The World Cosplay Summit is an event where cosplayers who love Japanese anime, manga, and games come together to create a new form of international and cultural exchange. Every year, cosplayers from all over the world gather in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, deepening friendships and cultural connections. The event is also characterized by the support it receives from local governments, administrative bodies, and embassies.

* What is cosplay? – Dressing up as characters from manga, anime, games, etc.
* What is a cosplayer? – A person who dresses up as characters from manga, anime, games, etc.

Core Principles of WCS – “Cosplay Summit-ism”

– Principle 1: “A Constantly Evolving Pop Culture Festival” –
The World Cosplay Summit is a grand pop culture festival centered around the world’s largest cosplay competition, where cosplayers who love Japanese manga, anime, and games gather. It constantly evolves by embracing changes in the times.

– Principle 2: “A Bridge to World Peace” –
The pop culture showcased at the World Cosplay Summit serves as a universal means of communication and an important tool for personal development. The event provides a platform for all who love pop culture, whether online or offline, fostering friendships beyond race, nationality, culture, language, and customs, with the ultimate goal of contributing to world peace.

– Principle 3: “Respect for Creators and Contribution to Cultural Development” –
Cosplay is a fundamental human expression of admiration and respect for beloved works. Everyone involved in the World Cosplay Summit deeply respects creators, works alongside them to protect avenues of expression, and contributes to cultural development.

History of the World Cosplay Summit

• 2003 – First event held at Rose Court Hotel in Osu, Nagoya.
• 2004 – First parade open to general cosplayers.
• 2005 – First Cosplay Championship held at Expo 2005 (Aichi World Expo).
• 2006 – Event received support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
• 2007 – Mexico, South Korea, and Denmark joined, bringing the number of participating countries and regions to 12.
• 2008 – About 300 cosplayers participated in the Osu Cosplay Parade.
• 2009 – Red carpet cosplay parade held on Nishiki Street, a main road in central Nagoya.
• 2010 – Event attendance reached 89,800.
• 2011 – Brazil won the Cosplay Championship for the third time.
• 2012 – Celebrated 10th anniversary, with 20 participating countries and regions.
• 2013 – Student volunteer organization “WCS Omotenashi Student Committee” was established.
• 2014 – Oasis 21, the main venue, attracted over 200,000 attendees.
• 2015 – First collaborative events held with Lagunasia and Meiji Mura Museum.
• 2016 – The number of participating countries and regions reached 30, with over 300,000 visitors during the event period.
• 2017 – 15th anniversary, with Nagoya City declaring itself a “Cosplay Host Town.”
• 2018 – South Africa joined, making WCS a truly global event with representation from all five continents.
• 2019 – In addition to Aichi, “WCS in TOKYO” was held at Tokyo Dome City.
• 2020 – Due to COVID-19, the event was held online.
• 2021 – The event resumed in Nagoya, held as a hybrid format with the online “World Cosplay Championship Video Division.”
• 2022 – The WCS Eve Festival was held on August 5, featuring a red carpet ceremony and cosplay events.
• 2023 – Celebrated its 20th anniversary; the “World Cosplay Championship Stage Division” returned.
• 2024 – Event was held at full scale, returning to pre-COVID size under the theme of “Complete Revival.”

WCS Omotenashi Student Committee

A Dream Lived – World Cosplay Summit Behind the Scenes

WCS Omotenashi Student Committee Documentary

– Now Recruiting –
Looking for New Members!

Our Mission

The WCS Omotenashi Student Committee is a volunteer organization composed of local university students who provide hospitality to cosplayers from around the world. Our mission is to welcome international cosplayers to Nagoya, enhance their experience, and support the event as a whole.

Business Team

This team works on external outreach, engaging with businesses, local organizations, and creators to expand support for the committee and WCS.

Public Relations Team

Responsible for promoting WCS and the committee through social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), website management, and recruitment activities.

Hotel Team

Organizes hospitality experiences for international cosplay representatives staying at the official hotels. In 2022, the team hosted a Japanese festival-themed event with origami workshops and local sweets.

Production Team

Creates brochures and event materials, designing page layouts and planning creative content entirely by students.

International Communications Team

Prepares for communication with international representatives, even for students who are not fluent in English. They create phrasebooks and assist with translations for the event.

During WCS, the committee members accompany international cosplayers, assist at event venues, and guide them around Nagoya on non-event days, embodying the spirit of “Omotenashi” (Japanese hospitality).

* Due to COVID-19, students have adapted their activities to what is currently possible. If you are interested, please contact us via the official website.
* Participation is limited to university or vocational school students (18 years and older) who can attend weekly meetings throughout the year.

WCS Alumni

What is WCS Alumni?

The “WCS Alumni” refers to past national and regional cosplay champions who have participated in the World Cosplay Summit.

Since its inception in 2003, over 700 individuals from different countries and regions have earned the title of WCS champion (as of 2024). During WCS, alumni return to Japan to take part in official events and alumni-exclusive activities, further enriching the event experience.