Cosplay Contest

COSPLAY AT ARIZONA MATSURI

No pre-registration is necessary to participate in the Cosplay Contest at Arizona Matsuri. 

For all festival attendees, we kindly ask that you keep in mind that this is a family friendly event for all to enjoy. We are asking all attendees, who plan to wear a costume to this festival, to keep in mind our primary mission is to celebrate Japanese culture. This is not an event for general cosplay, and we therefore strongly discourage attendees from wearing costumes, cosplays of non-Japanese origin (video game, manga, anime, etc.).

Regardless of whether you participate in the contest or not, we would however like to encourage all festival attendees to respect the tradition of Matsuri and keep your costumes Japanese related.

Please enjoy your time at Arizona Matsuri!

CONTEST RULES & GUIDELINES

There is only enough time for cosplayers to walk onto the stage when announced by the host. Unfortunately, there is not enough time for a skit or music. To enter the contest, you must:

• Go to the tables near the Cultural Stage – there will be visuals on or near the tables that will allow you to recognize where to go.
• Check in any time between 12:00 pm and 12:45 pm both days.
• Any and all props to be used during the contest MUST be peace-tied and approved BEFORE the contest (at the Cultural Arts stage or Info booth)
  • This should be done at the same time as checking in.
  • The zip ties used will be different colors each day; so if you will be using the same prop(s) both days, they must get peace-tied BOTH days.
• Contestants are on a first come, first serve basis until there is no more space on the stage.

The Arizona Matsuri does not tolerate harassment or discrimination. If you feel that you are being harassed, or see someone else being harassed, please locate a Matsuri member, security personnel, or local onsite police officer right away. If you see something, say something!

• Depictions of hate symbols are not allowed and you will be asked to remove them. Failure to comply will result in removal from the Festival.
• Hate Symbols – Any signs or symbols that can be characterized as hate symbols or signs of discrimination may not be displayed. This includes any symbol that is widely accepted as a symbol of oppression, hatred, or violence towards a specific group of people.
• Signs – May not contain hate speech, solicit personal contact, or attempt to provoke arguments, fights, or conflict with the general public, other attendees, staff, or guests.

DRESS CODE

We admire and respect all the hard work that goes into your art, but we also love not being in trouble with the law, our venue, or angry parents of young attendees. So, when it comes to what you wear, we need you to follow the rules listed below. Please don’t make us have to send you home or back to your hotel to change outfits.

• Cosplayers must be able to present reference images of their costumes recreating characters from Japanese anime, manga, games, etc. at any point before the cosplay contest.
  • Original characters will not be permitted;
  • However, art book variations and reinterpretations of existing characters (including gijinka) will be allowed with an accompanying reference.
• Arizona Matsuri abides by state laws for nudity and indecent exposure: A.R.S. §13-1402. All costumes and clothing must fall in a PG rating. Apparel should not depict vulgar or offensive images or text. The Arizona Matsuri is a family oriented Festival. Inappropriate costumes or actions may result in a request from our staff to change aspects of your costume. Failure to do so may result in revocation of your credentials and removal from the event.
  • Coverage – Cosplay and costumes must cover the area of your body that universally acceptable swimwear (bikini or trunks) would cover in all public situations. Cosplay with open and/or exposed backs are permitted.
    • Shirts, shoes, and pants/shorts must be worn at all times. This is both for your safety and in accordance with health code restrictions.
    • Examples of acceptable clothing as long as you are fully covered: sports bras, muscle shirts, spanks, leggings, etc.
• Dance Belts & Underwear – Please cover your bits (including the contours of your bits) and avoid a very awkward conversation with our security team. Dance belts, underwear, and nude body suits are highly recommended for cosplay and costumes that are especially revealing.

  • Inappropriate costumes or actions may result in a request from our staff to change aspects of your costume. Failure to do so may result in revocation of your credentials and removal from the event.

