Kigurumi一词来自日语“着ぐるみ”的发音，意为“把娃娃穿起来”，而最早应该出现在迪斯尼乐园一类的主题公园里，公园里米老鼠、唐老鸭等角色就属于Kigurumi，但是当时只属于一种表演形式，没有定名。Kigurumi这种表演形式在日本最初也是作为商业广告形式出现的，在街头，工作人员穿上厚重的服装，扮演成所需的动物或吉祥物形象进行宣传。

简介

装备要求((1) 紧身衣 (2) 面具 (3) 动漫人物服装)

注意事项

简介（英文）

kigurumi-Cosplay venue

简介

Kigurumi一词来自日语“着ぐるみ”的发音，意为“把娃娃穿起来”，而最早应该出现在迪斯尼乐园一类的主题公园里，公园里米老鼠、唐老鸭等角色就属于Kigurumi，但是当时只属于一种表演形式，没有定名。Kigurumi这种表演形式在日本最初也是作为商业广告形式出现的，在街头，工作人员穿上厚重的服装，扮演成所需的动物或吉祥物形象进行宣传。后来出现了以人物形象为主的商业Kigurumi，这也是现在广义上的Kigurumi，商业人型Kirugumi基本也以动漫人物为主，为动漫及相关制品作宣传。在日本的许多大的动漫展会上都可以看到Kigurumi的表演。但是Kigurumi与Cosplay又有着很大的不同。第一点就是Kigurumi需要戴面具。这样就可以Kigurumi可以完全无视扮演者的相貌甚至性别来进行。（好多女性卡通人物Kigurumi的扮演者都是大叔哦！）因为Kigurumi本意为“穿娃娃”，所以原则上是不会把身体的任何部分暴露出来的（把身体露出来，和布娃娃开线，里面的棉花跑出来的概念是一样的），扮演者会贴身穿上一件连着手套袜子和头套的肉色紧身衣（与其说是肉色，还不如说是肉粉色更合适一些，没有任何人类的皮肤能长出这种“肉色”），用以覆盖住身体充当皮肤，有一部分扮演者的紧身衣袜子部分甚至包含有脚趾，完美主义者指的应该就是这些人。

装备要求

Kigurumi需要的装备很复杂：一套肉色全包紧身衣（连头都要套起来的那种），一个Kigurumi面具，一套动漫人物服装。下面来简单的介绍一下：

(1) 紧身衣

国内做紧身衣的厂家也有五六家的样子，比较有名的是“中国莱卡”。做紧身衣，一定要一套合身的，否则Kigurumi的效果就要大打折扣。

(2) 面具

可以说Kigurumi面具是一个角色的灵魂。以前国内的威自（现已关闭）出售面具，现在国内的大多数玩家都是去日本定购的，而日本比较有名的SIGMA造型工房不接跨国订单，只能亲自去日本订或通过在日本的朋友订。国外做的比较有名的是SIGMA造型工房，但是面具的价格也不菲，普遍的定做面具的价格都在100000日元（约7400元人民币）以上，超过了大多玩家所能接受的范围，这也是为什么Kigurumi不能在中国兴起的原因之一。最近有国内的玩家自己做面具并且成功研制出了，效果有的不错有的一般。最近淘宝网上已经有制作者开始接受定做，价格在1000元人民币左右，国内也有爱好这开始进行自己的Kigurumi创作活动，相信将来在国内能有所普及与发展。

(3) 动漫人物服装

一般的Cosplay服装即可，不再重复。

注意事项

进行Kigurumi扮演时最好是在凉快的季节，因为需要在穿上Cos的衣服之前先穿上一件完全包住身体的贴身衣服，有时还要加上调整体型的调型内衣，还要带个不透气的面具，要是在夏天的太阳底下，或是人多的室内，用不了半小时就会出一身汗，据说日本有因为夏天参加漫展进行Kigurumi而中暑的事故发生。

简介（英文）

(in English)

CosplayersCosplay (コスプレ, kosupure?), a contraction(or portmanteau) of the English words "costume" and "play", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, or Japanese pop music bands. However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.

In Japan, "cosplay" as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Likeminded people gather to see others' costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.

