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Ikebukuro's Halloween Cosplay Festival Returns for Plenty of Scares and Fantasy
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival will take over the streets of Tokyo again this year on October 26-27. The festival will return with cosplay fashion shows, cosplay stage performances, and a parade along with some new entertainment. Anisong DJs will keep the scene rocking, tea parties will entrance lolita cosplayers of every stripe, and the final round of the "Cosplayer of the Year" contest will announce Ikebukuro's best.
The festival added its first ambassador this year, the popular cosplayer Enako. Enako has appeared on magazine covers in her Hestia cosplay. The top-tier cosplayer revealed on Abema TV in 2016 that she earns 300,000 to 400,000 yen (US$2,933-3,910) per stage event or over 1 million yen (US$9,776) a month.
The festival attracts more than 20,000 cosplayers from Japan and overseas. Last year marked an attendance high of approximately 105,000 people. Attendance is free for onlookers. Cosplayers and photographers need to register in advance and pay a 2,000 yen registration fee. Premium tickets to the festival can also be purchased for 3,500 yen.
Nearby businesses, including the themed Prince Hotel Sunshine City will offer tie-in events. Prince Hotel Sunshine City will offer the limited "Ikehallo Suite Princess" accommodation package for attendees. Visitors can stay in the suite and enjoy the attention of prince and butler staff members, an exclusive photographer, a welcome champagne service, tea service, and other fancy accouterments.
Ikebukuro will have several on-site photo areas including at Hareza Park Plaza's red grand staircase. Prop areas with handmade cosplay props created by skilled modelers will be available to add some oomph to photos.
The Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival is hosted by Dwango's Niconico service, the largest social video service in Japan and the anime, manga, and game retailer Animate. The event will be streamed live worldwide via Niconico Live Streaming.
Source: Press Release
