cosplay etymology

Etymology of "Cosplay":

"Cosplay" is a portmanteau of the words "costume" and "play." It was coined in Japan in the late 1970s by Nobuyuki Takahashi, the publisher of the magazine My Anime.

Meaning of "Cosplay":

Cosplay is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and embody fictional characters from various sources, such as anime, manga, video games, movies, and books.

Origin of Cosplay:

The roots of cosplay can be traced back to various traditions and influences:

• Masquerade Balls: The practice of wearing costumes to represent different characters has existed for centuries in various cultures, including elaborate masquerade balls in Europe.
• Science Fiction Conventions (Cons): In the 1960s and 1970s, fans attending science fiction conventions began creating and wearing costumes based on their favorite characters.
• Anime and Manga Fandom: In Japan, the growing popularity of anime and manga led to an increased interest in dressing up as these characters.
• WorldCon 1984: The first recorded use of the term "cosplay" occurred at the 42nd World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) in Los Angeles in 1984. A group of Japanese attendees debuted their costumes and referred to their activity as "cosplay."

Spread of Cosplay:

Cosplay quickly gained popularity beyond Japan and spread to other countries through anime and manga conventions. It has become a global phenomenon with dedicated communities and large-scale events worldwide.

cosplay relate terms

• costume

  Etymology From Old French costume from Late Latin consuetudo meaning custom usage

• custom

  Etymology Custom noun and adjective From Middle English custume ultimately derived

• play

  Etymology The word play derives from the Middle English plaien which itself originat

• play

  Etymology The word play derives from the Middle English plaien which itself originat

• plagiarism

  Etymology The word plagiarism comes from the Latin word plagiarius which means kidn

• scale

  Etymology of Scale Proto Indo European skel meaning to cut divide Proto Germani

• Hollywood

  Etymology The word Hollywood is believed to have originated from two potential sources

• persevere

  Etymology French persévérer Latin perseverare Prefix per through Verb severa

• Catholic

  Etymology The word Catholic is derived from the Greek adjective katholikos meaning

• slang

  Etymology of Slang Originated in the 18th century as a shortening of slangwhanger a

• quit

  Etymology The word quit comes from the Old French word quiter which means to give

• Munchkin

  Etymology The word munchkin is a blend of the following Munich German city kin d

• hold

  Etymology Old English healdan Proto West Germanic haldan Proto Germanic haldaną P

• sibling

  Etymology Old English sibling Derived from Proto Germanic siblingaz a derivative of