I really wanted to go to the preliminaries in Korea this time but I couldn't fit it in with my work schedule, next year! Anyway a staff member from the WCS organizing committee did get to Seoul to cover the event and I have included some of her pictures below. "Mappi" (staff members blog name) got in on May 31st and met up with a number of cosplayers the night before the event. Below are some pictures taken Sunday June 1st, the day of the event.

The competition was fierce and the pair of Seung Yong Kong (Folken) and Kyeuong Min Kong (Van Parnell) came out on top. You can see a picture of the 2 above and find out more about them in the news column here!

Mappi finished off here report of the event by thanking everyone in Korea for their warm hospitality. She also commented on how much manga and anime translated from Japanese that she at the event and around in Seoul. I hope I can get you a direct comment from the pair before the big event at the end of July and going to the event will definitely be on the things to do list for next year.

A terrible thing happened yesterday in Akihabara. A man tired of life drove a truck into the pedestrian area and began indiscriminately attacking people with a knife. Akihabara is a place that holds dreams and memories for many. We go there every year with the WCS, we have eaten sushi at the corner where the attack occurred, we have assembled and stayed at the hotel down the street. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

There are a number of preliminaries coming up including Brazil, Singapore, France and China but right now I have something very special. The German Team for this year was kind enough to answer some interview questions, I have included both Annie and Katherina's responses in that order. I will divide the interview into 3 parts so they are easier to read and include some very well taken pictures of them too.

Annie

Katharina

Question: WCS 2008 is coming up in the end of July, how are your preparations coming along?

Annie: Although Kathi and I are quite busy with our high school diploma and apprenticeship the preparations for the next event are going great. Just in two weeks we'll meet to start sewing our costumes and rehearse the new routine.

Katharina: Currently I am very busy with school. Annie and I finished sewing one costume and now we're doing the next one. In addition we have an idea for our performance which we only need to file. I hope we'll be ready in time!

Q: In your WCS profile you mention a number of manga and anime you like, why do you like those titles? What are your favorite characters and why?

A: I love shows like Nana and Paradise Kiss because I have a special connection to the show's characters and the plot. I feel there are analogies between the characters and their life and my own.

K: I really love to read manga with some feminine or romantic content. Thats why CLAMP is my favorite manga-ka team. Their stories and especially their drawings are very adorable! I also like
to read funny stories.

Q: How do you choose your costumes, either the ones for the championship or otherwise?

A: First of all it's really important that I feel a certain connection to the character. Moreover the costume should be feminine, cute and a little sexy, and of course suit my very own style.

K: We both have always picked cute or magical female costumes. Costumes with big armor or stuff like that doesn't really match our cosplay style; it doesn't look good on us. So that's why we chose girlish costumes for WCS 2008!

Thats it for Part 1, Part 2 coming up!

World Cosplay Summit 2008 is coming up soon, to see how everyone is doing I have got in touch with some of the contestants. Here is the continuation of the interview with Katharina and Annie from the German team.

Question: Could you tell me what your performance was like at the Connichi event last year?

Annie: It was a dance performance which included a brief story.

Katharina: Our performance was a magical girlish kind of performance. We decided to stage
an attack of an unknown enemy to Sailor Moon in which we chose friendship and cohesion as a central theme.Of course it had a happy ending! (You can see the performance if you search for "WCS 2008 German Representatives" on YouTube)

Q: Could you tell us a little about what you are planning for your championship performance?

A: We hope our performance sweeps the crowd out of their seats and gives them goosebumps. For more details you'll have to wait until we're up on stage:)

K: We always try to create a professional looking performance (which does not always work). It should get under the skins of those who are watching and hopefully bring them some special meaning. Furthermore, the performance is planned to be as true as possible to the characters and series with a dose of cuteness.

Q: How did your family react when you won the competition?

A: Shortly after Kathi and I got the news that we won the competition I ran to the phone and called my family. I was so excited that I could hardly express myself and my family had some problems understanding what I was trying to say. But in the end they were all happy.

