the history of cosplay

The tradition of science fiction convention came to Japan in the 1970s in the form demonstration event costume (costume show). In Japan, the demonstration of "cosplay" was first held in 1978 in Ashinoko, Kanagawa Prefecture in the science fiction convention masquerade Nihon SF Taikai to-17. Science fiction critic Kotani Mari attended the convention dressed in costumes like the characters in the cover story of A Fighting Man of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Not only Mari Kotani Nihon SF Taikai while attending her cosplay. Gainax animation company director, Yasuhiro Takeda Star Wars characters in costume.

At that time, the convention participants thought Mari Kotani manga character costume Triton of the Sea by Osamu Tezuka. Kotani himself did not try hard deny that the mass media often writes costumes Triton of the Sea as the first cosplay costumes worn in Japan. Furthermore, the contest cosplay event be fixed since the Nihon SF Taikai to-19 years in 1980. Participants wore a Superman costume, Atom Boy, as well as leaders in the Girl Who Leapt Through and movie Virus. In addition to the Comic Market, cosplay events become more and more often held in the exhibition event dōjinshi and science fiction fan meeting in Japan.

Anime magazine in Japan gradually began to include news about cosplay events at the exhibition and sale of publications dōjinshi. Large-scale coverage was first performed Fanroad magazine August 1980 edition of the prime months. The special edition includes news about the emergence of groups of young people called "Tominoko-zoku" were in the area of Harajuku cosplay costume with a mobile suit Gundam. Group "Tominoko-zoku" reportedly emerged as rivals to Takenoko-zoku (the group of young people dressed in weird time enliven the Harajuku area). The term "Tominoko-zoku" taken from the name of the Gundam animation film director, Yoshiyuki Tomino, and is a parody of the term Takenoko-zoku. Photos participants cosplay dancing while wearing costumes also come loaded Gundam robot. Although the actual articles about Tominoko-zoku only intended to seek sensation, the article managed to make the "cosplay" as a common term among anime fans.

Before the term cosplay is used by the electronic mass media, the assistant announcer Minky Yasu had often do cosplay. Costume characters are often subject to Minky Momo Minky Yasu in onshore gathering Radi-gift mami no communication between the other broadcast by Radio Tōkai since 1984. Subsequently, the same radio program began a cosplay contest. From 1989 until 1995, aired on TV Asahi's ranking cosplay costumes that are popular in the Land Data Hanakin event.

Around the year 1985, the widespread hobby of cosplay in Japan for cosplay has become something that is easy to do. At that time Captain Tsubasa accident was a popular figure, and only with a T-shirt T-shirt Captain Tsubasa soccer players, people have been able "to cosplay." Cosplay activities reportedly started to become group activities since 1986. Since it also began popping up amateur photographers (called camera-Kozo) who likes to take pictures of cosplay.