" Cosplay is very unique in Japan. Perhaps the greatest difference between cosplay in Japan and abroad is, until recent years, the lack of stage competition. Performance cosplay is slowly on the increase in Japan, but photography cosplay is much more common. It is the support of magazines such as "Cosmode" and "Layers" that positively reinforces this method. Another unique characteristic of cosplay in Japan is the strong cultural bias against it as being reclusive, anti-social or perverted. This is something that otaku culture on the whole has to deal with in Japan, and does not exist to anywhere near the same extent outside of Japan.
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Maybe the greatest area that sets American cosplay apart from the rest of the world is 'convention culture.' Having a convention center and neigboring hotels reserved well in advance of the event is something that started in the US and does not exist in Japan. Other events around the world copy the successful formula to the extent of using the moniker "con" in their event name as well. It is hard put a measurement on culture, but from events in other countries may seem tame or controlled compared to the United States, where conventions seem to overflow with activity. "
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Maybe the greatest area that sets American cosplay apart from the rest of the world is 'convention culture.' Having a convention center and neigboring hotels reserved well in advance of the event is something that started in the US and does not exist in Japan. Other events around the world copy the successful formula to the extent of using the moniker "con" in their event name as well. It is hard put a measurement on culture, but from events in other countries may seem tame or controlled compared to the United States, where conventions seem to overflow with activity. "
- Edmund W. Hoff (via)