K: Annie and I were sitting at my uncles' when we got the phone call from the jury. Immediately we called our parents and told them that we will be flying to Japan to take part at the WCS. And I can really say they were speechless!

The final part of the interview is coming up!

Here is the last part in the interview with Team Germany for WCS 2008. Below are a couple pictures of them when not cosplaying:

Annie

Katharina

Question: What do you find most or least fascinating about Japan?

Annie: I'm really excited about the upcoming trip. I have never been to Japan before and it's going to be a totally new world for me. Most of all I'm looking forward to learn more about the Japanese lifestyle. By now there are no negative things that come to mind. This journey is a dream come true and I hope that the new culture will influence my in a positive way. Oh, there is probably one thing that's not so pleasant... I heard that the Japanese summer is pretty hot.

Katharina: I think it's the culture. And the people. Food. Fashion. Lifestyle. Just everything! In my opinion Japan has no negative things.

Q: What do you expect to find once you have arrived in Japan?

A: I think that my first impression of Japan will be quite colorful and bright.

K: Everything I've dreamed of..

Q: Do you like Japanese food? If so, what do you like?

A: I love Japanese food, especially sushi. My favorite type is California Inside Out. And I also love Calpis. Mmm...delicious...

K: I like to eat and can't get enough of fried noodles. I also like sushi but not all types. I always eat sweet things and don't like food which is too healthy (like vegetables!).

Q: Could you please provide a comment to your present and future fans and readers of this blog?

A: Thank you for all your love and support. It's great that cosplay connects so many different cultures and that people all over the world have one particular thing that they have in common. Moreover, I'm really looking forward to meeting all the other teams. To all cosplayers: be proud of your hobby and yourself.

K: I am really happy about the opportunity to visit Japan. I really want to thank you all! In addition I hope we'll fulfill your expectations and that you won't be disappointed. We'll try our best, so stay tuned! See you!

Thanks for responding to the questions Annie and Katharine, see you soon!

The Brazilian regional rounds have been taking place over the last few months under great anticipation with this year being the 100th year of immigration from Japan to Brazil. There is lots of news about this in Japan as Crown Prince Naruhito has paid a visit over the last week and I am sure there are many celebrations going on in Brazil as well.

The final selection for Brazil's representatives took place on Sunday July 22nd and the winner was Gabriel and Jessica with their performance of Burst Angel!

It took some doing for Teppei (TVA Tokyo Staff) to get down to Brazil. He went from Tokyo via Dubai and the total travel time was 30 hours. (!?!) Below is a picture of the airport in Dubai.

More info on Teppei's travels to come!

This is a special year for Japan and Brazil, it is the 100th year anniversary of immigration from Japan to Brazil. Presently, 1,500,000 million Brazilians of Japanese ancestry live in Brazil and they are a highly valued immigrant group in the country. A fairly recent phenomenon is a return migration of Japanese Brazilians to Japan, and there are now about 350,000 Brazilians living and working in Japan, making it one of the largest groups of foreign residents in Japan. Teppei saw many examples of this celebration of migration while in Brazil including the image character Keika which can be seen below.

The regional rounds really went well, I hope I can get more detailed information on them for you, there were about 15 of them in all throughout the country. Teppei was impressed by having all representatives together and the excitement that was in the air during the first general meeting at the final in Sao Paulo.

At the final stage performance on Sunday June 22nd he was amazed by the reaction of the crowd at the main event. People went wild as Ezaki Toshiko (Singer of the ending for Pokemon) and Ricardo Cruz (JAM Project) performed for the audience.

Teppei finished off his trip with a visit to the families of Gabriel and Jessica of Team Brazil for WCS 2008. He mentions the families were very welcoming and proud of the pair, fully behind them in their representation of Brazil. Sounds like Teppei had a great time in Brazil, I am sure there is a pile of work waiting for him on his return to Tokyo!

The final Japan round is coming up on July 13th, for anyone who is interested in participating the deadline for entries is July 4th. I will be at the event, looking forward to seeing how things turn out!