What is this KOSUPURE thing?

By Mai ONODA

Kosupure is the Japanese word made from combining "costume" and "play". It is about imitating animation characters and bands. It seems very showy and distinct. It's like wearing a costume at Halloween, except it isn't Halloween. I think everyone who does kosupure wants to be unique. Kosupure is nice but for me, it's a little scary. Maybe other people who don't do kosupure think so too.

Third year student Marika Kamina, 17, started kosupure whe she was in the 1st year of high school. Marika said: "I wanted
to be different so I started kosupure."

Normally,people who do kosupure wear it when they go out with a friend or go to a concert. Their clothes are usually hand-made. I asked Marika why she didn't buy her clothes. She said that the reason is because the clothes are too expensive and they want to have original clothes.

Some kosupure fans who imitate bands have nicknames, for example, Dir en gray's fans are called "Toriko". Marika is a "Toriko".

I asked Marika who her favorite kosupure person was and she said it is lead singer, Kyou, from the band 'Dir en grey'. She said, the reason why is because his fashion is individual.

I think Marika is an individual, like Kyou, I'm sure she will probably she will follow kosupure forever!