Cosplay bans in China: foreign characters vetoed

Specific restrictions have also emerged in the world of cosplay. The Chinese convention COMICUP (one of the largest comic book fairs in the country) announced a last-minute change to its rules in December 2023: the event will be held in a “Chinese style only” format, and Japanese anime and manga are explicitly banned. The organizing committee stated that any booth or exhibition that does not comply with the “new Chinese theme” will be removed.

The measure includes banning cosplayers from foreign characters: according to reports on social media, attendees dressed as Japanese characters (or other non-Chinese IPs) could be prevented from entering. This decision has led to massive cancellations by exhibitors and concerns among the fan community. In addition, other related cultural content has also been affected (for example, the Demon Slayer movie had its theatrical release cut short). In short, recent Chinese regulations aim to promote national culture, limiting the participation of cosplayers from foreign franchises and altering the landscape of otaku events in the country.