WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT 2008

<Date>

August 3 (Sun) 18:00 Start

<Location>

The World Cosplay Championship - Oasis21 (1-11-1, Higashizakura, Higashiku, Nagoya-city, Aichi, Japan)

<Countries>

Brazil, China, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, USA
13 Countries

<No. of participants>

Participating cosplayers from each country will take part in teams of 2 people
Total of 14 teams, 28 people
*Two Japan teams elected in the Tokyo venue and the Osaka venue participate in championship.

<Entrance fee>

Free
*The seats for those watching are reserved seats only.
*Numbered tickets will be given out on the day for these seats from 10:00 to 15:00.
*Place of distribution (on map): "Press Reception".
*Tickets will be distributed until they run out.
*1 Numbered ticket per person will be handed out.
*Please note that we cannot give out multiple amounts of tickets to individuals.

<Guest Commentator>

Toru Furuya, Natsuki Kato

	Toru Furuya Japan's premier male voice actor who has performed in many famous Japanese anime such as "Mobile Suit Gundam" (playing Amuro Rei), "The Star of the Giant" (playing Hoshi Hyuma), "Dragon Ball" (playing Yamucha) and the "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon" series (playing Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask) etc. He has supported the Cosplay Summit since 2004, and is an indelible fixture at the World Cosplay Summit.
	Natsuki Kato Born July 26th, 1985, in Akita Prefecture. Made her debut as an actress when she was 12, and was praised as a new star. Giving high-level performances and a very high rating she is an actress with real ability, and a top model and fashion icon. With her fantastic charm and an air of freedom, this "fashionista" affects product production, and so her lifestyle and way of living are very popular with women. <Voice roles> "Onegai My Melody " "Hungry Heart: Wild Striker" (voice role & theme song) "Slayers Revolution" "Kaiba" <Women's Fashion magazine> "JJ" (Kobunsha) and "More" (Shueisha)

Toru Furuya
Japan's premier male voice actor who has performed in many famous Japanese anime such as "Mobile Suit Gundam" (playing Amuro Rei), "The Star of the Giant" (playing Hoshi Hyuma), "Dragon Ball" (playing Yamucha) and the "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon" series (playing Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask) etc. He has supported the Cosplay Summit since 2004, and is an indelible fixture at the World Cosplay Summit.

Natsuki Kato
Born July 26th, 1985, in Akita Prefecture.
Made her debut as an actress when she was 12, and was praised as a new star. Giving high-level performances and a very high rating she is an actress with real ability, and a top model and fashion icon. With her fantastic charm and an air of freedom, this "fashionista" affects product production, and so her lifestyle and way of living are very popular with women.
<Voice roles>
"Onegai My Melody "
"Hungry Heart: Wild Striker" (voice role & theme song)
"Slayers Revolution"
"Kaiba"
<Women's Fashion magazine>
"JJ" (Kobunsha) and "More" (Shueisha)

<Guest Judges>

Yumiko Igarashi, Rika Matsumoto, ...and more

	Yumiko Igarashi Manga artist Born August 26th in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. From the 3rd year of high school she went to Tokyo with the aim of becoming pro. Made her debut as a manga artist while still a high school student in Tokyo. Continued as a manga artist after that, and since June 2001 has been based in Hokkaido. 1968: made her manga debut with "The island where the white shark is". 1970: She became attached to Kodansha's young women's manga magazine "Good Friends", producing a number of works. 1975: in the same magazine she began the series "Candy Candy", which became a huge hit. 1977: she was awarded the first Kodansha Manga Prize for "Candy Candy". She then published other works such as "Mayme Angel", "Hazunde Ribon-chan", "Georgie", " Paros no Ken", and "Muka Muka Paradise". "Georgie" and "Muka Muka Paradise" were made into popular TV anime. 1989: Published the novel "Only Yufu". After that she expanded genres in manga, encompassing ladies manga, history, and comedy, and also became an essayist. In recent years she hasn't limited herself to just manga, but has given lectures and appeared on TV. At present she writes a Sunday column for Hokkaido Shimbun Press called "Oy! Animal Caravan" and a keitai (mobile phone) manga series for Weekly Angie called "Atlantis Nights". She is also a member of Japan Pen Club, and a judge for Maruyama Zoo sketching contest and the student artist's oil painting contest, as well as others.
	Rika Matsumoto Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer From Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture [Skills] skiing, swimming, Japanese dance, volleyball, handball, the holder of the Yokohama City 800m record (running), javelin, being asked the way by people she doesn't know, and is a walking advertisement car! [Hobbies] Traveling alone and meeting people. [Regular on] TX: Pocket Monster DP (Main character/Satoshi) RF: Matsumoto Rika's Yokohama Weekend Style WOWOW: Psychic Medium Allison Dubois 3 (Alison) [Representative work] Stage: "Some enchanted evening" from the Sound of Music, "The new wizard of Oz", as well as others. CD: "Mezase Pokemon Master" (Theme song from Pocket Monster), "Alive A life" (Theme song from Kamen Rider Ryuki), as well as others. Dubbing: She is primarily in charge of voiceover work for the actresses Sandra Bullock, Milla Jovovich, Drew Barrymore, and Renee Zellweger.

