Cosplay

You may see these people and think of them as strange. They're avid Japanese fans of one of my favorite games of all time, Final Fantasy. They are in what the Japanese call cosplay.

In Japan video games are HUGE. They are a lot more than mindless delusions to people in that culture, they are actually an intregal part of their society. Fans can often be found, just like some Star Trek fans, dressing up in authentic garb of their favorite characters. They go to conventions. They act out favorite scenes. It is very interesting to watch actually.

Some may view fandom as a lonely diversion to escape reality, or even as idolatry. I would argue however that fandom is actually very healthy because it fosters community and friendship through a common bond. Cosplay events foster playfullness long lost in Japanese adults and seek to connect people with one another; people who would have otherwise never talked to each other. And in a culture with the highest suicide/depression rate in the world (Japan) I hardly think that is such a bad thing. That's just my opinion though. . .