During my two months in Japan I spent most of my time in Osaka and a few days in Tokyo. I arrived in Japan a few days after the earthquake and tsunami. I was told there was a cosplay festival in the main street of Den Den Town, Osaka. Den Den Town is known as Osaka’s version of Tokyo’s Akihabara. If you want to buy electronics, computers and everything for the otaku enthusiast, this is where you want to go.

The Nipponbashi Street Festa was planned to be a parade of participants dressed in cosplay. Admission is free, however if you would like to use the booths to change into your cosplay outfit there is a charge. I did see some people dressed in cosplay but I couldn’t find the large volume of people. I was stopped by passers by who asked for a photo of me which I obliged.

 Samael Sabre

I really enjoyed exploring the multi leveled buildings filled with books, magazines, figurines, DVDS, computer games and all things anime. I have never seen such a variety of merchandise dedicated to the otaku fan.

I found what I was looking for; a dakimakura pillowcase with a cute, erotic picture of an anime girl. A dakimakura is a large pillow, about twice the length of a standard pillow. Similar to a body pillow. You won’t find many pillowcases with pictures of male anime characters, most if not all have half naked and fully naked anime girls on them.

 Samael Sabre

I noticed quite a few cars lined up in the carpark just behind Sakaisuji, with large anime figures across the sides and front of the car. Here’s me posing in my cosplay outfit in front of these awesome cars.

 Samael Sabre