04:14Crafters and cosplayers gathered at the Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre for the Tokyo Mask Festival to demonstrate their unique accessories and costumes.
Footage features the crafters demonstrating their hand-made masks and hats with a wide range of designs including animals, screen characters and even brains. Some attendees can be seen wearing bright costumes and unusual masks.
The organiser and mask store owner Shuhei Okawara said that the event aims to help people to 'overcome their fears,' 'hide their faces' and 'have multiple identities.' He also highlighted that the festival is a place to 'discover new things' and 'create your own original identity from scratch.'
"In the first place, it is very difficult in Japan to go outside wearing a mask. Even in such a free country like Japan, it is very difficult. Even at other cosplay events. There are many places that prohibit people from hiding their faces. This is because many people are a bit surprised and scared, and feel afraid when they see faces covered by masks," he added.
One of the attendees Chiharu shared that wearing a mask makes her feel like a 'different person,' adding that it gives her a 'taste of the extraordinary.'
"I have always had a strong desire for transformation. By experiencing the extraordinary you can relieve your daily stress. That's why, and I especially love professional wrestling," said another attendee dressed in the costume of a wrestler.
According to the official website, the exhibition is the largest trade show organised for mask lovers and crafters in Japan. The exhibition took place on Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00 local time (3:00 – 8:00 GMT) at the Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre.
The festival aims to promote mask culture which has grown increasingly popular in Japan among cosplayers and artists, the website stated.
I wear the mask, it does not wear me! Crafters showcase bespoke accessories at Tokyo Mask Festival
Crafters and cosplayers gathered at the Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre for the Tokyo Mask Festival to demonstrate their unique accessories and costumes.
Footage features the crafters demonstrating their hand-made masks and hats with a wide range of designs including animals, screen characters and even brains. Some attendees can be seen wearing bright costumes and unusual masks.
The organiser and mask store owner Shuhei Okawara said that the event aims to help people to 'overcome their fears,' 'hide their faces' and 'have multiple identities.' He also highlighted that the festival is a place to 'discover new things' and 'create your own original identity from scratch.'
"In the first place, it is very difficult in Japan to go outside wearing a mask. Even in such a free country like Japan, it is very difficult. Even at other cosplay events. There are many places that prohibit people from hiding their faces. This is because many people are a bit surprised and scared, and feel afraid when they see faces covered by masks," he added.
One of the attendees Chiharu shared that wearing a mask makes her feel like a 'different person,' adding that it gives her a 'taste of the extraordinary.'
"I have always had a strong desire for transformation. By experiencing the extraordinary you can relieve your daily stress. That's why, and I especially love professional wrestling," said another attendee dressed in the costume of a wrestler.
According to the official website, the exhibition is the largest trade show organised for mask lovers and crafters in Japan. The exhibition took place on Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00 local time (3:00 – 8:00 GMT) at the Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre.
The festival aims to promote mask culture which has grown increasingly popular in Japan among cosplayers and artists, the website stated.
Crafters and cosplayers gathered at the Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre for the Tokyo Mask Festival to demonstrate their unique accessories and costumes.
Footage features the crafters demonstrating their hand-made masks and hats with a wide range of designs including animals, screen characters and even brains. Some attendees can be seen wearing bright costumes and unusual masks.
The organiser and mask store owner Shuhei Okawara said that the event aims to help people to 'overcome their fears,' 'hide their faces' and 'have multiple identities.' He also highlighted that the festival is a place to 'discover new things' and 'create your own original identity from scratch.'
"In the first place, it is very difficult in Japan to go outside wearing a mask. Even in such a free country like Japan, it is very difficult. Even at other cosplay events. There are many places that prohibit people from hiding their faces. This is because many people are a bit surprised and scared, and feel afraid when they see faces covered by masks," he added.
One of the attendees Chiharu shared that wearing a mask makes her feel like a 'different person,' adding that it gives her a 'taste of the extraordinary.'
"I have always had a strong desire for transformation. By experiencing the extraordinary you can relieve your daily stress. That's why, and I especially love professional wrestling," said another attendee dressed in the costume of a wrestler.
According to the official website, the exhibition is the largest trade show organised for mask lovers and crafters in Japan. The exhibition took place on Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00 local time (3:00 – 8:00 GMT) at the Metropolitan Industrial Trade Centre.
The festival aims to promote mask culture which has grown increasingly popular in Japan among cosplayers and artists, the website stated.