A survey has revealed unexpectedly high levels of interest in cosplay among Japanese women, with some 30% having either tried it or wanting to try it.
The online survey was conducted by market research firm iShare, and asked 565 Japanese men and women aged 20-40 about their attitudes to cosplay.
When both genders were asked whether they had an interest in cosplay, 9.9% answered they would like to try, 8.3% had actually tried it, and 28.5% were interested in watching it but not cosplaying themselves, making for a total of 46.7% with an interest.
However, amongst women the numbers were higher, with 13.6% interested in trying, and 14.7% actually having tried it. Younger women were even more interested, with 15.8% wanting to try amongst those in their twenties.
17.5% of those interested listed anime and manga as the theme of cosplay they would most like to undertake, after which came kigurumi (almost certainly referring to cartoon character suits) with 14.7%, maid and waitress uniforms (12.4%) and military uniforms (also 12.4%).
Top anime subjects for cosplay were Haruhi, Fullmetal Alchemist, as well as visual-kei bands like L’Arc en Ciel.
Although many Japanese women are quick to condemn men for having an interest in anime-related cosplay, it seems many are interested in trying themselves…
Cosplay itself is not bad, but how far you go with it (12 year olds dressing like sluts on halloween in the US).
This survey is probably a little misleading based on what the Japanese consider ‘cosplay’. Cosplay in Japan is a much more liberal term, which can mean dressing up in costume for non-specific things, such as an occupation (similar to the ‘Halloween’ variety costumes). I would say that western people who are familiar with the cosplay term associate it more directly with dressing as a character from some media.
Heh. 565 people isn’t really that much especially if that includes both men and women, and you then project the choices on the entire female population of the country.
Hi
I liked to read this survey… it is interesting, I would love to talk to a nice japanese girl interested in cosplay, I am living now in Spain, my interests are pretty normal, just talking for the moment.
I am a man, 45 years old, good person, 100% respectful,
hope to hear from you
rrcastaway@gmail.com
best wishes
Very small sample – disregard this information.