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Japan’s “just-born” AI-generated swimsuit/lingerie model’s career/existence is officially over

June 8, 2023, 10:30 am
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It’s time to say bye-bye to the AI Ai.

Just last week Shueisha, publisher of Japan’s Weekly Playboy magazine (no relation to the American Playboy) announced the debut of a new model, Ai Satsuki. Ai was billed as being “stuffed full of men’s ideals,” and concurrent with her appearance in a photo spread of that week’s issue of Weekly Playboy, Shueisha released a digital photo album for her titled Umaretate, which translates to “just born.”

That wasn’t just a reference to Ai’s first professional modeling appearances, though, but to the fact that she didn’t exist at all until very recently. Ai wasn’t a photographed model, but a series of images created by AI.

▼ Ai Satsuki

While AI-generated images of gravure models (models who pose in swimsuits, lingerie, and other revealing outfits) have been gradually spreading on Japanese social media and websites in recent months, Ai represented the first high-profile attempt by a Japanese publisher to turn an AI model into a commercial venture. The high quality of the images did a remarkably effective job at avoiding visual glitches and uncanny valley creepiness, but while there were few complaints about how Ai looked, apparently no small number of people took issue with what Ai was, and so Shueisha has made the decision to swiftly and completely cancel sales of her photo album as well as any other projects involving her that were in the works.

In regard to the decision, Shueisha says:

“Since [the issue of Weekly Playboy in which Ai Satsuki appears and her digital photo album] went on sale, we have heard many opinions, and our editorial department has reexamined the project. As a result, considering the image creation process, the editorial department has concluded that its examination of the points of debate and potential problems of generative AI have not been sufficiently examined. Looking ahead to the likelihood of a deepening worldwide debate on the commercialization of AI generated content, we feel that this requires more careful consideration.

As a result, we will be ending sales of Ai Satsuki’s digital photo album Umaretate.”

The announcement was posted to Shueisha’s Weekly Playboy Gravure Japan website on July 7, with sales of Ai’s photo album ceasing on the site’s online store at 11 a.m. the same day, and by the end of the day on other digital platforms, leaving those wanting to make a purchase only hours to do so. In addition to halting sales of Umaretate, Shueisha has also deleted Ai’s Twitter account.

While not specifically mentioned in the statement, the ostensible hurdle is the manner in which AI creates images. Many programs capable of generating high-quality images do so by using preexisting images as initial inputs, raising the question of what sort of ownership claims the creators of those original images have over the AI’s output.

“Even if she doesn’t actually exist, the love for her that sprouts in your heart is real,” Shueisha proudly said when announcing her debut, and now fans of her short-lived career will have to apply that sentiment to their memories as well.

Source: Weekly Playboy Gravure Japan via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Weekly Playboy Gravure Japan
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Japan’s number-one cosplayer Enako cosplays as Naruto, Oshi no Ko star, and more in new album【Pics】

June 11, 2023, 8:00 pm
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Enako’s newest project with publisher of Shonen Jump features cosplays for characters both new and old.

Last year, Japan’s number-one cosplayer, Enako, appeared in a photo album focused on the works of Rumiko Takahashi, creator of manga such as Inuyasha, Urusei Yatsura, and Ranma 1/2. But with Enako’s amazing range in cosplay ability, there’s a broader focus for her newest project with Shueisha, in which she dresses as some of the publisher’s biggest anime/manga stars of both past and present.

Enako Cosplayer 2 is the 112-page book’s title, since it’s a follow-up to her first major-publisher photo collection, 2019’s Enako Cosplayer.

Top cosplayers need to keep up with the top buzz-generating series of the current season, so one of the characters Enako will transform into is Ai Hoshino, pictured above, the main character of reincarnation thriller Oshi no Ko. Other fresh-in-fans’ minds muses include Chainsaw Man’s Power…

…and, equally capable of taking care of herself in a fight but with a much more wholesome attitude, Spy x Family’s devoted mom/secret assassin Yor Forger.

With Shueisha also being the publisher of Weekly Shonen Jump, cosplays for some of the biggest shonen series in the industry’s history are on the table, like the titular star of Naruto…

https://twitter.com/enako_cos/status/1665999558789435392

…One Piece’s Boa Hancock…

…and Dragon Ball’s Android 18, posing in front of a Luck Foods truck for an extra figurative nod and wink at fans with sharp memories for the series’ lore.

Speaking of good memories, the album will also salute series that may have quieted down or gone dormant since the peak of their popularity, but which still have a special place in the hearts of fans, such as Darkstalker’s brawling succubus Morrigan…

…Lina Inverse, the Slayers sorceress just as likely to destroy demons as innocent people’s homes with her explosive magic…

…and even So Dakki from Hoshin Engi, a series even many long-time anime/manga fans may have forgotten about until right now.

Enako Cosplayer 2 is priced at 3,300 yen (US$24) and releases on June 21, with preorders open here on Amazon Japan.

Source: Amazon Japan via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Amazon Japan
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Japanese swimsuit model/former adult actress releases AI-generated photo album of herself

June 30, 2023, 8:00 pm
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Says AI presents a new opportunity.

About a month ago, Japanese magazine publisher Shueisha released a photo collection for a newly debuting swimsuit and lingerie model named Ai Satsuki, whose name had a double meaning to it: “Ai” is a common women’s name in Japan that means “love,” but it’s spelled just like “AI,” and Ai Satsuki herself was a series of digital images created by an artificial intelligence program.

Now there’s another gravure model named Ai, Ai Uehara, who’s also released a new photo album. As with Ai Satsuki’s album, all of the images in Ai Uehara’s new album, titled Saisei (or alternatively Rebirth) are AI-generated images, but what’s different is that Ai Uehara is a real person.

▼ Ai Uehara (real person)

The 30-year-old Uehara entered the entertainment world as an adult film actress in 2011, eventually transitioning to sexy but non-pornographic modeling. While still active as a model, for Saisei a team of collaborators, collectively dubbed AI VERSE, used existing photos of Uehara as the basis for producing AI-generated images of her, with the best 50 or so bundled together for the digital video album.

▼ The cover of Saisei

Three days after its release, Saisei reached the number-one-best-seller position in Amazon Japan’s Kindle rankings for the photo collection/design/art collection category.

▼ ベストセラー１位 = Number-one bestseller

By using photos of Uehara to create AI images of her, the Saisei production team appears to be trying to sidestep a potential legal pitfall of commercializing AI-generated images. With AI programs that cast a wide net in looking for existing visual reference to create new images from, the legal question arises of whether or not the owners of the referenced images have ownership claims to the AI images that stem from them. In the case of Saisei, though, images of Uehara being both the input and output of the process could, ostensibly eliminate such complications and allow the image collection to avoid the fate that befell Ai Satsuki’s album/existence.

In talking about Saisei’s release, Uehara acknowledges that she’s heard people saying that AI presents a threat to the jobs of people like her, but that she disagrees, saying “I think this technology is going to give us a boost.”

Saisei is available through Amazon Japan here, priced at 699 yen (US$5.15).

Source: Nikkan Spa via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Amazon Japan
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The best cosplayers from Day 1 of Summer Comiket 2023【Photos】

August 15, 2023, 8:00 am
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Meet characters from some of the hottest anime, games, manga and virtual units in Japan right now.

This past weekend was a big one for doujinshi (self-published manga) creators and fans, as it marked the return of Comiket, the world’s largest doujinshi convention, in its first restriction-free iteration since the start of the pandemic.

▼ As in past years, the event was held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre.

