Cuba may be one of the world’s least connected countries but that’s not stopping the Japanese subculture of anime and manga graphic novels spreading among its youth who held their third Otaku festival on Sunday (July 24).
Hundreds of “otakus”, or geeky fans, flocked from around Cuba to the event in a Havana theater, defying the sweltering summer heat to roleplay sporting the costumes of their favourite fantasy characters, a practise known as “cosplay”.
Some performed scenes from animation movies on stage, others sang songs in Japanese or did dance choreographies, to the delight of shouting onlookers.
Accessories can’t easily be bought so Otakus make their own costumes, saving up for the materials.
“We don’t have many resources. You have to look for things around you. It took me two months to make this cosplay, which is just made up because there isn’t a series like this,” said participant Sandra Dominguez.
Just as their country as opening more to the world, the festival’s director hopes the Cubans go global with their cosplay.
“We hope some day to reach the level of international cosplay, and why not, to go and compete in other countries as well, and represent our country and win. Why not?” said the director, Enrike Mayo.
Anthropologists say one of the reasons that role-play is so popular in Japan is that it allows people to briefly escape the extreme social control and rigid norms of everyday life.
Cubans also said it offered them an escape and the manga heroes encouraged them to overcome their difficulties.
“The most fun of Cosplay is in the doing it. Seeing what will work. Seeing if you need tape. Seeing what I am missing. That if you have a wig, if you can lend it to me. Cuban cosplay is very very fun,” said participant, Teresa Lyn.
But Otakus face greater challenges pursuing their hobby in Cuba than elsewhere. Internet access is restricted meaning fans can’t easily look up series and mangas on the web.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016
