Costume play (Cosplay) is a rapidly diversifying, yet still largely underground culture in urban China. The concept was first created by students in Japan, who dress up in meticulously created, hand-made costumes and perform animated sci-fi comic scenes in cafes, clubs and special competitions.
In China, young Cosplayers - who are mostly in their twenties - have adapted the original...
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Costume play (Cosplay) is a rapidly diversifying, yet still largely underground culture in urban China. The concept was first created by students in Japan, who dress up in meticulously created, hand-made costumes and perform animated sci-fi comic scenes in cafes, clubs and special competitions.
In China, young Cosplayers - who are mostly in their twenties - have adapted the original Japanese anime theme and added in distinctive Chinese historic and mythical imagery and characterizations.Cosplay in China is particularly strong among university students and young graduates, and has become an online phenomenon, with single children meeting and making friends on the Internet and then dressing up in each other's houses and at small competitions at weekends.
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