Summer Comiket 2023, also known as Comic Market 102 or C102, proved to be even bigger than last summer, with 130,000 attendees compared to 85,000. One of the many thousands who attended this year was our reporter Egawa Tasuku, who braved the heat to check out the manga…and the cosplayers who had gathered on the first day of the two-day convention.

Egawa’s journey began at the nearest station, Kokusai-tenjijo, where the ticket gates had been adorned with characters from the role-playing game Blue Archive.

Upon exiting the station, the large banner beneath the ticket gate sign read “いってらっしゃい!” (“itterasshai” or “see you when you get back!”), which was a nice way of making attendees feel as if the cast would be waiting for them when they returned to the station for their home trip.

On the other side of the banner, presumably for when the attendees returned after the convention, were the words “お疲れ様でした!” (“otsukaresama deshita!” or “thank you for your hard work!”).

When Egawa arrived, at around 10:15 a.m., ahead of the morning entry time of 11: 00 a.m., he was pleased to find that staff were handing out free instant cooling packs in front of the station, with Blue Archive characters adorning the packaging as well.

Cooling packs like these provided some welcome relief in the blazing heat, with temperatures reaching highs of 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit). Many people brought parasols to shelter under while waiting in line, which was a very good idea, given that there was no shade in the queuing area.

Egawa felt there were a lot of people at the event, but once he was inside, there was hardly any congestion in the massive convention hall.

▼ He wandered around the cosplay area on the east side until 11:30 a.m., but no one was there.

So he decided to switch tactics, making his way to the official cosplayers at company booths first. On the way, he spotted crowds of people outside waiting to get in soon after the opening time.

▼ The crowds were massive so Egawa was glad he got there early enough to get ahead of them.

Before seeking out the cosplayers, Egawa remembered to purchase one of the limited-edition Comiket drinks for the summer event. These drinks, which are sold at vending machines at the venue, are highly sought after by visitors, so it’s best to get them early to avoid missing out.

▼ Priced at 250 yen (US$1.72) each, the packaging on these limited-edition drinks change with every iteration.

With his drinks in hand, Egawa was now ready to meet some of the cosplayers, and the first one he came across brought a big smile to his face.

▼ Gundam Aerial

▼ It’s like Gundam, but with Aerial, a popular brand of Japanese corn snacks.

Egawa was off to a good start, and he could sense that this was going to be a great year for cosplayers. So let’s get to it and take a look at some of the best from Day One below!

▼ Hoshimachi Suisei from Hololive | Cosplayer: @suyasuya_yuki

▼ Nekozuka Hibiki from Blue Archive | Cosplayer: @kwskring

▼ Juri from Street Fighter 6 | Cosplayer: @kokoro777pp

▼ Kana Arima from Oshi no Ko | Cosplayer: @KRaR007 

▼ Phrenapates from Blue Archive | Cosplayer: @george_brark

▼ Complete with the Adult Card.

▼ Amamiya Kokoro from Nijisanji | Cosplayer: @noncos_11

▼ Kamisato Ayaka from Genshin Impact | Cosplayer: @ringring0617

▼ Kirara from Genshin Impact | Cosplayer: @rena_hashi

▼ Tokai Teio from Uma Musume Pretty Derby | Cosplayer: @kitaro_cos

▼ Shizuku Kuroe from My Dress-Up Darling | Cosplayer: @_urusan_

▼  Over at the company booths, there were characters from Elemental Story…

▼ …Wuthering Waves…

▼ …Lovebrush Chronicles…

▼ …Atelier Resleriana….

▼ … and finally, BLACK STELLA PTOLOMEA.

So there you have it — the best cosplayers from Day One of Summer Comiket! It was a sweltering hot day so Egawa takes his hat off to the cosplayers who braved the heat in their costumes and kept a smile on their faces the whole time. To everyone who participated, otsukaresama deshita!

Photos © SoraNews24
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The best cosplayers from Day 2 of Summer Comiket 2023【Photos】

August 16, 2023, 8:00 am
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Spider-Man and Razor Ramon Hard Gay rub shoulders with some of the hottest characters in Japan! 

Summer Comiket 2023, or Comic Market 102 as this iteration is officially known, was held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre on 12-13 August, and our reporter Egawa Tasuku sweltered under the hot sun on the first day of the event, when he rubbed shoulders with cosplayers and doujinsha (self-published manga) fans and creators.

When he returned on the second day of the two-day convention, the sun was nowhere to be seen, but the atmosphere was still bright, thanks to the buzz of excitement amongst attendees.

▼ The cloudy conditions made standing in the queue to enter a lot less sweat-inducing.

Once he’d made his way inside just after 11:00 a.m., Egawa decided to skip the east area where come of the cosplayers were meant be, seeing as they were late to start there on the previous day. Instead, he headed straight for the company booths, snapping photos in that area until around midday.

The first booth belonged to Goddess of Victory: Nikke, and it was one of the most popular, with cosplayers standing in clear boxes to recreate the gacha element from the game.

▼ A swimsuit event had just been held in the game, so cheers erupted when cosplayers appeared in swimsuits.

As he made his way to the next booth, Egawa was stopped by Hatsune Miku, who wanted to share some news with him.

It was a special “sports report” that had appeared at Comiket for three consecutive seasons, according to what was printed on it.

▼ It also conveniently advertised merch for Liella!

Egawa wasn’t sure why they were using a faux newspaper to sell merch, but they were selling goods mainly related to Love Live! Superstar!!. Could it be that the staff at the booth are really otaku reporters from a news editorial department?

Either way, Egawa thanked Hatsune Miku for her time and moved on to the next booth, where he was greeted by characters from Wuthering Waves.

▼ The characters differ, depending on when you visit.

▼ The Identity V Fifth Personality booth was particularly popular with female visitors.

▼ The official cosplayers at this booth were incredibly impressive, as they really got into character for their photos.

One of the hottest titles at this year’s Summer Comiket was Blue Archive, and the cosplayers at the official booth appeared in swimsuit versions of the characters.

Other booths were drawing crowds for their freebies, like this one, which was giving away Aogiri High School drinks.

▼ And over at Muv-Luv, Egawa said hello to a wandering Laser-class BETA.

As he passed by the IdolMaster booth, Egawa saw they were playing a video, but he didn’t have time to stop and watch as the rooftop cosplay area was now open and ready for viewing.

Egawa wasted no time in heading out to the roof to meet the cosplayers of Day Two. They were even better than Egawa expected, so let’s take a look at them below!

▼ This original work consists of a fantastic powered suit made by @UEDAJYOKO and modelled by @6gimugi. 

▼  Takina Inoue from Lycorice Recoil  | Cosplayer: @tosaka1126

▼ Chisato Nishikigi from Lycoris Recoil | Cosplayer: @mocha_mcmc

▼ Silver Chariot from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure | Cosplayer: @dukedewrk

▼ Hiroi Kikuri from Bocchi the Rock! | Cosplayer: marina_rios, who came all the way from Brazil for Comiket.

▼  And lo and behold, all the way from New York, is Spider-Man!

▼ Now this is a crossover we’d like to see.

▼ Mao Xiangling from Genshin Impact | Cosplayer: @koyori1015

The rain started to pour down heavily at this point so Egawa moved with the cosplayers to a covered area for the rest of the photos.

▼ Texas from Arknights  | Cosplayer: @Shiminome_

▼  Sinon from Sword Art Online | Cosplayer: @nanamimaron_cos

▼ Syuen from Nikke | Cosplayer: @suya0113

▼ Yan from Nikke | Cosplayer: @homakiho

▼ Tokoyami Towa from Hololive | Cosplayer: @mery_cosnico

▼ Mika Misono from Blue Archive | Cosplayer: @kigupichan

▼ Saki Tenma from Project Sekai Colourful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku | Cosplayer: @sakura_kinomii

▼  And finally, we have @zangi_f_fujiko, cosplaying as Razor Ramon Hard Gay, a character adopted by retired professional wrestler and Japanese comedian Masaki Sumitani.

