Whoa! The Cosplay month of December starts off with a bang with Swordplay: A Rurouni Kenshin Cosplay Competition. Held last December 2 at the third level of SM North Edsa, the venue was literally filled to capacity with cosplayers and the curious alike. Sponsored by the University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts (UP AME), an org that has been at the forefront of Japanese popular culture in the Philippines since I was last there in the ’90s, the event was held to celebrate the screening of the Rurouni Kenshin live-action film. Considering the local screening was almost scrapped, I suppose a big event to just be grateful was fitting.
I got to watch the English version of the anime when I was a wee lad on Channel 23 and fell in love with it. No surprise lots of Gen X-ers will be at each other throats to grab tickets to watch the movie, with tears in their eyes and nostalgia in their throats. So an event to bring all this craziness together is something one should definitely not miss. And what, I dare ask, is missing?
ME? Oh why ME? I wasn’t even in the country then. I was spreading fear and havoc in Hong Kong as I was cosplaying by my lonesome (please see an earlier post, Hong Kong Style Cosplay). But I was still partly fortunate because our star Cosplay Correspondent Tobi-kun was there in the front lines to cover the event and even participate in it. He swears he heard my screams of envy from way out in Hong Kong. And he was right: I am envious. He reports that the third floor of SM North Edsa was overflowing with people. Various contests were happening all day, like fan art competitions, quiz shows and raffles. Lots of great prizes were given away, which include exclusive tickets to the movie, collectibles and other free stuff from sponsors.
But of course, all that really matters to this site is the cosplay competition. It’s great of UP AME to have two categories: one category for the Rurouni Kenshin themed cosplay and one category for everyone else who wants to cosplay. That makes for a swell time as more people can have fun and join in the action. And unlike other organizers who treat participants like yesterday’s newspaper, UP AME showed its appreciation to cosplayers by giving ALL of them free tickets to the movie, an act I find commendable.
Tobi-kun sure enjoyed himself and got to rub elbows with some really great cosplayers. Tobi-kun was quite popular with the crowd too, so make sure you “like” and comment on this post, okay? Why? Because we cannot afford to pay him yet (we cannot afford to pay anyone yet). So your cheers will mean a lot to him.
Photos below courtesy of Tobi-kun and his friend Max. Enjoy.
That’s all the time we have left for not. Many thanks to Tobi-kun, Max and Tobi-kuns new cosplay buddies. Hope to catch you all in the next cosplay gig.
And for the readers, thanks for dropping by.
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