I’ve been living in Osaka for about a year now and recently there was a huge cosplay event (Nippombashi Street Festa). Prior to this I have never cosplayed before and this was the first time post Covid they organised this festival. I was really excited for it and put a lot of effort into my cosplay (Frieren). I live in the city center and walked to the location instead of using the crowded changing rooms after confirming it would be okay for me to do so with some friends. On my way, I got stopped a few times by teenagers, children and also some young adults asking to take pictures with me, which I gladly did. Everyone was super respectful and not a single person seemed to take any pictures without permission or offended. Just the usual side eyes from a few elderly people.
Now fast forward to the actual event, I bought a wristband to officially participate in the photo taking activities and get access to a designated area they put up where you could go take pictures with other cosplayers or have your pictures taken. Again, no issues. Everyone was patient and asked respectfully. The problem began after the official event ended (post 17:00). I rested at a cafe for a while and the festival was over, there were a few other cosplayerd left and I mostly walked around and talked to people about their cosplays. While I was in conversation, an older (American judging by his accent and entourage) rudely grabbed my arm and then with his finger tried to tell me to come closer. I was really shocked and just ignored it, said “no, sorry”, and turned back to my conversation. Him and his group then pulled out their phones and started taking pictures of ALL of us without our permission. I told him to stop it because we did not want our pictures taken (by them). Fortunately, there was some staff left and they helped us get rid of those people.
Afterwards, I was still in the Namba area where the event was held in a side alley (to not disturb the main area) and on my phone talking to my family. Someone from across the street yelled “FRIEREN” and tried to get my attention. I just mindlessly waved at them but didn’t have time to engage otherwise as the conversation was important. Again, a group of (male Western looking) foreigners approached me and interrupted my call, asking to take pictures. The official event ended a long time ago and while I do not mind having my pictures taken anyways, why is it too much to ask to wait until I’m finished with my call? I signalled them to please wait a few minutes and ended my phone call shortly after, with them attempting to talk to me throughout. To be honest, I wanted to say no but as a female alone in a side alley in that situation I just let them take the pictures and left.
Similar situations happened about 2 more times after that and I just don’t understand how people can behave so rudely?! I am European myself but I speak Japanese and trying my best to be respectful as to not ruin the reputation of foreingers further. Then, I encounter these people (who 100% couldn’t always tell I wasn’t Japanese in the cosplay) and have them behave like this toward me and other cosplayers (even during the event, which had strict photo taking rules).
PLEASE IF YOU ARE A TOURIST and you come to Japan learn about basic manners, THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE behaviour even in the west and all you need is some common sense to understand that. I know it’s probably too much to read the event rules, but it’s not too much to at least ASK POLITELY if you want to take pictures with/of someone and not grabbing them or interrupting them.
I did not want to hop on the “ew all the tourists in Japan are so problematic” train like this, but it really was such a big issue this time and it reflects badly on all of us….
Sorry, I needed to rant and wanted to ask if anyone had similar or other experiences to this or any suggestions about how to handle these situations.
by Velinoir