It was another great day of cosplayers at Comiket, and now we can’t wait for the winter edition to roll around on 30-31 December. See you there!

Photos ©SoraNews24
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The best cosplayers from Day One of the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2023

October 29, 2023, 8:00 pm
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Tokyo’s famous otaku neighbourhood was the place to be for some of the hottest characters this Halloween.

With Shibuya City cracking down on its unofficial Halloween street party this year, those looking for a safer alternative have been checking out some of Tokyo’s organised events, and one of the best every year is the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival, or “Ike Halo” as it’s known locally.

This year, the event took place from 28-29 October, with a festival-eve night cosplay event held on the night of 27 October, at Sunshine Square, where the reception was located, and Ike SunPark, which was home to the main stage. When our reporter Egawa Tasuku visited on 28 October, the skies were clear and there were crowds of cosplayers around Sunshine Square, while families and children were enjoying the sunshine over at SunPark.

▼ Although it was crowded, the event area was spacious, creating a calm and laid-back vibe.

This year’s ambassador for the event was Japanese singer Sachiko Kobayashi, who appeared as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba character Muzan Kibutsuji, dressed in the kimono he wears when he appears in the series in female form. It was one of many fantastic cosplays at the event, which showed trends for VTubers and Genshin Impact, popular for the past few years, are still strong amongst female cosplayers, with South Korean RPGs Blue Archive and Goddess of Victory: Nikke, rapidly gaining strength as well.

Amongst male cosplayers, aside from the Kamen Rider series — such an everlasting mainstay it could be considered a Hall of Famer — and male versions of Sailor Moon, Jujutsu Kaisen characters stood out as popular choices. The character of Satoru Gojo seemed to be particularly popular, with four present on the day, and there were also a few cosplayers waving the flag for series such as Chainsaw Man, Gundam, and Evangelion.

So, let’s get straight to it and introduce the best cosplayers from the first day of the event!

▼ Hatsune Miku (Cosplayer: @SayaScarlet01)

▼ Saber from key visuals for the Chinese version of Fate/Grand Order 4th Anniversary FES (Cosplayer: @moka_4416)

▼ Nekota Tsuna (Cosplayer: @rinyanpassan)

▼ Guillotine from Goddess of Victory: Nikke (Cosplayer: @suya0113)

▼ Homura Akemi from Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Cosplayer: @haru_no_inu)

▼ Umise Yotsuha from Nijisanji (Cosplayer: @kc_2_cos)

▼ Elaina from Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (Cosplayer: @Hak_cacao)

▼ Ryuuge Kisaki from Blue Archive (Cosplayer: @XaiabP)

▼ Wakaba Hinata from Blue Archive (Cosplayer: @Yuyuxcos)

So there you have it — some of the best cosplayers from Day One of the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival. Just like last year, this year’s festival didn’t disappoint, and we’d like to thank all the cosplayers who posed for us on Day One of the festival. Which one was your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below!

Related: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2023
Photos ©SoraNews24
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The best cosplayers from Day Two of the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2023

November 1, 2023, 8:00 pm
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Famous characters come to life on this last day of cosplay celebrations.

If you’re looking for a Halloween event in Tokyo dedicated to the custom of dressing up in costume, the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival, or “Ike Halo” is the place to be. That’s where our reporter Egawa Tasuku went on the weekend to photograph some of the cosplayers and their costumes, and he reckons it’s the best Halloween event in Tokyo.

Not only is it a great place to see some amazing cosplays, the event is safe, laid-back, and family friendly, with a lot of parents and young children attending the event. This makes it a much better alternative to Shibuya’s unofficial Halloween street party, which the city has deliberately turned into a hostile environment in recent years, where police now blow whistles and blare instructions at people not to stop while walking across the scramble crossing.

Ike Halo is far more relaxed by comparison, held in a spacious location at Ikebukuro’s Sunshine Square and Ike SunPark, and spread out across two days, with a pre-event cosplay night thrown in on the eve of the festival. Egawa visited on both days of the event, held this year on 28 and 29 October, and after seeing all the fantastic cosplays, he reckons the quality and professionalism here is as good or even better than what you’d see at Comiket.

So let’s get to it and take a look at some of the best cosplays from Day Two of the event below!

▼ Rupee from Goddess of Victory: Nikke (Cosplayer: @guguru_PICO)

▼ Marie Rose from Dead or Alive (Cosplayer: @rinyanpassan)

▼ Juri from Street Fighter 6 (Cosplayer: @muffet1010)

▼ Makima from Chainsaw Man (Cosplayer: @Yukinozomi3)

▼ Tartaglia from Genshin Impact (Cosplayer: @cos11p)

▼ Lumine from Genshin Impact (Cosplayer: @HaL_h_l)

▼ We totally ship this pairing.

▼ Hayase Yuuka from Blue Archive (Cosplayer: @yamo8cos)

▼ Rosaria (Maid Version) from Genshin Impact (Cosplayer: @su_s404)

▼ Fuyuko Mayuzumi (Jack in Matrix) from The Idolmaster Shiny Colors (Cosplayer: @irohairo1151)

What a brilliant collection of costumes and characters! Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed a change in scenery compared to our collection of photos from Day One of the event, but that’s only due to Egawa focussing on the cosplayers at Sunshine Square this time, as opposed to the ones around Ike SunPark, which he showcased on the first day.

Cosplayers can be found at both sites on both days of the event, though, which gives you a sense of just how big and grand this Halloween celebration really is. Thanks again to all the cosplayers who posed for us — we look forward to seeing you at the event again next year!

Related: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2023
Photos ©SoraNews24
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Beautiful models and cool cars from the Japan Mobility Show【Photos】

November 3, 2023, 10:30 am
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A visit to the renamed Tokyo Motor Show.

The Japan Mobility Show, renamed from the Tokyo Motor Show, opened on October 25 to start its lengthy 12-day run. We made the trip out to the Tokyo Big Sight convention center in the city’s Odaiba neighborhood to attend the event, and brought back a slew of photos of the coolest cars and most beautiful booth models.

▼ Tokyo Big Sight

Under its new name, the Japan Mobility Show is looking to broaden its scope to include an increasing variety of transportation modes, including pilotable giant robots. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles were still the majority of what was on display, with what feels like a general consensus that Mazda’s Iconic SP concept car was the star of the show.

▼ With its flowing lines and hybrid rotary powertrain, the Iconic SP is clearly meant to evoke rev-happy memories of Mazda’s FD RX-7.

Speaking of the Mazda booth, their spokesmodel staff greeted us with a hand sign replicating the company’s winged M logo.

This seems to be an idea they’re borrowing from Suzuki, who’s been using negative space between fingers to recreate the company’s stylized S for long enough that it’s now a tradition.

Not that there’s anything wrong with just a good old-fashioned heart, as suspension component maker Ohlins reminded us.

▼ Another Ohlins heart

Toy maker Takara Tomy, makers of the popular line of Tomica die-cast cars, had a racing version of Toyota’s 86 on display…

…while over at Toyota’s booth, guests could try out the company’s Neo Steer concept, which allows all the car’s functions to be controlled though hand controls only, which would allowing even those in wheel chairs to drive cars equipped with the device.

Toyota technically had multiple booths at the show, including one for group company Toyota Boshoku, whose focus is on car interior parts and components.

