Sachiko Kobayashi takes a photo with cosplayers who visited the event.

Ikebukuro, not Shibuya, may have been the most exciting town for Halloween this year.

The “Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest 2023 Powered by dwango” (Ike Halloween) was held for two days from October 28 to 29 at Toshima Ward’s Toshima Midori no Bosai Park (nicknamed “IKE-SUNPARK”) in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. This is in contrast to Shibuya Ward, which enforced traffic restrictions, etc. Toshima Ward promoted Ikehalo, with Toshima Ward Mayor Miyuki Takagai (58) participating in cosplay, and it has grown into one of the largest cosplay events in Japan, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

This year, a record 140,000 Halloween revelers gathered, and on the 28th, Sachiko Kobayashi (69), who became the 10th anniversary ambassador, appeared in the parade as Kibutsuji Musan, the “rus-boss” of the anime “Blade of Oni no Kai”. The audience was excited by her impressive power, saying, “Her aura is too bad! （The audience was also excited. Kobayashi also got into the groove at the press conference, opening his speech with a laugh, “He’s the rasbos! Kobayashi was in high spirits as he opened the press conference by saying, “I’m the last boss!

I think everyone has a desire to transform themselves. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more enjoyable performance. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, both the cosplayers and the audience. Above all, everyone was obeying the rules and had good manners. I think it’s a really good event,” said Kobayashi.

As Kobayashi said, the age range of participants was wide, including junior high and high school students, children, and the elderly, and there was a healthy atmosphere in the venue. The atmosphere at the event was healthy and wholesome. This is probably evidence of the good public safety.

Yutaka Kiyatake of Golden Bomber also participated as part of a project for his YouTube channel, and was laughing on stage.

Some of the cosplayers spent tens or hundreds of thousands of yen to prepare their costumes.

I was particular about the color contacts because the character has distinctive eyes, and I bought them for 7,000 yen on the Internet,” said Nyankichi, who dressed up as Makima from the anime “Chainsaw Man.
The costume cost 110,000 yen at the time. I bought it on an overseas website, but I’m glad I bought it before the yen depreciated” (a male office worker who dressed up as Darth Vader from the movie “Star Wars”).
The custom-made “Dragon Armor” he ordered from an acquaintance of the creator cost 70,000 yen. I spent a total of 130,000 yen for the costume,” said Liliy Elven, who participated in her original cosplay.

Professor Sangenko, who was dressed as the goddess Athena from the anime “Saint Seiya,” said, “Everyone’s costumes and props are getting better and better every year. I can’t lose to them.

Cosplay can also be a job if you put your mind to it. Natsuhaha, who dressed up as the first plane from the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” introduced an unexpected job opportunity: “I cosplayed as the first plane in Neon Genesis Evangelion.

A pachinko parlor asked me to play Eva’s pachislot game while dressed as the first plane. I participated in a contest at last year’s Ikehalo, and I was on the main stage, and I guess I became well-known, so the number of requests for cosplay work increased.

Like makes like. The next breakout cosplayers may be born in Ikebukuro.