Making The News

[kevin_standlee]

Doubtless other people whose LJs I have not had time to read have reported this already, but this morning's International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun had a full page story about Worldcon, including an above-the-fold pointer off the front page. It included picture of several people I know, including karisu_sama, marahsk, and avt_tor.

One of the things the article touched on was how one Japanese costumer complained that other Japanese fans look at you funny if you wear a costume that isn't obviously a recreation of something. I've encountered that myself, and not just in Japan. Original costuming seems to throw some folks for a loop, but they're comfortable with you dressing as a character from something they already know.

On the other side of the same page was an article touching on our other hobby, trains, and someone building a miniature you-ride-em (looks like 15-inch gauge) railway.

Update, 19 Sep: Added link to the online version of the story.

Comments

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Japan has a tradition of ritual dress, not a tradition of fancy dress.

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

People are used to recreation costumes over original costumes in Japan. Nearly all cosplayers are from a Video Game, Anime or J-Drama. I am not surprised that original costumes are taken by surprise by people in Japan.

[bovil.livejournal.com]

It's more complicated than that.

Look at western holidays adopted in Japan. Christmas is very popular, and people dress in red jackets with fur trim and Santa hats. Halloween is a bust, celebrated by expat Americans and Europeans (who the Japanese find disturbing).

At Christmas you dress like Santa. It's a reasonable stretch from the Shinto festivals that have a ritual uniform. At Halloween you can dress like anything. It doesn't fit the mold.

Recreation costume, while something weird to be grown out of, still falls at the fringes of ritual dress. Original costume doesn't.

[querldox.livejournal.com]

Friday's Daily Yomiburi (which seems to be a Tokyo based English paper) had a half page story in the lifestyle section (the other half of the page was a manga review, article about how older types are buying and assembling plastic models, and the state of Comic Market).

[gandalara.livejournal.com]

And here's the link!

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200709080056.html

(Thanks for the travelogue Kevin and Lisa - I've really enjoyed it!)

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Thanks for finding the link for us, and for the kind words about our travels. I'm endlessly frustrated at not being able to spend several more hours per day writing, as there's a lot more interesting stuff about which I could write if I had time.

[marahsk.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! I was in the International Herald Tribune!

ROTJ?

[caindog.livejournal.com]

"Karisu remembers watching "Revenge of the Jedi" at a Worldcon before the film was retitled "Return of the Jedi" and released to mass audiences."

She does? Does anybody else recall seeing ROTJ (in any form) at Chicon IV? Given the production schedule I find it unlikely that the third "Star Wars" film was even close to being viewable in September 1982.

Re: ROTJ?

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe she mentioned seeing the trailer for "Revenge of the Jedi" and the reporter misunderstood and thought the whole movie was shown.

[marahsk.livejournal.com]

I was in the International Herald Tribune!! I had no idea! Thanks so much for posting this!