• Shoes – The soles of your feet must be protected by either shoes or adhesive foot coverings. The pavement outside is very hot, and there is always a lot of walking at cons, so be sure to take good care of your feet.

  • Shoes are required to be worn while in festival space. You may remove your shoes for photos if desired, but they must be replaced directly after the photo is taken. Moving around any area of the event space without shoes is not permitted.

  • All attendees must have proper footwear. Bathing suit areas must be covered. Any form of nudity is prohibited.

• Oversized Cosplay – If you have an exceptionally large costume or cosplay, you must have at least one handler to assist you in navigating the event. These are typically cosplay or costumes that involve things such as wings, large pieces that extend beyond your arm’s reach, parts that are difficult to retract, or pieces that might impair your vision. Think of yourself as a titanic leash child – it’s for your safety too!

  • If your costume includes any item that covers or partially covers the face, especially if it is not easily removed, upon request, you may be asked for ID and/or additional information by a committee member, security, or on-site police officer.. Please be sure to keep your ID on you at all times.

  • Helmets, masks, and hoods should not severely limit or impair the wearer’s ability to see. If your costume includes an eyeless hood or other face covering, considering bringing a friend to act as your “handler” and guide you through crowded spaces.

• Sharp Edges – No part of your cosplay or costume should be able to cause injury to someone who accidentally runs into you. Make sure all sharp edges and pointy bits have been capped, taped, or are appropriately dulled!
• Body Paint & Glitter – Is glitter pretty? Yes. Is glitter messy? Also, yes. Is glitter a curse? For the cleanup crew, it most definitely is. Any glitter or glitter spray used on your body, cosplay, or costume must be sealed in order to prevent incidental transfer or excess shedding.

• Official Personnel Uniforms – This town (and venue) ain’t big enough for the two of us. Cosplay or costumes that intentionally impersonate those of local law enforcement, safety personnel, venue personnel, staff, or security are strictly prohibited.

• Things on Wheels – Skateboards, bikes, roller skates, roller blades, and unicycles are allowed in outdoor areas around the venue, but are not permitted at the Festival, this is due to safety reasons. Even if you’re wheeling around outside, you must stop and walk if there is not a clear and open pathway at least 4′ to either side of you.
  • Roller Skates/Blades or other wheeled items such as skateboards and hoverboards may not be brought, worn, or used at the Festival.
• Posing for Photos – If you have an awesome cosplay or costume, you are more than likely going to be asked repeatedly for photos and to pose with others for pictures. When you pose for a photo, you MUST move out of the flow of foot traffic. Find an immediate open area to move to, so other attendees can move freely and you can pose safely! If there is no immediate open area, you must move to a position off to the side and preferably against a wall of some kind. Blocking hallways or walkways is a violation of the fire safety regulations and nobody wants to deal with an angry fire marshal.
• Laws & Regulations – All federal, state, city, and local laws/regulations must be adhered to in addition to the rules listed above. If you can’t wear it on the street or do it in public legally, you can’t wear it at the Arizona Matsuri either.
• Right of Refusal – We reserve the right to refuse or restrict any cosplay or costume for any reason. This means that we may ask you at any time to change out of or put away parts of your cosplay or costume. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s for a good reason!

Failure to comply with this policy could result in your removal from the contest!

DRESS CODE

For all festival attendees, we kindly ask that you keep in mind that this is a family friendly event for all to enjoy. We are asking all attendees, who plan to wear a costume to this festival, to keep in mind our primary mission is to celebrate Japanese culture.

