Festivals - Japan Expo 2025: Everyday Heroes in Costume – When Cosplayers Steal the Show

By Mulder, Villepinte, Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord, 03 july 2025

At Japan Expo 2025, while it's the official guests and main stage events that dominate the posters, it's truly the cosplaying visitors who steal the spotlight from the moment the doors open. Every aisle of the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center turned into a giant living fresco, animated by passionate fans embodying their favorite characters with a level of care, energy, and generosity that defines the festival’s unique spirit. More than ever this year, it was the cosplayers among the attendees who breathed life into the very soul of Japan Expo.

From the entrance, it's a visual and emotional shock: a hyper-realistic Tanjiro Kamado chats with a Zelda wielding a glowing shield; a radiant Nico Robin strikes a pose next to a Cloud Strife who looks like he just stepped out of a video game. It’s not just a costume showcase – it’s a language. Each cosplayer carries with them a love letter to their favorite universe and shares it freely with a kindness that breaks the norms of most public events. Compliments fly, selfies are spontaneous, and eyes sparkle as much as the tiaras of magical girls.

For many, preparing a cosplay for Japan Expo is nothing short of a life project. Some visitors confessed to spending months crafting their outfits, sometimes with a parent, a friend, or even a group of enthusiasts met online. A mother and daughter duo, dressed as Sailor Mars and Chibi Moon, shared their annual ritual: designing their cosplay together, testing it out at smaller conventions, and then fully embracing the weekend as if they had stepped into their own anime. This shared joy was everywhere—from spontaneous gatherings of Attack on Titan fans chanting “Shinzou wo Sasageyo!” in unison to lines at booths where people exchanged tips on how to craft a prop or choose the right fabric for a flowing cape.

What makes these public cosplayers so endearing is how they inhabit their characters while still sharing sly, knowing smiles with fellow visitors. They’re not here to win contests or hog the limelight—they’re here to resonate together. Just sitting for a few minutes near the Cosplay Village reveals how every costume sets off waves of smiles, encouragement, and photo requests. There's a pure joy in seeing an Inuyasha queuing for a crepe or a stern-faced Levi Ackerman adjusting his wig with intense focus, as if preparing for a final mission.

This year’s edition also gave birth to fresh trends, including an impressive wave of Solo Leveling cosplayers, paying tribute to the hit webtoon. Variations of Sung Jin-Woo could be seen at every turn, sometimes in full armor, sometimes with FX-level LED effects. Hybrid and reimagined cosplays also emerged, such as a steampunk Sailor Moon or a cyberpunk Naruto, proving once again that creativity here knows no bounds. And every time, curious passersby would stop, admire, ask technical questions—as if part of a spontaneous, warm, and respectful global community.

What Japan Expo 2025 reminded us is that cosplayers from the public aren't just a decorative element or visual bonus—they are the beating heart of the event. Their presence makes the experience immersive, human, and deeply joyful. Through their passion, they bring to life the characters we all cherish, but more importantly, they embody the spirit of the festival itself: love, effort, collective imagination, and the precious desire to dream together. So whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned cosplayer, never forget that behind every mask, every wig, every piece of armor, there’s someone who poured their soul into making a dream real. And it’s that shared dream that makes Japan Expo a one-of-a-kind event in the world.

Cosplayers and booth credits:
1 - @Mephine.exe (Belgium)
2 - @Elanorcosplay (France) from the Meet and Magic booth
3 - @Claracos10 (France) with the Cosplayers de France backdrop
4 - @Nuttyblue (France)