Mazda wasn’t the only carmaker stirring up memories of its sporty past, as Honda was debuting a concept for a new Prelude, a model of coupe they haven’t sold since 2001.

For decades, Nagoya-based NGK was one of the most trusted names in spark plugs. The company’s products are still as reliable as ever, but last year they changed their name to Niterra, as its booth models made sure attendees would remember.

NHK Spring, though, whose products include car seats, is sticking with the acronym its had since 1939.

It wasn’t just Japanese companies at the Japan Mobility Show, as Chinese automaker BYD brought out its BYD Seal EV.

At Subaru’s booth, the company famous for building rally racers that can drive on any surface was showing off a flying car, the Subaru Air Mobility Concept.

For cars still running around on the ground, though, Dunlop is happy to provide tires.

▼ Seat maker Minebea Mitsumi

Fuso might not be a name North Americans are familiar with, but Mitsubishi’s commercial truck and bus division is big in Japan, other parts of Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

▼ Automotive component supplier Denso

▼ Toyoda Gosei, another Toyota Group company and component supplier

At the Mercedes-Benz booth, the attire was more sophisticatedly formal than sporty or playful, as you might expect from the German luxury marque…

…Daihatsu had sort of a retro look going with their high collars and berets…

…and Carmate, who makes both car interior accessories, drive recorder cameras, and outdoor equipment, kept things camp-chic.

▼ Sumitomo Electric also had some rustic appeal with their cowboy hats.

In the motorcycle sector, Kawasaki went old-school with their single-cylinder 250-cc Meguro S1, named in honor of Meguro Manufacturing, a motorcycle company that was absorbed into Kawasaki back in the 1960s…

…as rival Yamaha looked way into the future with its Motoroid 2 concept.

▼ Exhaust system maker Sango

Car show modeling in Japan is still a predominantly female venture, but Saitama-based UD Trucks had booth dudes too.

Andfinally, because it wouldn’t be a proper Japanese event without some sort of cute character merch, visitors to the Mitsubishi booth could purchase a stuffed animal of Delimaru, the boxy bulldog who appears in the TV commercials for the Delica Mini.

So even if we didn’t drive home in a new car, we’ve at least got a new plushie.

Related: Japan Mobility Show official website
Photos ©SoraNews24
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Top coplayer Enako models for isekai-in-real-world cosmetics lines, teases Santa, succubus Comiket pics

November 18, 2023, 5:00 am
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Bringing a little magic to your skin care rituals.

As a cosplayer, Enako’s job is focused on bringing anime and video games fashions into the real world. The goal of her latest venture, though, is about bringing over usable items from fantasy realms.

New Japanese cosmetics brand Magia describes its core concept as “summoning items from an isekai (alternate world.” And yes, they make sure to use the from-English loanword “aitemu” for “item,” keeping with the parlance in role-playing video games and fantasy anime that are steeped in game-like atmosphere.

Enako is actually dressed as a specific character here. In keeping with its game/anime inspirations, Magia has an official illustrated mascot too, named Ultimacia Ravencroft, designed by Shu Nozosawa.

Within the brand’s backstory, there exists a class of potions called the Heavenly Inscriptions, which can only be crafted by the most talented alchemists and are so powerful that even the dark lords are in awe of their effects. The young Ultimacia is one such alchemist, and the creator of the Release Potions.

Magia promises that the potions, which are actually skin lotions, will free users from the drudgery of dull daily skin care routines, adding a bit of dramatic excitement to your regular rituals of grooming. The citrus-scented red is a sebum care lotion, the blue a soap aroma moisturizer, and the green an herbal citrus tonic to help repair damaged skin.

▼ Within the Magia backstory, the Release Potions are made with powdered Philosopher’s Stone and leaves from the World Tree

Modeling for Magia isn’t the only thing that Enako has been up to recently. She’s also gearing up for this year’s winter Comiket, which will take place at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center on December 30 and 31. At the event, Enako will be offering her new photo album, for which she recently shared a preview photo of the included “Santa cos” Santa-themed cosplay section.

She also recently posted a photo from the succubus section, with the included info that on the 31st her booth will be located at the A-20ab slot in the East 7 hall.

Meanwhile, the Magia lotion line is being initially offered as a set of all three potions bundled with an illustrated Ultimacia poster and three clear files of Enako cosplaying as the character for 11,500 yen (US$77), which can be ordered through the Magia website here.

Source: PR Times, Twitter/@enako_cos via Otakomu
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: Magia, PR Times
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The best cosplayers from Day 1 of Winter Comiket 2023【Photos】

January 2, 2024, 9:30 am
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Otaku event in Tokyo becomes the main stage for this season’s hottest anime, manga and video game characters. 

As last year came to a close, some of the nation’s best cosplayers came out to play at Winter Comiket, or “C103” as this 103rd iteration of the doujinshi fair was known in the community.

Held on 30 and 31 December, the first day of the convention was blessed with sunny skies as 140,000 people — 10,000 more than 2023’s Summer Comiket — visited the venue at Tokyo Big Sight.

The number of registered cosplayers was also impressive, with 2,076 men and 3,976 women taking part. In addition, 114 companies exhibited, and 13,700 spaces were taken up by doujinshi sellers, making it one of the largest Comikets since the start of the pandemic.

▼ DMM Games’ Taimanin was amongst the company booths

▼ As was Yostar’s Mahjong Soul and Type-Moon

As for the franchise making the biggest mark at the event, that accolade went to Blue Archive, which could be seen throughout the venue.

▼ Holo Live was also strong in popularity.

One of the biggest surprises was this notice, posted inside the media reception area, which told us that Comic Market had been awarded the Golden Medal of Merit by the Japanese Red Cross Society.

This was in response to the blood donation drive at nearby Kokusai Tenjijo Station, which is held whenever Comiket occurs. The shelf life of blood is said to be quite short so the blood donated during Winter Comiket will likely be of immediate use in medical settings during the year-end and New Year holidays.

For many visitors, however, the highlight was the cosplayers, and they didn’t disappoint, with beautifully made costumes and well-honed poses that brought a smile to everyone’s faces. So let’s take a look at some of the best from the day below!

▼ Exit 8 from The Exit 8 | Cosplayer: ⒿⓀ①ⒸⒻⓉ/①

▼ Genba Neko (Onsite Cat) | Cosplayer: @nora912 

▼ Nazuna Nanakusa from Call of the Night | Cosplayer: @rincha40_cos  

▼ Yzak Jule from Gundam Seed| Cosplayer: @sukumizuus

▼ Baki and Baki’s House from Baki the Grappler | Cosplayer: @zakizaki62623 (Baki) and @denki_sanda (Baki’s House)

▼ Kama from Fate/Grand Order | Cosplayer: @Yukinozomi3

▼ Rime from Kamitsubaki Studio | Cosplayer:@yamo8cos

▼ Harusaruhi from Kamitsubaki Studio | Cosplayer: @nayupettan

▼ Kaf from Kamitsubaki Studio | Cosplayer: @su_zu_na_sc

▼ The three cosplayers above were associated with the official Kamitsubaki Studio booth (pictured below).

▼ Suzuran from Arknights | Cosplayer: @_Yoko0_

▼ Modernia from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @homakiho

▼ Soda from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @rinyanpassan

▼ Snow White: Innocent Days from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @suya0113

As this year’s cosplayers kept everyone’s spirits up in the cold outdoors, the cosplayers at the official booths indoors did a great job of attracting attention.

▼ Here we have software publishing companies Aquaplus…

▼ …and Nexton.

