nihonmatsuri
JAPAN FESTIVAL
Cosplay
Nihon Matsuri is pleased to present its annual Cosplay Contest, an event with a rich history of showcasing the exceptional talent within the Utah cosplay community. We invite cosplayers to share their artistic interpretations of Japanese culture, as depicted in anime, manga, games, and various other media.
We kindly ask that all participants take a moment to carefully review the rules and guidelines before submitting your application.
Thank you for considering our cosplay contest and for sharing your passion with us!
Thank you for considering our contest! Please read through our rules below, and fill out the form if you would like to compete.
Rules
1. As Nihon Matsuri is meant to celebrate and educate people about Japanese culture, all costume source materials must be of Japanese origin. In other words, anime, manga, Japanese video games, J-pop/rock, Takarazuka, Super Sentai, J-dramas, and Japanese Mythology are acceptable. Any non-Japanese source (cartoons, comic books, TV shows, etc) will only be allowed if the source material or design is in some way relevant to Japanese or Japanese-American culture. If you are unsure whether your costume qualifies, please email us at events@isekaianimecon.com
2. All walk-ons must be rated PG, as Nihon Matsuri is open to the public. We aim to keep the performances family-friendly. If you have any questions, please email us.
3. We encourage performers to create presentations that can be appreciated by a broad audience. Please keep in mind that some attendees may not be deeply familiar with the source material or the specific characters. Your consideration in making your performance clear and engaging for all will be greatly valued.
4. To ensure a smooth flow for the contest, we kindly request that all performances be walk-on only. This means that any accompanying audio should not include spoken dialogue. If you have any questions or concerns about whether your audio selection meets this criterion, please don't hesitate to ask! We're happy to clarify.
5. To facilitate a seamless and enjoyable contest for all, we kindly request that you provide us with a detailed and accurate outline of your planned stage performance. This helps us ensure that everything runs smoothly and that there are no surprises. If your plans happen to change, please notify us via email so we can update our records and offer any necessary support. We want to help you avoid any complications!
6. For the comfort, safety, and well-being of our younger participants, we require that all contestants aged 12 and under be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout their participation in the contest.
7. Performers are responsible for ensuring the stage remains safe and clean. Therefore, all items brought onto the stage must be easily removable by the performer at the end of their performance, and the following are prohibited: open flames, thrown objects, messy substances (including liquids, powders, gels, and sticky materials), feathers, confetti, and glitter. If you have any questions regarding stage setup or permitted items, please contact us via email.
8. For the safety of all attendees, all prop weapons must be easily distinguishable from real weapons, incapable of firing any projectiles, and peace-tied to prevent movement of any moving parts.
9. The following actions are strictly prohibited on stage: open flames, throwing objects, and the use of messy substances (including, but not limited to, liquids, powders, gels, and sticky materials).
Sign Up Info
There will be no on-site sign-ups for this contest. All sign-ups must be completed ahead of time via our application form.d of time.
Last Day for Sign-Ups: April 19, 2025
Last Day for Audio: April 20, 2025
Contestants may enter as an individual or as part of a group. Groups can contain no more than seven contestants unless cleared by our contest coordinator. Entries of any age are welcome! However, any contestant under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
There are no application fees.
If you would like to compete, please fill out this Google form:
Please email us if you have any issues with the form, and we will work with you!
AUDIO REQUIREMENTS:
For performance audio, participants must submit MP3 files by April 20, 2025; alternatively, event-provided background music is available, this preference must be clearly indicated with your entry form.
Remember the track must not have dialogue as this is a Walk-On only.
Craftsmanship Info:
Slots for Craftsmanship Judging will be 5 minutes long. If you have a large group and are worried about time, please email us, and we will make arrangements for you.
The slots will run from 10:00 am to 11:45 am. (Judging ending time may change based on the time the cosplay contest is scheduled.) Judging slots will be opened for reservation on April 12, 2025. The contest will be held from 12:15 pm to 12:55 pm. The awards ceremony will take place at 12:45 pm on stage.
