2023 Otaku Smash Fest Cosplay Contest

Registration is now open until all spots are filled!

JUDGING

Participants will compete for awards based on two categories:

PRESENTATION – Stage presence and costume appearance during the walk-on of the contest.

CRAFTSMANSHIP – Quality and accuracy of the costume. Contestants will need to bring a reference photo to leave with the judges. Work-in-progress photos are always recommended.

Awards will be given out for:

  • Judge’s Choice

  • Best in Originality 

  • Best in Show

COMPETITION HOURS

Those registering online must check in to confirm their registration at the Check In table the day of the event. All entries will need to sign off on their pre-registration form at the event or they will not be able to participate. If you register and cannot make it to the event, please let the management know so your spot can be reassigned.

REGISTRATION

**Tickets to the event are not included. You must be either a general or VIP ticket holder in order to compete. **

Registration is Closed

JUDGING & COSPLAY CONTEST 

Will take place on Saturday, September 16th at 6:00pm.

Meet Our Judges

Left: Salt Queen Cosplay; Right: Bex and Red Cosplay

Pauline Herring- Salt Queen Cosplay

Pauline, also known as Salt Queen Cosplay, has been cosplaying for over 10 years. Her specialty in sewing and attention to detail has helped her win various awards from the Workmanship Award (Anime Los Angeles 2017) to the Best in Theme Award (JFG San Diego's Cherry Blossom Festival 2022). Her favorite anime include Gatchaman Crowds, Death Parade, and Michiko & Hatchin. Combining her love of anime and sewing naturally brought her to cosplaying with friends at Balboa Park, so it's come full circle for her to debut as a judge here as well!

Rebecca Eusey- Bex and Red Cosplay

Bex and Red Cosplay is Matt and Rebecca Eusey. Together they have been costuming, designing original characters, and creating reproductions for over 18 years with a focus on community building and inclusion. Rebecca is an award-winning costumer with work recognized by San Diego Comic-Con for Excellence. She won Grand Prize at the 2021 Comic Con Revolution and IronCosplay winner at Colosseum 2018. She has led numerous workshops at steampunk and costume conventions across the southwest and co-founded the SCA branch in Iceland and led the branch in Naples, Italy. She is an active member of the San Diego Steampunk scene, Sci-Fi Coalition, 501st Star Wars costuming club, and Twin Mask LARP.

Thank you to our donors!

COSPLAY CONTEST RULES

PERMISSIONS

By entering the 2023 Otaku Smash Fest Cosplay Contest, I give permission to the Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego (JFG) and its designees to photograph and/or video record my costume and performance and to use these photographs and videos as the convention sees fit. I also attest that I am eligible to compete as per the 2023 Otaku Smash Fest Cosplay Contest rules and that all information on the entry form is true and correct. 

I also hereby acknowledge that I will be asked to sign a copy of this entry form at the 2023 Otaku Smash Night Cosplay Contest check-in at the event.

By submitting this waiver, I acknowledge that I have read and understood the rules and guidelines established and posted by JFG.

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR

  • All participants must pay admission to enter JFG. 

  • All costumes must conform to event, jurisdiction, and state guidelines for public decency. Shoes are required.

  • Profanity and obscene and/or lewd gestures are simply not allowed.

  • Costumes and presentation shall not be used as a political, religious, etc. statement.

  • Surprises are not allowed. Participants shall not jump off the stage.

  • Participants must complete the registration form and sign the waiver to participate.

  • JFG reserves the right to have the final word on all decisions.

GENERAL COSTUME & COSPLAY CONTEST RULES

  • Costumes from both Japanese and western media are allowed. This includes anime, manga, video games, comic books or film adaptations, original characters, and etc. 

  • Costumes larger than a standard door frame require pre-approval. 

  • Only one entry is allowed per person. 

  • Participation includes going before judges during a scheduled time slot as well as walking across the stage during the 2023 Otaku Smash Fest Cosplay Contest.

  • Participants cannot compete wearing a cosplay they previously competed with at past JFG events.

  • Do not wear or use anything that will damage, destroy, or ruin the costume(s) of other attendants or the venue space. 

  • Costumes must be self-contained. No connections to electricity, water, amps, projection, PA’s, etc. will be provided nor available.

  • Primarily store-bought will not be considered.

WEAPONS AND EFFECTS POLICY

Those found to be in violation of these rules will be reprimanded.

  • Live steel is not allowed. This includes real swords, knives, blades, guns, etc. Prop blades must be fake and dull.

  • No real weapons whatsoever, including airsoft guns. Prop weapons must be obviously fake. Prop firearms must have an orange tip with no projectiles loaded. All ranged weapons may not be tightly strung. Ammunition may not be carried onstage.

  • Live projectiles are not allowed. Objects may not be thrown into the audience. 

  • Replicas may not be pointed in the direction of another human being. 

  • Fire, flames, explosives, flash powder, smoke, lasers, etc. are not allowed. Electronic flashes are only permitted with pre-approval.

  • No smoke or vapor of any kind will be allowed.

DEMERITS

If you sign-up to participate in the 2023 Otaku Smash Fest Cosplay Contest and fail to show up or do not notify JFG that you will not be participating at least 24 hours before the Cosplay Contest, you will be banned from participating for 1 year minimum.

QUESTIONS

Contact our Education and Program Coordinator at education@niwa.org.