» Turning Japanese at Moshi Moshi
Wacky Japanese characters jump into the real world as Moshi Moshi hosts the city’s first Asahi Anime Festival
Moshi Moshi is to play host to one of the most eye-popping and outlandish crazes to have emerged from Japan in recent years when it stages the city’s first ever Asahi Anime Festival from 30 April – 2 May at its restaurant in Bartholomew Square.
A celebration of all things manga and anime, the festival will feature a major live Japanese band line-up, a range of anime merchandise dealers, group sing-a-long karaoke – and a chance to win two free flights to Tokyo from Virgin Atlantic. Japanese street food will be served by Moshi Moshi from stalls around the square.
But the highlight of the festival is sure to be cosplay. Derived from the words ‘costume’ and ‘play’, it involves people dressing up as their favourite manga or gaming characters. Cosplay is where the virtual worlds of Final Fantasy and World of Warcraft come crashing back into the real world – and the effect is dramatic.
“Cosplay is all about showing love for your favourite characters,” says Emily Bastian, co-founder of Grand International Cosplay Ball. “Most cosplayers spend months making their costumes from scratch, not to mention the amount of money and effort put into wigs, contact lenses and make-up! The challenge of transforming yourself and bringing something 2D into the real world is what is so appealing. It’s fun, creative, and social.”
Bleach, Naruto, Sailor Moon, Chobits and Full Metal Alchemist will be just some of the anime personalities likely to be seen at the festival. Others will come as their own outlandish creations. A Cosplay costume contest will take place during the day on Saturday, including one for children.
Karl Jones, one of the owners of newly independent Moshi Moshi Brighton, is excited. “Last year, we invited Cosplayers and the Gothic Lolitas to our Matsuri, but this is the first time we are dedicating a whole weekend to them. It’s going to be quite something,” he promises. He’s in the midst of arranging a group sing-a-long karaoke event: just the very prospect of witnessing tens of Super Marios singing karaoke is making him laugh.
The festival will kick off with a live band concert on Friday at 7pm featuring Natccu, Sunset Drive, Ken Kobayashi and Sputniko! and will continue over the following Saturday and Sunday.
If you like the idea of sharing some sushi with Naruto, then make a date to go to Moshi Moshi in Bartholomew Square. A further festival of more traditional Japanese culture is planned for 28–30 May.
Moshi Moshi, Opticon, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JS.
For more information about the
Asahi Anime Festival visit www.moshibrighton.co.uk,
email info@moshibrighton.co.uk
or phone 01273 719195
