Japan's World Cosplay Summit to escape summer heat in 2027
The annual extravaganza, usually held in Nagoya, sees thousands of people from all over the world embody their chosen anime, manga and gaming stars in elaborate costumes, outlandish hairdos and zany face paints.
Organizers said after this year's 23rd shindig ended last Sunday -- 247,200 people attended over three days -- that next year's will also be in August, but for 2027, it will be in November.
"This change was made in response to the extreme heat and other weather conditions," the event's executive committee said in a statement.
The move was also to "strengthen our efforts to accommodate more international participants and to take into account trends in domestic and international tourists," it said.
© 2025 AFP
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Japan Today
17 hours ago
- Japan Today
Japan's World Cosplay Summit to escape summer heat in 2027
Dressing up at the World Cosplay Summit can be makeup-meltingly sweaty in Japan's baking summer, and after this year's event in record heat, organizers have pushed the 2027 edition to November. The annual extravaganza, usually held in Nagoya, sees thousands of people from all over the world embody their chosen anime, manga and gaming stars in elaborate costumes, outlandish hairdos and zany face paints. Organizers said after this year's 23rd shindig ended last Sunday -- 247,200 people attended over three days -- that next year's will also be in August, but for 2027, it will be in November. "This change was made in response to the extreme heat and other weather conditions," the event's executive committee said in a statement. The move was also to "strengthen our efforts to accommodate more international participants and to take into account trends in domestic and international tourists," it said. © 2025 AFP
Japan Times
a day ago
- Japan Times
Japan's World Cosplay Summit to escape summer heat in 2027
Dressing up at the World Cosplay Summit can be makeup-meltingly sweaty in Japan's baking summer, and after this year's event in record heat, organizers have pushed the 2027 edition to November. The annual extravaganza, usually held in Nagoya, sees thousands of people from all over the world embody their chosen anime, manga and gaming stars in elaborate costumes, outlandish hairdos and zany face paints. Organizers said after this year's 23rd shindig ended Sunday — 247,200 people attended over three days — that next year's will also be in August, but for 2027, it will be in November. "This change was made in response to the extreme heat and other weather conditions," the event's executive committee said in a statement on Tuesday. The move was also to "strengthen our efforts to accommodate more international participants and to take into account trends in domestic and international tourists," it said. Japan this week set a new high of 41.8 degrees Celsius, with tourist hot spot Kyoto in late July seeing 40 C for the first time since records began. Summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equaling 2023, and was followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years earlier. Last month, 38,608 people were treated in hospital for heatstroke, data showed Tuesday, down from 43,195 in July 2024. Preliminary findings from the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiner's Office found 56 people in central Tokyo likely died from heatstroke this June and July. Of those, 54 died indoors, and most were aged 60 or older. Thirty-eight of them had air-conditioners but did not use them.
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Japan Today
Darth Vader's lightsaber could cost you an arm and a leg
Darth Vader's lightsaber, used to chop off Luke Skywalker's hand in "Star Wars" classic "The Empire Strikes Back", went on display in London on Wednesday, ahead of its U.S. sale next month. The prop has been described as the "Holy Grail" for "Star Wars" fans, with millions prepared to end up like Skywalker and give their right arm to own the iconic weapon. Reflecting that passion, it is predicted to fetch up to $3 million went it goes on sale in Los Angeles next month. "It's just an amazing piece of film history," Brandon Alinger, chief operating officer of the Propstore auction house selling the item, told AFP at a London preview of the sale's most important lots. "Is there any villain as significant, as memorable as Darth Vader? I don't think so, and this is his weapon," he added. Darth Vader wielded the "energy sword" during legendary fight scenes in both "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Return of the Jedi" (1983). David Prowse, the actor behind Vader's mask, and stuntman Bob Anderson actually used two of the devices. One without a blade was clipped to the villain's belt while the other, which had a wooden blade attached, was used for the fight scenes. It is the battle-scarred item, albeit without the blade, that is up for sale, having been in the hands of a U.S. individual for 40 years. "Somebody, literally, who Googled 'sell Star Wars film prop' came to us and said, 'I've got this thing to sell', and we were just floored," explained Propstore founder Stephen Lane. "There was no understanding that this thing even still existed -- it's a brand new discovery, which is incredibly exciting for 'Star Wars' collectors." He compared its significance to the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz". Experts verified its authenticity by matching its dents and scratches to those seen on film. "Look at the big dent on the back, that's probably from (Luke Skywalker actor) Mark Hamill's lightsaber blade," Alinger explained while showing the device to AFP. While now likely worth millions, the item is actually an old camera-flash attachment with spare parts, such as the bubbles from behind a calculator pad, stuck on. Other items to be sold during the three-day auction, taking place September 4-6, include the bullwhip, belt and holster used by Harrison Ford in 1989's "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". One collector will also get their hands on a neuralyzer used by Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) to erase memories in "Men in Black" (1997). "This is used in the opening scene of the film," explained Ibrahim Faraj, consignments manager at Propstore in the UK. The item, whose LED display still works, is expected to sell for up to $150,000. © 2025 AFP
