The event is dedicated to Japan’s Internet video makers, but these in-person cosplayers were who really caught our attention.

The annual Niconico Chokaigi (“Niconico Super Conference”) is an unusual case of Internet culture coming full circle and returning to the offline world. Organized by Niconico, the company behind Japan’s popular Niconico Douga video sharing service, the two-day Chokaigi is a gathering of creators both producing and inspired by online video content.

Anime and otaku-oriented media has always been a robust part of Niconico’s video lineup, and so the Chokaigi is a popular spot on the cosplay circuit, with cosplayers marking it on their calendar along with the twice-a-year Comiket and annual Anime Japan trade show.

So while the rest of Japan was getting into vacation mode (or drunk mode) last Saturday with the start of Japan’s Golden Week vacation period, our cameraman was hard at work on the opening day of the Chokaigi. An expansive cosplay area was set up outside the halls of Chiba’s Makuhari Messe, the hosting venue, where the cosplayers seen here were waiting for us.

▼ It’s a good thing the cosplay area was outdoors, because we’re not sure if the Fate Saber cosplayer would have been able to fit her sword through the door.

Since the Niconico Chokaigi isn’t a strictly anime event, we didn’t spot quite as many brand-new characters. Re: Zero’s Rem remains a popular costuming choice, though, even though it’s been a while since the TV’s series’ finale.

We’d initially thought this was an extra-edgy Cardcaptor Sakura cosplay, but we’ve since been corrected that it’s actually Fate/kaleid liner’s Prisma Illya, accompanied by Kuro from the same series (we must have Cardcaptor Sakura on the brain as we look forward to visiting  the franchise’s new themed cafe in Tokyo).

▼ No event dedicated to Japanese Internet stars is complete without a salute to original virtual idol Hatsune Miku.

And of course, there were plenty of idol outfits too.

This year’s Niconico Chokaigi wrapped up on Sunday, but we suspect we’ll be seeing some of these talented and dedicated cosplayers again at other otaku events in the near future.

Photos ©SoraNews24
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