▼ Alongside anime Synduality: Noir…

▼ …and video game Reverse: 1999.

▼ Other highlights included Muv-Luv…

▼ … and HoYoverse.

▼ And to wrap things up, one final look at the Yostar booth.

So there you have it — a bumper collection of photos from Day One of Winter Comiket. It was a fantastic day made even more enjoyable by the cosplayers who kindly posed for us, and now we can’t wait to see what Summer Comiket has to offer!

Photos ©SoraNews24
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Tokyo Auto Salon refuses to let Mr. Sato into the show as a journalist

January 17, 2024, 5:00 am
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Japan’s biggest auto aftermarket event shoots down our ace reporter’s request for media access.

It’s…it’s 2024, right? The calendar says so anyway, what with us being more than half-way through January and all, but something feels off. It’s almost like there’s some important winter event that’s supposed to have happened, but hasn’t, making us feel frozen in time.

Christmas? No, we’re sure that happened, since it’s one of the few days off we take during the year. Fukubukuro season came and went too, as we’ve spent the last few weeks going through our lucky bag hauls.

So what’s missing? Ah, that’s it! We haven’t had Mr. Sato’s report from the floor of the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s biggest automotive aftermarket show!

Our ace reporter has been attending the annual early-January show in a professional capacity since 2013. In 2021 the Tokyo Auto Salon was cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and in 2022 he made the tragic error of mistakenly thinking he could apply for a press pass at the venue on the day of the event, but he was at the show once again in 2023, and was looking forward to making the trip out to the Makuhari Messe convention center and covering it again in 2024.

For those of you wondering what the hold-up is, well, we regret to inform you that you’re going to have to keep waiting, because Mr. Sato was not able to attend this year’s show.

▼ Mr. Sato, seen here in happier days at a previous Tokyo Auto Salon

So did he forget to register for a press pass again? Not at all! While some of Mr. Sato’s innovative ideas may be of…questionable logic, you can’t say the guy doesn’t learn from his mistakes. He made sure to register for a press pass well in advance, putting in his application for the 2024 Auto Salon, which opened on January 12, back in December.

The problem was that the Tokyo Auto Salon rejected his application.

The Tokyo Auto Salon’s reply email to Mr. Sato’s application, pictured above, begins cordially, with:

Mr. Hidenori Sato,

Thank you for your application for a press pass to the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Unfortunately, what came next was:

After careful examination of your application, we regret to inform you that we are rejecting your application for a media pass. We ask for your understanding in this matter.

With all due respect, Tokyo Auto Salon, no, we don’t understand. In his 15 years of being a reporter, this is actually the first time any organization has directly rejected Mr. Sato’s request for a press pass to cover their event, and the rejection email didn’t include any explanation of why he wasn’t being allowed in as a member of the media.

Now we’ll be the first to admit that Mr. Sato’s coverage wasn’t of the purely automotive focus, but he’s hardly alone in that regard, as the Tokyo Auto Salon’s promotional booth models have long been a significant focus of attention at the show.

▼ Mr. Sato was even invited to a dinner party by the models of Auto Salon presenter Army Girl following the 2018 show, where he got to show off his debonair conversation skills.

So we are sad to inform you that, for 2024, Mr. Sato has no Tokyo Auto Salon report to give, and instead can only ask that you refer to some of his previous ones.

▼ 2023

▼ 2022

▼ 2018

▼ 2016

▼ 2015

And fear not – Mr. Sato’s spirit isn’t broken, and he’ll be tossing his hat into the press pass ring again next year in hopes of bringing you coverage of the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Photos ©SoraNews24
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Top cosplayer Enako dons Year of the Dragon costume to celebrate the new year【Photos】

January 19, 2024, 7:00 am
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Also taps into another visual motif of New Year’s in Japan.

Japan’s most popular manga anthology magazines publish on a weekly basis. Whether you’re a loyal reader of publisher Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, Shogaukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday, or Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine, you won’t have to go more than seven days between new chapters of your favorite stories.

Because of that, anthologies with a less frequent publishing schedule can sometimes get squeezed out of the spotlight. However, Hakusensha’s Young Animal, which comes out on the second and fourth Fridays of every month, has a plan to keep fans’ attention during its current between-issues break, and that plan involves top cosplayer Enako.

With her photo session coming on the heels of Young Animal’s first issue of the new year, Enako’s costume isn’t a recreation of an anime or manga character’s costume, and instead draws from the Chinese zodiac. With Japan switching over to the Year of the Dragon on January 1, Enako’s swimsuit has a reptilian scale-style pattern, and her hair band features the horns customarily seen in depictions of dragons in east Asian art.

The Chinese zodiac animals are only one half of the New Year’s iconography you’ll see in Japan, though. Traditionally, New Year’s is the biggest holiday in Japanese culture, a time when people return to their hometowns to visit family and childhood friends, reminiscing over old times and reaffirming those bonds for the year to come. Although many other Asian cultures have similar traditions, Japan is somewhat unique in that it celebrates in this manner at the start of the solar calendar on January 1, as opposed to the lunar calendar celebrations seen elsewhere in Asia. Perhaps as a result of this, the New Year’s period (i.e. the time around January 1) is seen as an especially Japanese time to celebrate, and so most of the decorations and iconography of the season feature classical Japanese motifs.

With this being Enako’s first photo shoot for Young Animal since the start of the new year, her non-dragon attire and backdrops includes extensive use of the auspicious red-and-white color scheme, multi-tiered sake cups and lobster (both celebratory symbols of prosperity and popular elements of New Year’s Day feasts), plum blossoms (which begin blooming in January and usher in Japan’s first flower-viewing season of the year), and kimono-inspired material for her outfits.


Like most male-oriented manga magazines, Young Animal regularly features cosplay/gravure photos within its pages. With Enako’s photo session coming between the magazine’s issues, though, the full set of photos is instead being offered for free viewing on Young Magazine’s website here, which the publication is presenting as “a lovely New Year’s gift from Enako.” Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a fluffier sort of Year of the Dragon cosplay, there’s always the Disney Store Japan’s Eto Pooh.

Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: PR Times, Young Animal
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The beautiful booth models of Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2024【Photos】

March 26, 2024, 6:00 am
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Over 70 photos from the annual spring event.

Last weekend was cold and rainy in Tokyo, but in a happy coincidence, but that wasn’t a problem for us since we were headed into the Tokyo Big Sight convention center.

As it does every spring, Big Sight hosted the Tokyo Motorcycle Show. The event isn’t just a gathering of bike-related companies and industry groups, but also of their hard-working spokesmodels, who were out in force to welcome visitors, provide pamphlets, and pose for photos.

The show covers all the diverse aspects of the motorcycle industry, from off-roading to tarmac racing, casual cruisers to dedicated sports bikes. Manufacturer images also run the gamut, with some focusing on cutting-edge technology and other on their old-school appeal, and represent a number of countries from around the globe. Add in makers of helmets and specialized rider apparel, plus parts companies that supply both factories and at-home mechanics, and the result is an eclectic mix to the outfits worn by the show’s booth models to match each organization’s vibe.

▼ Tire maker Dunlop always has a rubber-like element to their outfits.

▼ Chain maker DID/Daido Kogyo is a sponsor/supplier for an Evangelion-themed racing team.

▼ Suspension maker Ohlin

▼ Tochigi Prefecture’s Mobility Resort Motegi race circuit had a DJ at their booth.

▼ Rider apparel maker Poi Designs

▼ Helmet maker Wins Japan

▼ BMW

▼ With so many booths handing out pamphlets and catalogs, most visitors will end up with more than they can hold, but thankfully parts maker Kaedear was giving out bags to stuff everything into.

