"Has that time of year come again already?..." Huge Response to Cosplay of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End's Himmel by Nagoya Mayor & Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's Muzan Kibutsuji by Aichi Governor

The official World Cosplay Summit X account updated with cosplay photos featuring Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa dressed as Himmel from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura dressed as Muzan Kibutsuji from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The annual tradition of top government officials showcasing serious cosplays drew a flurry of reactions on social media praising the high quality and expressing how it feels like a sign of the season, creating a massive buzz.

The World Cosplay Summit is one of the world's largest cosplay events, bringing cosplayers from around the globe together in Nagoya. This year, it takes place over three days from July 31 to August 2. Since its launch in 2003, it has drawn many fans from both home and abroad, featuring performances and parades that involve the entire city. The cosplay presented by the governor and mayor during openings and courtesy visits timed with the event has become a famous staple feature that attracts major attention every time.

In the released images, Mayor Hirosawa wears the outfit and blue hair of the Hero Himmel who appears in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, while Governor Omura perfectly pulls off the suit and hat of the arch-nemesis Muzan Kibutsuji who appears in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Realistically recreating the atmosphere from their respective works, the pair's imposing presence makes for a highly impactful photograph.

In response to this post, comments praising the two flooded social media, such as "The mayor's cosplay fits him way too well," "The mayor's high-quality cosplay every year is amazing," and "Governor Omura's Muzan-sama was so hilarious I cried laughing." In addition, many comments enjoyed it as a summer tradition, saying, "Has that time of year come again already?..." and "Looking at this picture makes me realize summer is here."

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is an aftermath fantasy depicting the lives of the hero's party after defeating the Demon King. It follows Frieren, an elven mage who has lived for over a thousand years, as she sets off on a journey "to learn about humans" following the death of her former companion, Himmel. Its unique flow of time and the detailed portrayal of human relationships with the people she meets on her journey with new companions have earned strong support from many readers and viewers.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a hit anime series based on Koyoharu Gotouge's manga of the same title. Set in Taisho-era Japan, it tells the story of Tanjiro, a young boy whose family was slaughtered by demons, who joins the Demon Slayer Corps to turn his sister Nezuko back into a human after she was transformed into a demon, throwing himself into harsh battles alongside his comrades. Its compelling characters, thrilling battle depictions, and poignant drama woven between humans and demons have won support across a wide range of generations, turning it into a societal phenomenon.

(C)Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe/Shogakukan/ "Frieren"Project