PROPS POLICY

We recognize that costume-related props are sometimes an important part of the costume experience, so our festival has the following props policy for costume-related props in place:

• No firearms or replica firearms that can be confused for real weapons (including airsoft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns) Must be 50% “safety”color and must be visible even when the weapon is sheathed.
• No functioning projectile weapons including, but not limited to:
• Water pistols, silly-string guns, and ping-pong pistols.
• No hard material bladed weapons of any kind are allowed on site, even if sheathed.
• Explosives or chemicals of any kind are not permitted on festival grounds; this includes, but is not limited to:
• Smoke powder, sparklers, and fireworks. Do not bring anything that would annoy another attendee.
• No blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs and nunchaku)
• No hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, wood, fiberglass and glass)
• No sticks attached to signs. All signs must be held by hand and of appropriate size that does not contain any solicitation.
• ALL prop weapons must be non-working and peace-bonded (see below).

Below are lists that expand on what props are allowed and those that are prohibited at the festival. 

Peace Bonding

Peace-bonding is the act of making it clear that your weapon cannot be used (either by a brightly colored tie, or trigger lock) and that your intentions are peaceful. In order to display a costume related prop weapon on your costume, your prop weapon must be peace-bonded; to do so, it must be brought to the Cosplay check-in table next to the Cultural Stage from 10:00 am – 11:00 am

(After contest times Prop Peace Bonding is at the Information Booth)

No Flash Mobs or Street Performances

This is a safety hazard, as our festival quickly becomes crowded, and we need to make sure that those with disabilities are able to easily maneuver and, in the case of an emergency, we can get people to safety.

ALLOWED PROPS & ARMOR

• Lightsabers, wands, and sonic screwdrivers are a-okay!
• Bows that are completely inoperable. Unstrung bows are best, but loosely strung bows are okay too.
• Non-removable arrows in a quiver AND/OR arrows with no tip.
• Foam, plastic, fiberglass, resin, or metal shields with no sharp edges.
• Lightweight plastic bats. Any other accessories to the bat (such as those on Negan’s Lucille or the Demogorgon Killer) should also be made of foam or other lightweight material and incapable of harming others. No real barbed wire or nails, please!
• Armor made of plastic, fiberglass, resin, or metal.
• Any other props & armor made of Plastic, Thermoplastic (Worbla), Urethane Resin, Cardboard, Foam, Foam Rubber, or other lightweight material.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Any firearms or replica firearms that can be confused for real weapons.
• Tasers
• Glass props
• Stone props
• Slingshots
• Brass knuckles
• Real, replica, or simulated explosives, ammunition, chemical weapons of any kind, including but not limited to:
  • Simulated bomb vests
  • Cartoon bombs
  • Bullets
  • Hand grenades
  • Claymore Mines
  • Firecrackers
  • Pepper Spray
  • Mace
  • Powder caps
• Metal or wood swords and other sharp-edged weapons
  • Swords, axes, Wolverine Claws, etc may be permitted as long as they are made out of one of the lightweight approved materials listed in the approved section with NO sharp edges.
• Excessively noisy props including but not limited to:
  • Airhorns
  • Bullhorns
  • Whistles
• Other Prohibited Items
  • Stick on Shoes
  • Wheeled shoes, skates, skateboards, hoverboards
  • RC cars, planes, drones
  • Heavy, unwieldy props
  • Cast-iron skillets

Final decisions on prop weapons and armor will always be at the discretion of the Arizona Matsuri Steering committee member and the Phoenix Police Department. Please keep this in mind as you’re creating your fabulous cosplays. For specific prop questions, please contact Motoki@AZMatsuri.org.

Cosplay Contest Eligibility

• You must check in at the table next to the Cultural stage 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm.
• If you are under the age of 13, you must have your parent or guardian’s permission to enter and you must also be accompanied by your parent or guardian during judging, rehearsal and the contest.
• When you sign up for this contest you agree to read and abide by all rules as posted. Please don’t make us have to do awkward and uncomfortable things.
• We, the AZ Matsuri committee members and corresponding cosplay staff, reserve the right to refuse entry or participation to anyone for any reason. We also reserve the right not to explain it to you if issues arise.

As a reminder to cosplay photographers, photoshoots are prohibited on the matsuri grounds as standing in one place for too long can become a safety hazard. We have a professional photographer who has their own booth.