Participation rules

In order to make “Osaka Comic Con” be like the freely participative comic conventions held in Japan, the cosplay genres allowed are not limited to American comics, and it is possible to participate with cosplays of all kinds of comics, novels, games, or tokusatsu works, domestic and foreign. Please wear the costumes of your favorite characters and come enjoying this great atmosphere available only for a limited time.
This year, Osaka Comic Con 2023 and the World Cosplay Summit team have “connected” with the aim to provide participating cosplayers with a new experience full of value. We hope that you will enjoy it!
Please participate upon a careful reading of the detailed participation rules below.

Basically forbidden items

• Photographing outside the designated area
• Excessive skin exposure Exhibition of underwear or what appears to be underwear
• Using actual uniforms or military uniforms, whether modern or traditional (fictional uniforms appearing in manga or anime are allowed)
• Carrying dangerous props, such as edged tools or flammable products

About participation

• Cosplay participants shall purchase an Admission ticket to Osaka Comic Con and a Cosplay participation badge in advance.
• A limited number of badges will be put on sale for each type of participation badge. In case that they become sold out in the advance sale, they will not be sold on the day of the event. Please acknowledge that persons who could not purchase them will not be able to participate in the event. (An additional amount could be put on sale in accordance with the guidelines for the celebration of the event)
• Persons holding a participation bade will receive a proof of participation at the reception desk on the day of the event. Please carry this proof of participation visibly during the celebration of the event. Staff members may call attention to persons not having them.

About costumes, props and changing clothes

• Please change clothes at the changing rooms arranged by the Osaka Comic Con Executive Office. Changing clothes and applying make-up at the toilets is forbidden. In the changing rooms arranged by the Executive Office, a staff member of the opposite gender may enter in the changing room in case of emergency, after providing verbal warning.
• Persons using the changing rooms shall strive to limit their use to approximately 30 minutes. Please cooperate with the reduction of time of use, for instance by coming with the base make-up applied.
• In case that participants younger than primary school age are using the changing rooms and their guardian is not doing cosplay, then one guardian of the same gender can accompany them inside the changing room. (An additional ticket is not required) Please purchase two tickets in case that the guardian is also cosplaying.
• All electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras and music players shall be stored inside the hand baggage at the changing rooms. The hand baggage of participants may be inspected at the discretion of the staff members.
• Weapons and long objects shall be covered while moving around. Please mind of your surroundings to avoid hitting with your costumes or long objects. Please keep their length and dimensions to an approximate size of about 2 meters.
• When wearing short skirts or kimonos, please use leggings to conceal your skin.
• Participants may be requested at the discretion of staff members to refrain from wearing inappropriate stuff such as costumes with comparatively excessive skin exposure, costumes with excessively sharp edges, or tight costumes that might result in severe dehydration of the participant.
• The organizers and the Executive Office shall not be held liable for any loss or damage arising from the types of cosplay and their contents.
• Please refrain from participating with make-up that can cause trouble to other persons, or with costumes that might leave the changing rooms or the venue dirty.
• Please make sure that your costumes and props do not fall into the scope of the “Anti-Nuisance Ordinance”, the “Minor Offenses Act” or the “Firearms and Swords Control Act”.
• When using gore make-up, please make sure that it is completely dried. The use of liquid-type gore make-up is forbidden, as it could leave the venue dirty.
• Regarding the carrying of props, as a rule it is recommended to carry them protected in bags or cases when not using them for photographing.

What stands for "excessive exposure"?

it refers to costumes in which underwear or priveate parts can be seen.(pink parts)
Please be careful not violate public morals and take measures against exposure to prevent underwear or private parts to be seen.
Nudity of the upper part of the body only is permitted in cases such as showing the muscles of male cosplayers.

Staff members on the day of the event may call your attention, and you are requested to follow their indications. When moving around between venues with a costume that has a high degree of exposure, please be considerate with the surroundings and try to wear some clothes to reduce skin exposure.

In case that male participants cosplay as female characters (crossplay)

When male participants are cosplaying as female characters, please pay attention not to harm the image of the corresponding character.
Please deal appropriately with hair in visibly exposed parts, such as armpit hair, leg hair or mustache and beard. (Scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are excluded)

Can I bring this prop (weapon)?

Please try to make them as lightweight and neutralized as possible, so persons in general can think they are safe and secure.
* Neutralization refers to the use of materials or techniques that render the costume harmless to other persons.

About photographing and exchange

• The use of radio-controlled flash triggers (radio slaves) without a “Technical Standards Compliance Mark” may constitute an infringement of the infraction of the Radio Law. Please make sure that your wireless equipment has the “Technical Standards Compliance Mark”.
• Please refrain from occupying a photographing spot for a long time. Staff members may call your attention.
• Please refrain from posing in a manner that leaves underwear visible, and from shooting from excessively low angles.
• Regarding tripods, in principle they are allowed as long they do not take up much space and do not cause inconvenience for the flow of the pathways. Depending on the case, staff members may call your attention.
• The use of reflector boards is allowed as long as they are of the hand-carry type and do not take more space than that of a camera.
• Please refrain from photographing using large-sized equipment that might obstruct passage.
• Regarding the manners for photograph and video shooting and for exchange, we request a moderate conduct that does not cause discomfort to the other persons.
• Please refrain from taking pictures without the consent of the photographed persons.
• Please consider obtaining the permission of the photographed persons before uploading pictures to the internet or publishing them on magazines or other printed media.
• In case that peeping or "see through" photographing with techniques such as infrared light are discovered, the data will be deleted immediately and offenders will be reported to the police.
• Please obtain the consent of the photographed persons before requesting poses, giving a handshake or requesting to take pictures together.
• The use of props such as long objects, small arms, rackets or balls is forbidden except for posing in pictures. Please do not wield, kick or throw them.

Requests for the prevention of covid19

We kindly request those persons affected by the following circumstances in the 14 days prior to the celebration of the event to abstain from participation. In case of having symptoms of cold or fever (body temperature higher than 37.5 ºC)

• In case of having been in close contact with persons that have tested positive for covid19
• In case that there is the suspicion that persons in the same household or close acquaintances are infected
• In case of having traveled to countries or regions for which the government has imposed entry restrictions or the need for a quarantine period upon entry, or being in close contact with a resident of such countries or regions

An inspection of physical condition including the measurement of body temperature is going to be conducted at the reception. Persons affected by the following circumstances will not be allowed to participate. In this case, the amount of the already purchased tickets will be refunded through contact via e-mail with the specific contact person. A written application and a proof of identity issued by public authorities will be requested. Details will be announced at a later date.

• Having a body temperature above 37.5 degrees
• Having symptoms of cold such as intermittent cough or a sore throat
• Having abnormalities in the senses of taste or smell
• Having an intense fatigue
• Having a notification of contact with an infected person through the COCOA application for tracking of novel coronavirus contacts

Conversations inside the changing rooms are forbidden. Also, consideration is requested to avoid facing other persons while applying make-up. Please cooperate to avoid congestion by limiting your period of stay in the changing rooms to 30 minutes.
Cosplayer participants shall wear a mask (as a rule, face shields and mouth shields are not allowed) while moving around and being spectators. Please wear a mask when moving around and engaging in conversation, and take it off only when performing on the stage or when taking photographs. Staff members may request you to put on a mask. Please acknowledge that you may be forced to leave the event in case that you do not follow their indications.
Photographer participants shall wear a mask at all times.
Please cooperate by downloading the COCOA application for tracking of novel coronavirus contacts, recommended by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.