Wonder Festival
Independent modelers show what they can do, even when official rights holders don’t bother to show up for the event.
Summer Wonder Festival returns with a new batch of upcoming figures aimed at otaku hearts.
Japan’s biggest and best figure and model show returns with VTubers, action heroes, and the kind of figure that makes us wish we had an extra two thousand bucks to spend.
Design allows owners to mix and match upper body art, and also has a practical purpose.
Device seeks to fire your voice straight at the bull’s eye in anime fans’ selective attention.
Fans of Love Live! Sunshine!! will no doubt want to get their hands on a pair of Love Live! nippers.
The famous illustration has stepped out from the page and into the world as a fully poseable action figure.
Gen Urobuchi, writer of anime hits Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Fate/Zero, teams up with Taiwanese puppeteers to create something unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Japan loves showing off the reasons why it is the king of the plastic model world. Two months ago we saw some amazing creations at the Amazing Japan Model Expo 2015, and now this month that tradition is continuing with Wonder Festival Summer 2015, an exhibition for artists to show off their sculpted creations.
But there’s something special about Wonder Festival. Whereas other plastic model exhibits focus on scantily clad female figures, Wonder Festival was completely dominated by sculptures of male characters, ranging from the dashing and handsome to the outright seductive.
Curious to see what an exhibit full of these plastic hunks is like? Read on!
Last weekend, we headed out to Chiba Prefecture to attend Wonder Festival, the world’s largest model and garage kit-building convention. Along with all sorts of inanimate representations of animated characters, we also checked out all of the impressive cosplayers who’d gathered from all over Japan for the event.
We already shared our photos of the female costumers, but we remembered to save some room on our memory card for the guys as well, and so we proudly present the male cosplayers of this year’s Summer Wonder Festival.
Last weekend, it was once again time for Japan’s model and garage kit enthusiasts to gather for the summer iteration of Wonder Festival, held at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba Prefecture. But while the event’s primary goal is to showcase the talents of those recreating anime and video game characters in plastic and resin, you’ll also find plenty of fans bringing their favorite heroes and heroines to life in flesh and cloth, as Wonder Festival has also become a major draw for cosplayers.
But would the soaring temperature during this year’s Summer Wonder Festival keep cosplayers in their air-conditioned homes? Not at all, and we figured if they were going to brave the heat, we would too, so we grabbed our camera and headed for the convention.
The latest edition of Japan’s bi-annual Wonder Festival brought out both male and female cosplayers, plus Sailor Moon figurines, which are well-known stalwarts of any good event celebrating anime and the creative arts. But what about the actual handmade models that put the wonder into the festival?
Amateur hobbyists converge at the event to display and sell unique goods, resulting in an array of never-before-seen models and items that can’t be found anywhere else. From ramen kewpie dolls to seductive vegetables, we’ve got photos of the most imaginative and eye-popping goods you’ll see this season.
If you look at most cosplay galleries online, you would think that the hobby is dominated by females. You wouldn’t be wrong, but that doesn’t mean that the male cosplayers should be ignored. Last weekend at Makuhari Messe, costumers of all genders gathered at Winter Wonder Festival 2015. RocketNews24 has already brought you the female cosplayers, but here are the friggin’ cool guys who were also there to strut their stuff.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
7-Eleven Japan now sells bagels…cooked in bamboo steamers
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Which convenience store onigiri rice balls are the most popular? Survey reveals surprising results
Taste-testing Japan’s real-world Dragon Balls and Senzu Beans at Marugame Seimen
Increased tourist numbers in Nara Park are affecting the size of its deer population
Tokyo street sweets: The must-snack treats of Nakano’s Refutei
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Weekly
- Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]- One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
- Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Monthly
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido- Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Yearly
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- Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
- Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Which convenience store onigiri rice balls are the most popular? Survey reveals surprising results
Taste-testing Japan’s real-world Dragon Balls and Senzu Beans at Marugame Seimen
Increased tourist numbers in Nara Park are affecting the size of its deer population
Tokyo street sweets: The must-snack treats of Nakano’s Refutei
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Tumblr artist designs Legend of Zelda movie posters in Studio Ghibli style
Hana Komon: Japan’s beautiful, samurai-style floral birthday crests
Meatless meat buns fill Japanese Internet with joy
Old postcards reveal famous Japanese tourist spots as they appeared 100 years ago
Sushi-inspired wooden building blocks & other stylish, whimsical toys even parents would want!
How to turn your leftover instant ramen broth into delicious chawanmushi Japanese egg custard
Starbucks Japan has a limited-edition candle…that hasn’t sold out yet
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best restaurant in Kobe!”
-