The most specific anecdote about the origin of the word "cosplay" was that Nov Takahashi(from a Japanese studio called Studio Hard) coined the term "cosplay" as a contraction of the English-language words "costume play" while he was attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. He was so impressed by the hall and masquerade costuming there that he reported about it frequently in Japanese science fiction magazines. This point is debatable, however, as the word fits in with a common Japanese method of abbreviation: combining the first two syllables of one word with the first two syllables of a second word (or, more precisely, the first two moras of each). Other examples of this include Pokémon (ポケモン, Pokémon? short for ポケットモンスター, or "Pocket Monsters") and puroresu (プロレス, puroresu? short for プロレスリング, or "professional wrestling").

kigurumi-Cosplay venue

Bridge of Harajuku, Tokyo, a famous place for cosplayersCosplay can be seen at public events such as video game shows, as well as at dedicated cosplay parties at nightclubs or amusement parks. It is not unusual for Japanese teenagers to gather with like-minded friends in places like Tokyo's Harajuku district to engage in cosplay. Since 1998, Tokyo's Akihabara district has contained a large number of cosplay cafés, catering to devoted anime and cosplay fans. The waitresses at such cafés dress as game or anime characters; maid costumes are particularly popular.

Possibly the single largest and most famous event attended by cosplayers is the semiannual dojinshi market, Comiket. This event, held in summer and winter, attracts hundreds of thousands of manga otaku and many thousands of cosplayers who congregate on the roof of the exhibition center, often in unbearably hot or cold conditions.

Cosplayers in Japan refer to themselves as reyazu; pronounced layers (by writing the word cosplayers in Katakana, it is possible to shorten it in this way, although it makes no sense in English). Those who photograph players are called cameko, short for "Camera Kozo" or "Camera Boy". The cameko give prints of their photos to the players as gifts. Tensions between players and cameko have increased due to perceived stalker-like behaviour among some obsessive males who push female cosplayers to exchange personal email addresses or do private photo sessions. One result of this has been a tightening of restrictions on photography at events such as Comiket.

Cosplay trends

A recent trend at Japanese cosplay events is an increase in the popularity of non-Japanese fantasy and science fiction movie characters, perhaps due to the international success of such films as The Matrix, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Characters from the Harry Potter films have a particularly high number of female fans in Japan, with female cosplayers playing either male or female characters, Draco Malfoy being an extremely popular choice.

The act of cosplaying as characters of the opposite sex is called "crossplay" (cross-dressing cosplay). A small niche group in this field are dollers, a subset of kigurumi cosplayers; usually male, they wear bodysuits and masks to fully transform into female characters.

Another recent trend in cosplay is a blurring of the distinction between costumes based on characters from games and anime, and "original" costumes based upon a general theme or existing fashions. In particular, the Tokyo teen-fashion trend of Gothic Lolita has attracted some cosplayers who might not have the inclination (or possibly courage) to wear such distinctive clothes around town, but who would like to dress in such a manner on some occasions.

Cosplay and the sex industry

In Japanese, the term can also mean — and may originate from — the use of costumes for sexual purposes, in which case the "play" refers not to dressing up, but sexual play while dressed up. The term hence overlaps what would usually be known in English as sexual roleplaying or sexual fetishism: for example, wearing a schoolgirl uniform before or during sex would be known as seifuku cosplay (制服コスプレ, seifuku cosplay?), and many Japanese love hotels offer costume rental services.

In the Japanese sex industry, sex clubs that specialize in sexual cosplay are known as image clubs. In addition to standard fetishistic standbys (schoolgirl, nurse, policewoman, etc), an increasing number, pioneered by the now defunct Wedding Bell chain, cater to otaku with staff dressing up as anime characters.

International cosplay

Most features of cosplay have spread first to the other parts of Asia, then around the globe, and finally fused with costuming at science fiction conventions in North America and Europe. It is also a common sight at anime conventions. Cosplayers at anime conventions in North America often find themselves on the receiving ends of glomps, a type of high-powered hug.