▼ Spark plug maker NGK

▼ Radiator maker Koyorad

▼ Shaft maker P.E.O.

▼ A few years back, Suzuki figured out how to make their company logo with your fingers, and now it’s their go-to pose.

▼ Rider apparel maker Hyod Products

▼ Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli

▼ Muffler maker Ixil

▼ Motorcycle riding is sometimes hard to do as a permanent hobby, which is why Bike Sensor specializes in online used bike sales.

▼ Motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield

▼ Triumph

▼ Miyagi Prefecture racing circuit Sportsland Sugo

▼ JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) is one of Japan’s major roadside assistance providers.

▼ Windscreen maker Acry-Point

▼ Rider apparel maker Flagship

▼ Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM, through their partnership with Red Bull, was providing cans of the energy drink to keep us on our feet.

▼ Brake maker Vesrah

▼ Harley Davidson

▼ Suspension parts maker YSS Japan

▼ Motorcycle magazine Moto Fellow

▼ Honda

▼ Parts maker NTB

▼ And last, oil company Liqui Molly

▼ Yes, mask use is down compared to the peak of the pandemic, but we’re right in the middle of Japanese hay fever season.

As always, a big thank you to everyone who took the time to pose for us!

Photos © SoraNews24
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The best booths and cosplayers from Summer Comiket 2024【Photos】

August 14, 2024, 6:00 am
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Famous anime, manga and game characters spring to life for C104.

The hottest event for doujinshi (self-published manga) creators and fans every summer is Comic Market, or Comiket, the world’s largest doujinshi convention. This summer’s iteration, known as C104, was held at Tokyo Big Sight on 11-12 August, and despite threats of a typhoon and potential thunderstorms, attendees were blessed with clear skies on both days.

130,000 visitors from a total of 64 countries and regions were in attendance over the two-day event, proving that this was a very international affair. It was also a very hot affair, not only in terms of temperature, with highs hitting 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) but in terms of the booths and cosplays, which exceeded all our expectations.

Before getting into the actual details of the cosplays, though, let’s start with a look at Kokusai-tenjijo Station, where most of the attendees arrived for the event.

It’s become customary for the station to be decked out in tie-up posters and stickers related to the event, and that was the case again here, with characters from Yostar’s Blue Archive, or “Buruaka” as it’s commonly known, on hand to greet visitors.

Another treat for attendees is the free handouts in front of the station, which tend to be available for those arriving around 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. This year, Holo from Japanese-light-novel-turned-anime-series Spice and Wolf was the star character, keeping fans cool as an actual fan.

One thing that was absent from the proceedings was the blood donation van, which is usually stationed at the back of the waiting line, but it was nowhere to be seen.

While the blood donation drive may not have been on site, the Comic Market 104 Blood Donation Support Event is being held from 11 August to 30 September at blood donation rooms nationwide, where a 400-millilitre (13.5-ounce) donation of blood will get you a special three-poster set featuring characters from Ameku Takao’s Detective Karte, Make A Girl, and Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez Season 2.

After lining up in the heat, entering the air-conditioned complex was a relief, and the booths were just as cool as the air, so let’s take a tour of the best of them below!

▼ Taimanin

▼ The Type-Moon booth was set up like an exhibition space, with visitors getting to view art related to Fate/Grand Order.

▼ Entrance

▼ Exit

▼ It was a surprise to see department store chain Marui at the event.

Unlike other booths, there were no bikini-clad women or chiselled men here — only a handsome horse.

As it turns out, this booth was a collaboration between Marui and Yogibo Versailles Resort Farm, a racehorse ranch in Hidaka-cho, Hokkaido.

The ranch’s most famous horse is retired stallion Tanino Gimlet, who wasn’t able to attend Comiket but made his presence felt on the merchandise…and the giant stand set up in his honour.

▼ Iriam is a Vtuber app company, and out of all the company booths at this event, it seemed to receiving the most support from visitors.

The reason for that was because it was the coolest of the lot, with a cold air generator and numerous fans inside.

It made for a very cool walk, and at the exit you could even get a free bottle of water, which was a nice gesture of kindness for attendees.

▼ Thank you, Iriam!

Now that we’re fully hydrated, it’s time to explore the thirst traps at some of the other booths.

▼ Hello, HoYoverse.

▼ The official cosplayers here give us a taste of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.

▼ The Terbis booth introduced visitors to Terbis, a mobile app game scheduled to be released by South Korean developer Webzen.

▼ The Muv-Luv and Rumbling Hearts booth attracted crowds with its recreation of the hospital setup with Haruka in a coma.

▼ The Identity V booth was set up like a stage, with cosplayers bringing characters to life as a rock band.

The lighting here was particularly great, suggesting they’d designed it to look good in photos, and the booth was popular with young women.

▼ There was a huge queue for novelty items that were being distributed at the Love Live! booth.

▼ And the Blue Archive booth was another main attraction.

Momo Friends, cute characters popular in the in-game world, held everyone’s attention as they raced on screen, creating the excitement of a race at the racetrack.

▼ There was incentive to stick around in between races, as that’s when the official cosplayers appeared.

▼ Azur Lane was another hit, with its characters in swimsuits.

Summer Comiket 2024 certainly was a big one, with loads of visitors, booths and cosplays on display. We hope you enjoyed our tour of the event, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for Winter Comiket, which is due to be held on 29 and 30 December. We’ll see you there!

Photos © SoraNews24
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The best independent fan cosplayers of summer Comiket【Photos】

August 16, 2024, 10:30 am
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Over 10,000 fans cosplayed at this year’s summer Comiket, and here are our favorites.

We recently took a look at the best booths and official company-sponsored cosplayers from this year’s summer Comiket manga/anime art convention. But in addition to those who were there in a professional capacity, this year’s event attracted more than 10,000 cosplaying independent fan attendees, 6,200 women and 3,947 men, according to Comiket’s cosplayer registrations for the two-day gathering that took place on August 11 and 12.

The fan cosplay area was spread over three parts of Tokyo’s Big Sight convention center: the South 1 Hall, East 8 Hall exterior, and the Big Sight rooftop. Though not necessarily sorted by location, you can also broadly group the fan cosplayers into three categories: those cosplaying as characters from series at the zenith of their buzz and popularity (like Oshi no Ko and Zenless Zone Zero), diehard devotees of enduring niche franchises (like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Armored Core), and those drawing inspiration from current events and images that have lodged themselves in the popular imagination these days.

In total, we spent around four hours taking in the sights of the fan cosplay zones, and her are our favorites from this year’s show.

▼ Fate/Grand Order’s Melusine (swimsuit version) (cosplayer: Suya)

▼ Zenless Zone Zero’s Ellen Joe (Tsukune Gekkai)

▼ Detective Conan’s Shuichi Akai (Daiteikoku Kotei Yamashita) and Rei Furuya (Kujimen)

▼ Genshin Impact’s Skirk (Sui Kujiku)

▼ Oshi no Ko’s Kana Arima (Uka Izumi)

▼ Symphogear’s Hibiki Tachibana (Nochi Kaon)

▼ Cosplayer Nakano came dressed not as an anime or video game character, but as the statue of 10th century wandering Buddhist monk Kuya, or, more specifically, the statue of Kuya at Rokuharamitsuji Temple in Kyoto.

▼ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s Muzan Kibutsuji (Forin), showing off some very impressive prop work.

▼ Armored Core 6’s Steelhaze Ortus (Sega Shinja), Chatty Stick (Genkaku), Snail/Open Face (Masaru Urushigawatai No. 5910), Rocksmith (Shimin A), Ice Worm (Yosei no Sugatani), 621 (Denchu), and Sea Spider (Takayuki).

