Wind up Geek’s Cool Japan: Nipponbashi Street Festa 2016

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Every year in Denden Town in Osaka there is held one of the biggest anime-themed events. The streets to Denden are closed to traffic every March 20th from 11am to 5pm to make way for a colourful festival of cosplayers in elaborate costumes, robot performances, live music and more. This year the cosplay looked so good. I have to thank the participants of the Nipponbashi for always striving to make the Festa better. As one former spectator attested “I remember when it was just a bunch of guys dressed as Sentai heroes.”

The cosplayers in this photo appear to be representing characters from the 1988 anime series Mashin Hero Wataru directed by Shūji Iuchi (Crush Gear Turbo). The plot is about a 9-year-old boy named Wataru Ikusabe (戦部 ワタル) who is transported to a magical realm called Soukaizan (創界山) by a dragon. In this realm Wataru befriends the Soukaizan natives. Using his new-found powers to transform a clay sculpture into a somewhat autonomous and small Super Robot, he journeys with his new-found friends to rid the realm of an evil, demonic ruler.

The Festa welcomes visitors from all over the world. But Otaku no Culture would to remind people who plan to visit Osaka (or Japan for that matter) in the future, please use proper ettiquette by learning what is considered rude in Japan, and be respectful not only of the surroundings but of the people you meet. Because the way you conduct yourself will reflect on other visitors in future.

The Nipponbashi Street Festa is held every year on March 20th. For more information, visit the website here.

Source(s): Vintage Anime Fans Facebook group and Renato Rivera Rusca.
Photo Source(s): アミス ケネディ.