Earlier this month, a record 30 cosplay entrants from 15 countries participated in the Cosplay Championship held in the Japanese city of Nagoya. We weren’t surprised to hear that the Japanese team won, but were when we read that this was the first time the country was voted the world champions since the event was started in 2003!

The Japanese team won with their samurai warrior costumes from the video game series “Sengoku Basara” and their spectacular swordfight performance.

In the competition, teams were given three minutes each to present their costumes, and were judged on their expression, creativity, entertainment and faithfulness to the original story.

Click through to the Mainichi photo special for more images of the Cosplay Championship

Via IrishBornChinese blog

Technorati Tags: cosplay, Cosplay Championship, culture, fashion, Japan, Nagoya, Sengoku Basara

Being an East Asia focused blog, we’re interested in the entrants for the Miss Universe 2009 competition. Here they are in national costume, but also check the link to view all the other countries..

Miss Universe 2009 National Costume Show

Miss China:

Miss Indonesia:

Miss Japan:

Miss Korea:

Miss Malaysia:

Miss Philippines:

Miss Singapore:

Miss Thailand:

Miss Vietnam:

Technorati Tags: beauty pageant, Miss Universe, Miss World, national dress

Cosplay takes the stage at the most important convention for the activity – the World Cosplay Summit. It takes place in Japan every year and is about to happen literally, which means any fans wanting to attend should already be there!

Here’s a clip from the World Cosplay Summit in 2006. Shows some competitors really going for it on stage.

Check the World Cosplay Summit website

Via LostAtEMinor

Technorati Tags: cosplay, costumes, fashion, gaming, Japan, Japanese, World Cosplay Summit

Is this for real? The Japanese youth culture, Manba, where the skin is darkened, is now being taken up by girls in Britain? Apparently, social networking sites and videos on YouTube are providing the info on how to create the style.

Read more on the BBC about British followers of Japanese fashion

Technorati Tags: British fashion, fashion, Japan, Japanese youth culture, Manba, United Kingdom

The ChinaJoy Cosplay Carnival illustrates the growth of Cosplay in China. 99.9% of people born after 1990 like comics and animation, which fuel Cosplay, whereas only 21% born in the 1970s like the media.

Read more about the China Cosplay scene on China Daily

Technorati Tags: anime, China, cosplay, culture, entertainment, fashion, manga, ChinaJoy Cosplay Carnival

The book “Sneaker Tokyo: The past, present and future of Sneaker culture in Tokyo” by Eugene Kan was release in March, 2009

It’s takes a comprehensive look into the current sneaker landscape of Tokyo and contains both photography and interviews. Legendary trend setter Hiroshi Fujiwara is interviewed on Hypebeast.

Find out more about Sneaker Tokyo and read the interview on Hypebeast

Technorati Tags: culture, Eugene Kan, fashion, Japan, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Sneaker Tokyo, sneakers, Tokyo, trainers

Bit early for Chinese New Year, but if you prepare well in advance you could order these Puma Chinese New Year First Round sneakers.

From the Puma archive in 1987, the First Round was a high cut version of the basket. The padded collar made this shoe an instant hit with the skateboard community.

The First Round Chinese New Year celebrates the annual event with details including embroidered dragon scales, customised Chinese calendar rubber tongue badge, ‘Chinese New Year‘ holiday script in gold foil and a premium leather collar.

Check them at CoolestShop.com

Via Lost At E Minor

Technorati Tags: Chinese New Year, fashion, PUMA, Puma Chinese New Year First Round, sneakers, sport, trainers

You can live out your urban ninja fantasies with this hoodie with zip-up mask and eyeholes! Designed by Brian Wood and showcased in his Fall/Winter 2008 collection We Shall Overcome.

Thinking about it, this might also make you look like you’re about to make a heist so pull the mask down if you plan on visiting a bank.

Brian Wood

Via The Awesomer

Technorati Tags: Brian Wood, fashion, hoodie, martial arts, ninja, ninja hoodie, We Shall Overcome

This video shows a decidedly ordinary looking girl from China and how she looks after a makeover that gives her that big anime eye look that seems to be gaining popularity!

Do you think its real? There seems to be a bit missing in the middle to show the transformation, so I have my doubts, but then having seen some makeover shows on tv, I also think its possible.

Via Rick Martin on Twitter

Technorati Tags: anime, anime style eyes, fashion, Japan, makeover

This tshirt design shows what happens to clumsy ninjas. Same could be said of samurai too.

Via The Awesomer

Technorati Tags: clumsy ninjas, ninja, tshirt design