▼ Neoshige, dressed as understated Olympic sensation Yusuf Dikec, winner of the silver medal in mixed 10-meter air pistol team target shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

▼ Shocker, dressed as the Mt. Fuji view-blocking black screen put up across the street from the Kawaguchiko branch of convenience store Lawson to prevent tourists from crowding the street and sidewalks as they take pictures.

▼ Kuso Miso Technique’s Takakazu Abe (Kongozan), committed to the bit by hanging out near the bathroom

▼ Gundam Seed Freedom’s Athrun Zala (Yuki)

▼ Jujutsu Kaisen’s Kenjaku (Hakuto)

▼ Jujutsu Kaisen’s Fumihiko Takaba (Kenji and Giru)

▼ Haru Kushizaki, dressed as a Fist of the North Star pachinko machine

Next, we’ve got multiple JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure cosplayers.

▼ Kosaku Kawajiri (Dora-chan)

▼ Jotaro Kujo (Babao)

▼ Will A. Zeppeli (Tsunehisa)

▼ Two Joseph Joestars (Ayumu and Masa)

▼ Hol Horse (Ebi Fry On and Ebi Fry Darman)

▼ Jean Pierre Polnareff (Coskaku no Pi-chan)

▼ Yukako Yamagishi (Amazoness Kyonko) on the right, others anonymous

▼ Guido Mista (Kaito) and Haruno Shiobana (Ofmi)

▼ Jolyne Cujoh (Rei Umiya)

And finally, Chiitan. Actually, we’re not entirely sure if this counts as cosplay or not, because this wasn’t some random fan dressed up as Chiitan, but the actual, official costume of the quasi-mascot character and pop culture icon.

A big thank you to everyone who posed for our camera, and we can’t wait to see what sort of creativity will be on display at the next Comiket!

Photos © SoraNews24
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Top cosplayer Enako cosplays at Tokyo Game Show for SNK’s City of the Wolves【Photos】

September 27, 2024, 6:00 am
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Enako’s Futaba is joined by cosplayers portraying Mai and other members of the new Fatal Fury game.

The Tokyo Game Show is going on right now, and while some might say that in the modern age publishers can just as easily put the word out about their newest games online, there’s a special kind of excitement that can only come from in-person events that gather fans together under one roof. Developer SNK, gearing up for the release of City of the Wolves, the first new game in the Fatal Fury series in more than 25 years, is especially eager to build buzz, and so they have a whole team of cosplayers promoting the game by dressing as its cast at their TGS booth.

At first glance, it might seem a little odd that the cosplayers dressed as Terry Bogard and Rock Howard, the protagonists of the overall Fatal Fury franchise and City of the Wolves respectively, are pushed out to the sides of the above shot. However, that’s because standing in the center is none other than…

…Enako, Japan’s top cosplayer, dressed as Hotaru Futaba.

▼ A preview pic of Enako’s Hotaru cosplay, posted prior to the event

Enako was at the SNK booth on Thursday, the first day of TGS, and will be there again on Saturday. She’s actually not the only official real-life Hotaru at the event, though, as on Friday cosplayer Eika filled the same role.

Also part of the City of the Wolves cosplay contingent is Saki Miyamoto as Mai Shiranui in her new-for-City of the Wolves outfit (appearing September 26-29).

Meanwhile, prior to the opening of the Tokyo Game Show, Saki Yoshida shared photos of her cosplay of Mai’s banned-from-Smash Brothers costume…

…while at the event, she’s at the SNK booth as City of the Wolves’ B. Jenet (September 26-29).

Finally, rounding out the group and appearing September 26-29 are cosplayers Aki as Terry Bogard and Momo Momodo as Rock Howard.

In addition to cosplayers, SNK is promoting City of the Wolves with a playable demo at Tokyo Game Show, with commemorative prizes for those who win multiple matches. The full game isn’t scheduled for release until April, but in the meantime we have at least solved the mystery of Terry’s puzzling pose he strikes before one of his most iconic attacks.

Source: Twitter/@SNKPofficial_jp
Top image: YouTube/SNK OFFICIAL
Insert images:
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The official cosplay booth models of Tokyo Game Show 2024【Photos】

September 29, 2024, 7:00 pm
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A photo roundup from Japan’s biggest video game celebration.

By nature of the video game medium, if you go to the Tokyo Game Show you’re going to be spending a lot of time looking at screens, whether watching presented previews or trying out playable demos of the latest and greatest games. If you’re looking only at screens, though, you’re really missing half the show, since the cosplayers are another amazing visual component of the event.

Our Japanese-language reporter Seiji Nakazawa was at this year’s TGS on a business day, and while asking some hard-hitting investigative journalism questions, he also turned his camera to the official cosplayers at the presenters’ booths, starting with the most famous cosplayer of all, Enako.

Enako, who once again drew a massive crowd, was at the booth of developer SNK cosplaying as Hotaru Futaba to promote City of the Wolves, the long-awaited latest installment in the Fatal Fury franchise which fans have been waiting more than a quarter-century for, along with a few other cosplayers portraying other members of the game’s cast.

There was an even bigger cosplay contingent at the booth of Tencent brand Level Infinite.

Level Infinite’s biggest current hit is mobile game Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Like a lot of mobile games, it uses a free-to-play format and randomized gacha mechanic by which players acquire new characters, so for TGS, the Level Infinite booth has a real-life gacha pull.

Visitors stand at a podium, press a button, and a random selection of Nikke cosplayers emerge from an array of booths.

Creating the proper sense of gacha immersion required a huge cosplay team, with more than two dozen members.

Over at the Sega/Atlus booth, the two tightly connected companies were hyping people up for Metaphor: ReFantazio, a brand-new IP created by several key members of the team behind the Persona games.

▼ Yes, the ears are about as big as the ax blade.

The booth for Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves featured a monster lurking in the background…

…but there was some super-deformed character cuteness too.

Duet Night Abyss isn’t actually out yet, so we’re not sure what the significance of the giant hourglass filled with what appears to be blood is, but it definitely caught our eye.

And before heading home, Seiji also stopped by the booths for Strinova…

…and Neverness to Everness.

A big thanks to everyone who posed for our camera and helping spread the fun of TGS 2024!

Photos © SoraNews24
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Japanese man arrested for fraud after creating female AI-image persona to sell dating advice【Vid】

December 13, 2024, 5:00 pm
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One man’s virtual avatar shows that online fantasy can have real-life consequences.

In recent years, with the ongoing advancements of new technology, more content creators have been developing online personas to attract and interact with viewers, as seen with the growing number of virtual YouTubers, or VTubers. Some may use this technology to create a recognizable mascot character or to separate their real and online identities. Others, lacking self-confidence, might hide behind a fictional representation. However, there are also some people who use AR and AI technology to deceive others.

▼ Better AI means less effort for fraudsters to put in.

In early 2024, Kaiga Yokota, a 33-year-old resident of Moriguchi, Osaka, used AI to design a character so realistic that it could be mistaken for a real woman. He proceeded to set up social media accounts and pose as this woman online, advertising his services to help people become more attractive to the opposite sex. At this stage, while his actions may be dishonest, it’s hard to say they were inherently illegal. He was simply a man using a symbol to conduct his business. The same could easily be said for VTubers.

By June 2024, the social media page of Yokota’s online personality, going by the name of Miru Nanase, had amassed approximately 90,000 followers. He offered people the chance to become more appealing to the opposite sex by transforming their appearance, personality, and communication skills.