Yumiko Igarashi
Manga artist
Born August 26th in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. From the 3rd year of high school she went to Tokyo with the aim of becoming pro. Made her debut as a manga artist while still a high school student in Tokyo. Continued as a manga artist after that, and since June 2001 has been based in Hokkaido.
1968: made her manga debut with "The island where the white shark is".
1970: She became attached to Kodansha's young women's manga magazine "Good Friends", producing a number of works.
1975: in the same magazine she began the series "Candy Candy", which became a huge hit.
1977: she was awarded the first Kodansha Manga Prize for "Candy Candy".
She then published other works such as "Mayme Angel", "Hazunde Ribon-chan", "Georgie", " Paros no Ken", and "Muka Muka Paradise". "Georgie" and "Muka Muka Paradise" were made into popular TV anime.
1989: Published the novel "Only Yufu".
After that she expanded genres in manga, encompassing ladies manga, history, and comedy, and also became an essayist. In recent years she hasn't limited herself to just manga, but has given lectures and appeared on TV. At present she writes a Sunday column for Hokkaido Shimbun Press called "Oy! Animal Caravan" and a keitai (mobile phone) manga series for Weekly Angie called "Atlantis Nights". She is also a member of Japan Pen Club, and a judge for Maruyama Zoo sketching contest and the student artist's oil painting contest, as well as others.

Rika Matsumoto
Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer
From Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
[Skills] skiing, swimming, Japanese dance, volleyball, handball, the holder of the Yokohama City 800m record (running), javelin, being asked the way by people she doesn't know, and is a walking advertisement car!
[Hobbies] Traveling alone and meeting people.
[Regular on]
TX: Pocket Monster DP (Main character/Satoshi)
RF: Matsumoto Rika's Yokohama Weekend Style
WOWOW: Psychic Medium Allison Dubois 3 (Alison)
[Representative work]
Stage: "Some enchanted evening" from the Sound of Music, "The new wizard of Oz", as well as others.
CD: "Mezase Pokemon Master" (Theme song from Pocket Monster), "Alive A life" (Theme song from Kamen Rider Ryuki), as well as others.
Dubbing: She is primarily in charge of voiceover work for the actresses Sandra Bullock, Milla Jovovich, Drew Barrymore, and Renee Zellweger.

<Official Goodse>

	Official T-shirts This year's original cosplay T-shirts have been made by the brand "Health", a leading select shop both inside and outside Japan. Cosplay is one form of self-expression of fans of manga and anime around the world, and can also be thought of as a window to the soul. Cosplay will be expressed through this design, and one’s alter ego (one’s real self) will come out from this ripped T-shirt. The self that comes out and is depicted is one of the originators of cosplay, the characters in a masquerade ball from the 18th century. SIZE/XS, M, L COLOR/GRAY BODY/HEALTH 1 MADE IN JAPAN 1 HEALTH Brand concept Although each person's likes and way of thinking are different, their sense of what is good is often the same. For example, if you were to look at a beautiful landscape, or get excited listening to some cool music, Health will take care of such a simple sense. In this, the age of information overload, maybe people's intuition within their consciousness is becoming vague. Health creates sensuously superb products, and delivers this message through fashion.
	Long towels SIZE/21cm X 115cm MADE IN JAPAN

Official T-shirts

This year's original cosplay T-shirts have been made by the brand "Health", a leading select shop both inside and outside Japan.
Cosplay is one form of self-expression of fans of manga and anime around the world, and can also be thought of as a window to the soul. Cosplay will be expressed through this design, and one’s alter ego (one’s real self) will come out from this ripped T-shirt. The self that comes out and is depicted is one of the originators of cosplay, the characters in a masquerade ball from the 18th century.
SIZE/XS, M, L
COLOR/GRAY
BODY/HEALTH *1
MADE IN JAPAN
*1 HEALTH Brand concept
Although each person's likes and way of thinking are different, their sense of what is good is often the same. For example, if you were to look at a beautiful landscape, or get excited listening to some cool music, Health will take care of such a simple sense. In this, the age of information overload, maybe people's intuition within their consciousness is becoming vague. Health creates sensuously superb products, and delivers this message through fashion.