Cosplay in the United States and Europe differs from Japanese cosplay culture in some ways. Cosplay concerning Star Trek, Star Wars, other science fiction worlds, Renaissance-era characters, and historical re-enactments (e.g. Civil War battles), especially at science fiction conventions, are far more popular in the West than they are in Japan. Alternatively, some costumes that might be seen as in bad taste in America (such as Nazi uniforms from certain comics or games) may be seen at events in Japan.

Western cosplayers are stereotypically lampooned as being overweight or otherwise unsuited to the characters they attempt to portray. An issue with cosplaying anime and manga characters is that these characters generally do not have bodily proportions that can easily be mimicked by many typical cosplayers (e.g. incredibly long legs, huge muscles or giant breasts), and there is debate among fans about how important or not this element is when cosplaying.

In Mexico, cosplay is commonly seen inside conventions that can be video game, science fiction or anime themed. It is common that cosplayers will also organize their own reunions which can be themed or free for the sake of taking pictures together. Cosplay in Mexico is competitive in a healthy level, with well established representatives.

In Australia, the trend mirrors the American and European in that the subject costumes may be selected from sources other than manga or anime. Sources include western comics, computer games, science fiction/fantasy movies and TV shows, animation shorts or features, period drama, novels - any source that provides vivid and graphic inspiration of a character and their costume. Usually the term "cosplay" is not used to cover historical recreation as the focus is on representational accuracy, not historical accuracy. In general, Australian cosplay is most commonly seen in the larger population centres such as the capital cities and major regional centres, as these have the population base to support the diversity among fringe interests. The display of the costumes is not limited to conventions, although it is not unusual for dedicated cosplayers to travel extensively throughout Australia following the convention trail during the year. In addition to the social convening at conventions, many smaller social groupings exist, hosting their own local events.【1】

Cosplay is also common in Southeast Asian cities that are heavily influenced by Japanese culture, like Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Besides the comic festivals and events frequently organized in those cities, cosplayers also frequent districts popular with teenagers.

Cosplay in North America

Convention activity in the United States and Canada has become a much larger and much more popular trend within the past decade. Larger conventions such as Anime Boston, Otakon and Sakuracon have become renowned internationally. With the added public attention coming from such popular animated cartoons imported from Japan (see anime) including Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, and now the popular Bleach, cosplayers and the anime world have peeked their heads into the world of mainstream pop-culture, on at least a relatively underground scale. More and more convention goers cosplay as their favorite characters from their favorite anime, and thus, the cosplay and anime subcultures have been able to have enough influence to further the creation of List of anime conventions to accommodate for the increasing number of cosplayers. Many cosplayers jokingly refer to Halloween as "National Cosplay Day", although many cosplayers spend so much of the year dressed up, they also like to take Halloween as a day off 【citation needed】.

Conventions in America often include both cosplay and costume contests. The cosplay or "masque" (masquerade) is a skit contest done in cosplay costume. This can range from a single person quoting a character's famous line (e.g., Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop: "Bang"), to a 10-member costumed cast singing and dancing to the theme of Sailor Moon, to actual comedic or dramatic one-act plays. The costume contest is often a test of skill, design, and audience reaction. The contestants are judged either before hand or on stage and then walk across said stage while the audience cheers. Judging is divided by two categories, craftsmanship and presentation. Craftsmanship is how well the costume is made, effort, originally and scope of the costume comes into play. Presentation accounts of how well the costume is presented. Regardless of how the costume is made, presentation is more about how the costume is used. ie. a costume consisting of t-shirt and jeans can easily defeat a 2,000 dollar Victorian style dress, simply by being in a comedy routine. Winners of both contests often receive prizes such as gift cards, trophies, and anime DVDs. The increased popularity of convention costuming has lead to the addition of several relatively new cosplay-based events, adding to the traditional masquerade and hall costume contests. Such events include the Anime Dating Game, and Cosplay Human Chess, where participating cosplayers act out their characters' role in the game accordingly.

Competition has led to the development of many cosplay groups that plan for conventions months in advance.

Non-competitive cosplay can often be seen at opening nights for science-fiction and fantasy movies, especially those with an established following. Even in small towns, some cosplayers wait in line for hours before showings of movies in franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Even cult hits like Serenity have drawn opening night cosplay.