▼ Perhaps the transformation secrets are hidden in her cleavage? It seems to be the only logical explanation for some of her clothing choices.

Many people were interested in the services, but appointments had to be made by signing up through the LINE messaging app. However, the lack of responses to comments from interested users and the absence of testimonials led many to question the legitimacy of the business and even the existence of Miru Nanase.

On December 5, Yokota was arrested on suspicion of fraud. The allegations state that between April 16 and May 6, he swindled a total of 1.25 million yen (US$8,206.25) from a 35-year-old man living in Yamato-Takada City, Nara. The money was paid with the expectation of receiving advice on attracting women and as investment funds for forex trading. Yokota has not disputed the transaction but claims that there was no deception involved.

Setting aside the questionable logic of paying a stranger on social media substantial sums of money for dating advice—not once, but three whole times, it’s currently unclear whether the prosecution’s case will hinge entirely on Yokota’s use of the AI-generated images and persona to present the advice as coming from an attractive woman, or if the accusations are more related to possible non-delivery of actual dating advice.

Either way, like our lonely man from Nara learned, we should approach Internet interactions with a healthy dose of skepticism and remember that online actions can sometimes have real consequences. Still, for every deceptive user on social media, there are countless creators bringing joy and entertainment to viewers, much like our beloved group of VTuber grandmothers.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun via Hachimakiko
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso
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The best cosplayers from Day 1 of Winter Comiket 2024【Photos】

January 2, 2025, 7:00 am
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Meet the hottest anime, manga, and mobile and video game characters in Japan right now!

Comic Market 105 was held at Tokyo Big Sight on 29-30 December, and according to the preparatory committee, this was the largest iteration ever, with approximately 14,500 stalls on site due to a major expansion following a complete review of the layout.

Our reporter Tasuku Egawa was on the scene to check out the corporate booths and cosplay areas, and the fun started the minute he stepped up to the ticket gates at Kokusai-tenjijo Station, where he was met by a load of ads for Yostar’s Blue Archive.

Beyond the gates, characters Yuuka, Noa, and Koyuki could be seen above the doors to the station, wearing pyjamas from the “Secret Midnight Party” event currently being held within the app.

▼ Many visitors stopped here to take photos.

Blue Archive’s presence at the station reflects its popularity, as it boasts the highest number of related exhibits at the event. The blood-donation buses had returned to the event as well, after being absent from Summer Comiket as a safety measure to protect crowds from the intense heat.

▼ Participants who donate blood here can get anime-related merchandise in return.

Upon entering the venue, Tasuku made a beeline for the vending machines stocked with drinks in exclusive, limited-edition packaging. The design on these drinks changes with every Comiket and they’re highly sought after, so it’s always best to grab one early before they sell out.

Drink in hand, it was now time to visit the booths, many of which featured a number of well-known cosplayers and special event settings.

▼ The Goddess of Victory: Nikke booth, with its recreation of the hot springs from the game world, attracted a huge amount of people.

The Gakuen Idolmaster booth was also popular, with its enormous monitor and free novelty items attracting attention.

▼ BrownDust2 was exhibiting at Comiket for the very first time.

The Yostar booth was fully focused on its new work, Stella Sora, giving us a tantalising peek into its world before the official release.

Another notable booth was the one dedicated to Taimanin, which caught the eye with surprisingly less-than-fancy art on its giant signboard.

Moving outside to the cosplay area, the sun shone as bright as the cosplayers who had gathered there, and they kindly shared their social media handles while posing for photographers who passed by.

▼ Beatrice from Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World | Cosplayer: @udon_chan8

▼ Iochi Mari (Idol) from Blue Archive | Cosplayer: @psyduck_yy

▼ Yuni from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @hoshinaharu

▼ Guillotine: Winter Slayer from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @suya0113

▼ The Gatakiriba from Kamen Rider OOO, whose members preferred to remain anonymous.

▼ “Ebi Mome” (“Shrimp Rub”) is @TakaYuki_626‘s clever recreation of the shrimp-massaging meme that swept the Internet last year, and its little moving legs made it a hit with all the passersby.

Moving back inside the complex, we discovered some more cosplays that made us smile with their creativity.

▼ Here, for example, we have Myaku-Myaku, the mascot for the upcoming Expo 2025 in Osaka, and the Diglett Pon de Ring, a limited-edition doughnut from Mister Donut.

▼ What joins these two together is the flack they’ve received for their looks, with Myaku-Myaku being described as “creepy cute“…

▼ …and Diglett being poorly made at some Mister Donut branches.

▼ Proving age is no barrier to cosplay, we have Dozle Zabi (@torg54152163), Degwin Sodo Zabi (@KAIEN37) and Conscon from Mobile Suit Gundam.

▼ This group (@kanroji, @africangamecart and @2244_Nagata) deserves an award for coming up with the clever idea to cosplay as a Gakuen Idolmaster skill card.

▼ And rounding out the best cosplays from Day One, we have @korosuke002 cosplaying as Zundadon, a character that shot to fame on Twitter last month…

▼ …Guren: Black Shadow from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @NxoxAs_Ark…

▼ …and Takumi Tsujimoto from Tokyo Swindlers (@1050_1015).

Day One of Winter Comiket turned out to be a very fun affair, thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, and Day Two was equally impressive so stay tuned for the next photo collection coming soon!

Photos © SoraNews24
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The best cosplayers from Day 2 of Winter Comiket 2024【Photos】

January 3, 2025, 7:00 am
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Huge event reveals the characters and series that are trending in Japan right now.

Winter Comiket 2024, or Comic Market 105 as it’s officially known, was held on 29-30 December, and boasted a record number of participants from 80 countries. With 150,000 people visiting on each day of the event, the total number of visitors was reported to be the highest since the coronavirus outbreak, and many who attended were drawn to the amazing cosplays.

▼ The event was held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre.

After checking out the booths and cosplays on day one, our reporter Tasuku Egawa returned on day two for more adventures. As he walked through the venue, he found that characters from role-playing games appeared to be most popular, with Goddess of Victory: Nikke, Zenless Zone Zero, and Blue Archive being most prominent, and Vtubers such as Hololive dominating as well.

Tasuku also got the impression that the number of foreign cosplayers had increased, with participants using gestures to communicate with each other and passersby, lending an international vibe to the event. There were a lot of great cosplayers on the scene, so let’s take a look at the photo report from day two of Comiket below!

▼ First stop, the Aquaplus booth, where they were promoting To Heart and Utawarerumono, which are both scheduled for release next year.

▼ Over at the Honey∞Parade Games booth, it was all about Dolphin Wave.

▼ Terbis is yet to have an official release date, but it did have a booth at Comiket.

Moving away from the booths and the hired cosplayers, Tasuku met a wide variety of creative folks outside with impressive cosplays.

▼ Matabei Yoshitoshi Ijiri from Crayon Shin-chan: Fierceness That Invites Storm! The Battle of the Warring States | Cosplayer: @phantom906

▼ Akiizumi Momiji from Blue Archive | Cosplayer: @psyduck_yy

▼ Nia (Blade) from Xenoblade 2 | Cosplayer: @minono_tabe

▼ Eishin Flash from Uma Musume Pretty Derby | Cosplayer: @yukina1222

▼ Agravain from Fate/Grand Order

▼ Lancelot (Berserker) from Fate/Grand Order | Cosplayer: @yama__gitune

The cosplayers were as bright and sunny as the weather on both days of the event, bringing smiles to the faces of all who attended. Now we’re looking forward to seeing what they have in store for us when Comiket returns for summer on 16-17 August!

Photos ©SoraNews24
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