What are the laws regarding cosplay in Japan?

6 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **What are the laws regarding cosplay in Japan?**

   I’m a cosplayer and content creators hoping to make a career out of it. I recently read that a permit is needed to cosplay in Japan so I searched it up and read somewhere that it is and then read somewhere else that it’s not and one website said I can’t cosplay in public without a permit and one said I couldn’t cosplay without permission from the creator of the outfit is copyrighted. I have no idea what’s true and what’s not so I’m coming here to ask. Will I be able to cosplay in Japan and what are the laws regarding it, specifically around posting cosplay content?

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2. > so I searched it up and read somewhere that it is

   source?

3. I’m not a lawyer but I’m 99% sure it’s legal. What’s illegal is, as the article says, things that are illegal regardless of whether you’re cosplaying or not. For example doing some kind of photoshoot in public without permission and obstructing roads, using copyrighted material (from anime for example) and making money out of it, and stuff like that. Just cosplaying is legal. You’re free to wear whatever clothing you want.

4. There are no cosplaying visas, so fortunately this is a problem you won’t need to worry about.

5. From what I’ve gathered from people I know, it’s mainly about not being a nuisance when taking photos or being in costume (if it’s extravagantly big etc.).

   When it comes to copyright, I’m fairly sure I read that it was only about being paid to attend events in Cosplay, so if that opportunity presents itself it would be best to talk to the creator. But posting pictures etc. or attending events and cosplaying without being paid is fine etc.

6. In general, cosplay is fine and most publishers who own the copyrights are very accepting of cosplayers. However, I do remember an article discussing how once you start making money out of cosplaying, like Enako and TV shows, restaurants, etc then it will become an issue. For small time content creators, it shouldn’t be an issue. Many people post their cosplays on Twitter and whatnot. However, none of them make a living off cosplay. You can’t use use copyright stuff to sell things. If you’re just allowing YouTube ads, it should be fine. Sponsored content while wearing a copyright cosplay is probably not a good idea.

   Like everyone said, for public photo shoots you need permission—even if it’s a government park sometimes. For a point-and-shoot cameras or hobby coaplayers, it’ll almost always be fine, but when you start using more equipment like tripods and reflectors or do it for commercial purposes, you’ll definitely need permission. Commercial shoots at parks and stuff have fees listed online sometimes.

   It’s unlikely to make a living doing cosplay, as much as simply modeling, unless you can spin off your skills to non-copyright business activities. If you keep operations small such that copyright owners don’t find you, then they probably won’t find you or care. There are those like sexy photo shoot cosplay magazine things that I see on auction sites, but I have no idea how they skirt around the law besides just being small fry. It feels like most cosplayers labor for love, or they do it for the followers and get the money off non-copyright stuff.