InsideJapan News Network

The World Cosplay Summit attracted thousands of manga fans when it was held last week, it has been reported.

Cosplay is a trend which sees cartoon-mad Japanese dress up as manga or anime characters from their favourite video games or shows.

It began life in the trendy Harajuku district of Tokyo, which has long been famous for its residents interesting fashion choices, including the Gothic Lolita look.

Reporting from the event, AFP writer Frank Zeller said that the summit "blended the nerdiness of a Star Trek convention with the pop cool of Japan's youth culture".

Talking to the source, India Davis, 23, explained her outfit.

She was dressed as Pudding, a space reporter who featured in Space Channel 5, a Sega game from the 1990s.

Many of those at the event were competing for the titles of top costume role players, with the prize eventually going to two Japanese women who dressed as samurai warriors from the Playstation game Sengoku Basara (Devil Kings), reported the Japan Times.

Written by Kimberley Homer.