What Does Cosplay Mean?

Popular in both the UK and US, cosplay actually has its origins in Japan. Step outside Harajuku station in Tokyo and walk towards the entrance to Yoyogi Park, and you will almost always see a congregation of people in unusual fancy dress costumes. Some might be wearing gothic maid outfits, while others might be dressed as pop stars or fictional characters. When every-day life can be a little boring and conventional, delving into the world of ‘cosplay’ can be a fun, liberating and unifying past-time. It can also be a little kinky.

The term ‘cosplay’ is derived from the words ‘costume’ and ‘play’ and was coined back in the 1970s by a Japanese reporter called Nobuyuki Takahashi noticed that people attending the 1978 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Los Angeles, were dressing up as – and role playing – their favourite characters. He later wrote an article in My Anime magazine about how Japanese comic book fans were dressing up as manga and anime characters at the Comiket convention in Tokyo in the early 80s. (In Japan, ‘gijinka’ refers to ‘moe anthropomorphism’, the trend of creating human-like characters based on non-human animals or mythical creatures.)

It wasn’t long until cosplay was recognised as a pop-culture phenomenon in many other parts of the world too. Today, it is sometimes associated with fetishism (which we’ll get into shortly), but in its purest form it’s about allowing people to express their devotion to fictional heroes and worlds, explore different aspects of their own personality and create friendship tribes centred around fandom. Some people even do it professionally, investing considerable time and money in elaborate customers and attending conventions.

Inspiration is typically taken from movies, video games, virtual avatars, comic books and TV shows. Sometimes cosplay can be performed to ignite sexual arousal (who wouldn’t want to have a dalliance with their superhero) or for the exploration of ‘gender bending’, whereby female ‘cross players’ adopt male personas, for example. Cosplay can provide a safe space to experiment with gender presentation without committing to anything. But usually it’s about manifesting fantasy personas to create a sense of novelty and excitement, and to play out power dynamics or scenarios that might not be possible in people’s everyday lives.

Cosplay is multifaceted and deeply personal to each individual. As we’ve said, it's about passion, creativity, community, and the joy of celebrating fictional characters and the worlds they inhabit. First and foremost, cosplay allows fans to express their love and admiration for a particular character, series, movie, anime, manga or video game. It's a way to show their appreciation and connection to the source material. It can also be a way to bring a new dimension to ‘bedroom antics’.

For some, cosplay can be a way to build self-confidence and overcome shyness. Being admired for their creative efforts and passion can boost self-esteem and provide a positive and supportive environment. Creating complex costumes or mastering difficult crafting techniques can be challenging. Successfully completing a cosplay can be a rewarding achievement and a source of pride.

Cosplay and fetishism are two distinct concepts, although they may share some similarities in terms of dressing up or specific interests. While cosplay can sometimes be a part of someone's sexual expression, its main focus, as we have already covered, is on expressing fandom, creativity, and community engagement.

Fetishism, in the context of sexual behaviour, refers to a specific sexual interest or fixation on a particular object, body part, material or situation that is not typically associated with sexual arousal for most people. These objects or elements are known as fetishes, and they can be diverse, ranging from specific body parts (for example feet or hands) to materials (for example leather or latex) or even specific activities (for example BDSM or role-playing scenarios).

If you have heard about ‘furries’ (people who dress up in animal onesies) and ‘puppy play’ (when individuals wear leather dog masks, collars, tails and leashes), you’ll know that cosplay can become a little kinky. It’s actually become a bit cliched to hear long-term couples being advised to ‘spice things up’ by dabbling in fancy dress—perhaps your partner dresses up as a firefighter or in a nurse’s uniform, and takes on a more unfamiliar (and therefore sexy) alter ego.

Cosplay itself is not inherently kinky or sexual in nature but some individuals may incorporate kink elements into their cosplay or use cosplay as a form of kink or fetish in their bedroom activities. For example, some people may engage in role-playing scenarios that have a kink or BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadism, Masochism) theme while dressed in cosplay costumes such as gimp suits. However, this is not a universal aspect of cosplay, and it depends on the preferences and interests of the individuals involved.

Of course, like any form of sexual behaviour, consent and communication are crucial when engaging in cosplay or any other role-playing activities. Both partners should be comfortable with the role-play scenarios and understand and respect each other's boundaries. Additionally, it's essential to distinguish between consensual adult role-playing and non-consensual or inappropriate behaviour, which is not acceptable under any circumstances.

Getting a cosplay costume involves a few different options depending on your preferences, budget and cosplay complexity. There are numerous online stores that specialise in selling cosplay costumes but some cosplayers or crafters offer commission services, where they create custom cosplay costumes for others. You can find such services on social media platforms or through cosplay community websites. Reach out to them, discuss your character, and get a quote for the costume.

Another option is to attend cosplay conventions and events that often have vendors selling various costumes and accessories. If you are handy with a sewing machine you can also make your own—there are plenty of online tutorials, patterns and resources available to guide you through the process.

Finding the perfect cosplay partner means more than candlelit dinners, romantic walks and watching movies—you can dress up and hit the town as the ultimate power couple! You can discuss cosplay ideas without feeling judged or misunderstood, have deep-dive conversations about the characters you love, collaborate on costumes and props, attend conventions and participate in photoshoots. Ultimately, cosplay can strengthen your bond as a couple. 

You can even incorporate cosplay into your dates, like attending costume-themed parties, having character-themed movie nights, or playing games together as your favourite characters. Sharing a love for cosplay means you can face challenges together, such as learning new crafting techniques, finding solutions to costume issues, or coming up with unique interpretations of characters. Dating another cosplayer may lead you to become more involved in the cosplay community together. You can attend meet-ups, join cosplay groups, and make friends with other cosplayers. And when it comes to anniversaries and birthdays, you can surprise each other with cosplay-related gifts such as fashion accessories or merchandise of your favourite characters.