter than 1.5m, made from a lightweight material and have all sharp edges rounded off. If your weapon / prop is heavier or larger, you can take it on stage during the contests but please leave it at the Cosplay Desk while you walk around the event.