Craftsmanship Categories:
To ensure fair judging and recognize varying skill levels, we offer three classes for craftsmanship in this contest: Beginner, Intermediate, and Masters. Please carefully select the category that best reflects your cosplay experience and win history. Entering a category that does not accurately represent your experience may result in disqualification.
Beginner: This category is for cosplayers with less experience in craftsmanship. Entrants in this category should have no more than 2 individual craftsmanship wins in previous contests.
Intermediate: This category is for cosplayers with a moderate level of experience. Entrants in this category should have 3-5 individual craftsmanship wins, or any win in an Intermediate division in previous contests.
Masters: This category is for cosplayers with significant experience and a high level of skill. Entrants in this category should have more than 5 individual craftsmanship wins, or any win in a Masters division in previous contests.
Progress pictures are not required but recommended to document your creation process for the judges. You can bring a physical copy for the judges to look through during your time slot.
Judging will be held at the festival. When the festival gets closer, we will contact contestants with a more specific judging location (the basement of JCC).
Presentation Information:
To ensure fair judging and recognize varying levels of experience in stage presence and character embodiment, we offer three classes for Presentation in this contest: Beginner, Intermediate, and Masters. Please carefully select the category that best reflects your experience and any previous presentation-focused wins. Entering a category that does not accurately represent your experience may result in disqualification from presentation judging.
Beginner Presentation: This category is for cosplayers who are newer to presenting their cosplays on stage. Entrants in this category should have no more than 2 individual presentation/performance focused wins (e.g., "Best Presentation," "Best Stage Presence") in previous contests.
Intermediate Presentation: This category is for cosplayers with a moderate level of experience in stage presentation. Entrants in this category should have 3-5 individual presentation/performance focused wins, or any win in an Intermediate Presentation division in previous contests.
Masters Presentation: This category is for cosplayers with significant experience and a high level of skill in stage presentation and character embodiment. Entrants in this category should have more than 5 individual presentation-focused wins, or any win in a Masters Presentation/performance division in previous contests.
If you are unsure what class you qualify for, please feel free to ask! We will help place you.
Judge Information
1. Construction: (Combines cleanliness, structural integrity, durability, and fit).
2. Accuracy & Detail: (Combines faithfulness, small details, and material accuracy).
3. Skill & Technique: (Combines variety and mastery of techniques, problem-solving, and complexity).
Awards
Entries will be able to win a variety of prizes,
Beginner Category:
*Best Beginner Craftsmanship ($10 + Isekai Summer Party free pass)
*Best Beginner Presentation ($10 + Isekai Summer Party free pass)
Intermediate Category:
*Best Intermediate Craftsmanship ($15 + Isekai Summer Party free pass)
*Best Intermediate Presentation ($15 + Isekai Summer Party free pass)
Masters Category:
*Best Masters Craftsmanship ($25 + Isekai Summer Party free pass)
*Best Masters Presentation ($25 + Isekai Summer Party free pass)
Judge Information
For almost 15 years, Lexxiroo Cosplay has been cosplaying, inspired by an older sibling. This journey has
included competing and achieving Masters Performance wins. She finds joy in helping and encouraging
others to embrace their creativity and become the characters they love and enjoy. A dedicated member
of charity cosplay clubs that give back to the community and support organizations like Make A Wish.
Lexxiroo believes in the power of cosplay to make a positive impact, If she can inspire and help children
have a dream come true by supporting and volunteering her time, then she is just as happy.
Photographer: Silver Fyre Studio
Lavender Teaspoons
Lavender Teaspoons, a talented local Utah cosplayer who has been creating incredible costumes since
2015. As a master-level cosplayer and full-time seamstress, Lavender brings a wealth of knowledge and
skill to the craft. With a deep passion for pattern making and a love for tackling complex patterning
challenges, she is excited to experience the Nihon Matsuri Cosplay Contest from a new perspective as a
first-time judge.
Thank you for your support.
Coordinator: Brooke Ormesher
Isekai Anime Con