Japanese city Matsudo, located in Chiba prefecture, is encouraging cosplayers to visit on the weekends, billing its Yabashira district as a cosplay-friendly environment.
The city decided to launch a promotional campaign, noticing that cosplayers have been congregating at nearby 21 Seiki no Mori to Hiroba Park for photoshoots for several years. Together with the Yabashira Ekimae Chuo-Shotenkai shop owners association, which spearheaded the promotional efforts, the city has been posting posters of two girls, one in fantasy garb, with the phrase, “On weekends, I transform myself.” Incidentally, the girl on the left is wearing an outfit modeled after the actual Matsudo High School uniform.
コスプレに優しい街八柱。新京成電鉄・八柱駅（JR武蔵野線・新八柱駅）前中央商店会のポスターが掲示されてた。イラストは七六さん。 #千葉 #松戸 #新京成 #マッドシティ pic.twitter.com/l4ggWuaGnA
— 咲村珠樹 (Tamaki SAKIMURA) (@SabreF86) September 28, 2014
The support for cosplayers is not new; last November, the association turned a vacant storefront into a photo studio that caters specially to cosplayers.
Just over the weekend, the association also held a special event, shuttingdown streets to motor traffic and allowing cosplayers and other visitors to meander amongst the businesses around the Yabashira Station shoppingdistrict. A special cosplay booth also stocked costumes for young children, allowing them to get into the cosplay spirit.
[Source: Asahi Shimbum]
More from Anime News Network
Immigration officials raid cosplay event in Malaysia, arrest four foreign cosplayers
The best Japanese cosplayers from Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2019【Photos】
Mexico wins World Cosplay Summit 2015 championship 【Videos】
The perfect gift for your cosplaying foodie friends – an anime recipe cookbook
Family: Utah man was cosplaying Samurai Champloo when shot, killed by police
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
10 awesome Tokyo cherry blossom festivals and experiences for this year’s sakura season
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki releases new artworks, still wants to make movies
Studio Ghibli adds new anime tumblers to its cool streetwear brand in Japan
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Dark Souls cosplay photo wins prize worth 100,000 yen
The beautiful official cosplayers of Summer Comiket 2025【Photos】
Comiket 90: Japanese cosplayers bring the heat to opening day of summer event
The Japanese cosplayers and booth ladies from the Anime Japan 2019 convention in Tokyo 【Photos】
Immigration raid at anime convention ends with five Japanese cosplayers being arrested overseas
Luigi’s ‘death stare’ makes it into Japanese Mario Kart 8 commercial