Long towels
SIZE/21cm X 115cm
MADE IN JAPAN

Time goods will be on sale:AM10:00 start
Point/Place of sale:"Sponsor Area" on the Oasis 21 Site Map

<Time Schedule>

August 3 (Sun) 2008 World Cosplay Championship

10:00	The biginning of distribution of the numbered tickets for seats The seats for those watching are reserved seats only. Numbered tickets will be given out on the day for these seats from 10:00 to 15:00. Place of distribution (on map): "Press Reception". Tickets will be distributed until they run out. 1 Numbered ticket per person will be handed out. Please note that we cannot give out multiple amounts of tickets to individuals.
10:00	& The opening of exihibition booths
15:30	The opening of the changing areas and baggage storage
16:30	The opening of the viewing areas
18:00 - 18:10	Championship opening
18:10 - 19:10	First half of the championship
19:10 - 19:25	Intermission 1: Guest's live performance
19:25 - 20:25	Second half of the championship
20:25 - 20:40	Intermission 2: Guest's live performance
20:40 - 20:50	Judge's announcement
20:50 - 21:00	Ending
21:00	Finish
22:00	The closing of the changing areas and baggage storage

*The scheduled program may be subject to change.
*To all cosplayers
Changing areas have been prepared for the day itself. We are looking forward to you all doing cosplay.
*Details on all the kinds of events, times, planned events etc are on the homepage. Take a look!

<Rules at the World Cosplay Summit 2008>

On the day, many spectators will come to Oasis 21. When doing cosplay or taking photos inside Oasis 21, we ask that you follow the directions of the staff and do not cause problems for spectators. If you fail to follow the rules, we regret to say that you will be removed from the venue. We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation.

1.	Please carry all valuables with you. Please look after your own bags respectively. We take no responsibility in the event of any losses.
2.	When using imitation cosplay goods, please use materials that will not cause injury to others.
3.	Changing areas have been set up within Oasis 21. Please use the designated changing areas; please note that it is not a toilet. Leaving baggage and rubbish etc is prohibited.
4.	The changing areas can be used by all cosplayers. We ask that you please use it in a manner of mutual respect.
5.	The World Cosplay Summit 2008 is a festival showcasing Japanese manga, animation and games. As the main purpose of the event, we ask that you wear suitable costumes for the event. Costumes that are too exposed or scantily-clad, cross-dressing, realistic military attire, civil servants costumes etc are prohibited. Failure to comply with the above-mentioned points will unfortunately result in the termination of your cosplay and removal from the event.
6.	Aside from Donguri Republic and the NHK Character Shop, it is possible to go into eating and drinking establishments in costume. However, for those shops that you are allowed to enter in wearing cosplay costumes, please do not cause trouble for other patrons. For each of the stores and eating/drinking establishments, please take note of what the staff says.
7.	The weather is forecast to be very hot on the day of the event. Please note that measures/preparation for the heat, especially the provision of water, are your own responsibility.
8.	Please follow the directions and instructions of the staff when taking photos of cosplayers and please behave respectfully. It is prohibited to take photos with the shops/stands in the background.Please use the specially-designated photo areas when taking photos. Taking photos in the middle of the aisles, using a tripod, talking too much or generally causing trouble for other patrons is prohibited. If you fail to follow the rules, we regret to say that you will be removed from the venue. We ask for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. * For those taking photos, please ask the cosplayers themselves for permission before taking any photos of them. Taking photos secretly, or any actions pertaining to this, will result in removal from the hall.
9.	Taking video is prohibited. If anyone is discovered to be taking video, they will immediately be taken under the supervision of the sponsor’s staff, and please note that the video that has been taken will be seized and destroyed.

<Venue Map>

*There will be a strong press presence from TV Aichi and other media at the World Cosplay Summit (August 2: parade, August 3: championship). The press who have received permission from the sponsors will be issued with a press pass. Please note that photos and images taken by press reporters may be used by a variety of media.