Recap: 2.5 Dimensional Seduction Episode 4 - A Look Into Japan's Cosplay Culture

2.5 Dimensional Seduction episode 4 was released this past Friday after a cliffhanger ending in episode 3. Masamune and Ririsa scramble to put together a cosrom, a burnt CD of digital images featuring a certain cosplay model. Ririsa hopes to sell her first cosrom featuring her Lilliel cosplay at a local event over the weekend. Episode 4 isn’t so much about making the actual cosrom, but more about the otaku event that the two try to make sales at. The episode gives us a fairly accurate look into cosplay events in Japan.

The First Event

At the start of 2.5 Dimensional Seduction episode 4, Masamune and Ririsa finish the cosrom after a week of constant work and head to the local cosplay event. From the very beginning of this day, we already see a difference between Japanese and Western cosplay culture, as Ririsa packs her cosplay in a suitcase and wears normal clothes to the event.

In my experience cosplaying in America (and talking to European cosplayers), you can show up at an anime convention in cosplay. In contrast, in Japan, this is prohibited at most events, if not all events. This gives Ririsa the choice if she is ready and comfortable enough to change into her cosplay at the events. Unfortunately, problems arise quickly at the event when the two realize they didn’t make a cover for the cosroms and don’t have any marketing tools such as a banner to hang at the sales table.

Much like in artist alleys at Western anime events, advertising and aesthetics are vital in attracting customers to your table. In 2.5 Dimensional Seduction episode 4, Ririsa and Masamune struggle for hours trying to sell their product to no avail, and Ririsa becomes discouraged as she compares herself to the professional and experienced cosplayers around her.

Masamune passionately convinces Ririsa to change into her Lilliel cosplay, as it will be a helpful way to sell cosroms. Here we see a very accurate portrayal of how cosplay works in Japan as Ririsa makes her way to the women’s changing room. In Japan you use a wide room where you change with everyone else. Japanese cosplayers usually wear camisoles and bloomers in the dressing room to stay as modest as possible, but some cosplays call for a more revealing look.

The other cosplayers in the room help out Ririsa by giving her a wig cap and anything else she might need since she forgot to pack many cosplay essentials. An interesting point in this scene is that the older cosplayers remind Ririsa that she must wear bloomers under her skirt since she is a minor.

I’ve been to cosplay events where you can’t wear skirts without bloomers underneath, and I was checked for them under my skirt by a female staffer before I could leave the dressing room. While Japanese anime characters’ clothing is notorious for being revealing, modesty is important at Japanese cosplay events in comparison to Western events. 2.5 Dimensional Seduction episode 4 shows this well.

The episode ends with Ririsa stepping out to the show floor in her cosplay. We’ll have to wait for next week to see how her cosplay is received and if she can sell any cosroms in the last few moments of the event.

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Watch the episode on HIDIVE
© Yu Hashimoto / Shueisha, Lilysa Production Committee