What is Cosplay? Cosplay is a blend of two words - Costume & Playing. It is an upcoming culture that originated from Japan. People will dress up according to how their favourite characters in games or animations dress. In Japan, there are many events and conventions held for the sole purpose of cosplaying competitions. Some will hae booths that sell local artists' artworks. It is a growing culture in Japan and has found its way to many places in the world, including The United States and Malaysia.