Just Cos they Manga more!

It’s not very often that we get events solely dedicated to cosplay, where fans come together as friends and spread their love for it. But, thanks to the Japan Consulate in Bengaluru, fans will for the first time be able to take part in the first Cosplay Walk in the country  on March 18, 3 pm onwards which starts at St Marks Hotel. The walk will see over 40 cosplay artistes walking the streets of the city.

We get into a conversation with cosplayers, and figure out what got them interested in dressing up as their favourite characters. Rahul Diwekar, a self employed cosplay artiste from the city shares his tryst for cosplaying and says, “I was always a hardcore anime fan since 2009. It was only by coincidence that I ended up meeting the Bangalore Anime Club back in 2012. Back then, ‘Cosplay’ was a new word for people in the country but eventually we found many people from different fields interested in cosplaying and anime. That was the time when I started cosplaying, and have not looked back ever since. My first cosplay was Ichigo Kuru from Bleach, a Japanese anime. I was still an amateur back then so the costume was not as good. But, over the years, I have learnt how to master cosplaying.”

One of the most known cosplayers in the city, Vijay Sinha, a game designer, has been into the cosplaying business for about five years now. Vijay grew up on video games and has been involved with games professionally for the past decade, now. He says, “For me, gaming was my gateway into many things and one of those things was cosplay. It wasn’t until events like Comic Con India and Cool Japan Festival in Mumbai made me even more aware about the cosplay culture in India, and how it was steadily growing over time. It’s quite amazing to see where we are now compared to say, five years ago. I was greatly inspired watching my friends cosplay, as well as helping them out whenever I could at events. Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram have also been a great source of inspiration.”

Ankita Kemkar, who got into cosplay from the early 2014 says, “Honestly, I always wanted to dress up as characters but I didn’t know something like this actually existed here. So the idea was there but it got into form once I saw many of my cosplay friends do it, I look up to them.” As for the Cosplay walk she expects to expand her network circle in the corporate world as well as to make some new friends who share the same interest!

But, the hunt for these cosplay artists in the city, just doesn’t end with this as there are many expats who also love taking part in it. One of them is, Satoshi Nagata, a 28-year-old, customer sales manager at a Japanese firm in Bengaluru who got started with cosplay because he found it intriguing and felt like it was a great way to be more social. He says, “A cosplay marathon seemed interesting and good for Instagram and Facebook posts. Moreover, I have a lot of friends in Bangalore Animation Club, so it is natural for me to start cosplay. I’m looking forward to seeing a professional cosplayer in Bengaluru. In addition, I’d like to see collaboration with Japanese cosplay and Indian cosplay in the walk to be held by the Consulate.”