World Cosplay Summit turns Nagoya into fantasy world on final day

NAGOYA -- Some 1,500 cosplayers paraded down the arcade of the Osu Shopping District in the city's Naka Ward on the final day of the World Cosplay Summit on Aug. 6, turning the area into a fantasy world.

This year marked the 15th World Cosplay Summit, and cosplayers from 35 countries and regions smiled and showed off their incredible transformations into heroes and heroines of popular anime and manga. A huge number of fans flocked to Osu Kannon temple and the surrounding streets with cameras in hand to capture the whimsical scenery of the district, despite this year's record heat of 35.2 degrees Celsius.

"The event is different from those held in large cities," said a Chiba Prefecture woman cosplaying as the character "Eas" from the anime "Fresh Precure!" "The charm is that by involving the local area, not only the fans, but everyone can enjoy the festivities," she said.