At every Cosplay event, an increasing number of Muslim women in hijabs are participating as cosplayers. It turns out that being a Muslim woman with a hijab does not hinder one from embodying their favorite anime and game characters.
Cosplay itself is an abbreviation of “costume” and “play,” signifying the activity of individuals role-playing as their favorite characters. Those who engage in cosplay are referred to as cosplayers.
Cosplayers meticulously recreate the costumes and makeup to closely resemble the characters they portray. They also ensure the hairstyles and accessories are identical to the character’s depiction.
Typically, the characters cosplayers embody and emulate originate from anime, manga, and video games, as the activity of cosplay is intrinsically linked to communities passionate about Japanese entertainment and culture.
The Phenomenon of Muslimah Cosplayers
Indonesia, as a predominantly Muslim nation, has fostered a unique phenomenon among cosplayers: the emergence of hijab-wearing cosplayers. Adhering to religious tenets is not an impediment to remaining a creative individual who enjoys self-expression and artistic endeavors.
Currently, a growing number of women who wear hijabs, or hijabis, are engaging in cosplay as their favorite characters without compromising religious norms or modesty. Furthermore, many have joined cosplayer communities, such as the Islamic Otaku Community, which was established in 2014.
Generally, hijab-wearing cosplayers modify character costumes to ensure they remain modest and cover the ‘aurat’ (parts of the body that must be concealed according to Islamic teachings). Examples include using wrist cuffs to cover arms, a ‘ciput’ (under-scarf) to conceal the neck, and wearing socks to prevent the feet from being exposed.
Aina, who is only 15 years old, is embarking on her first cosplay experience. For her debut, the young woman, who has been a fan of the game Genshin Impact since 2020, is dressed as the character Nahida, predominantly in white, green, and brown.
Meanwhile, Risyan, who also cosplays a Genshin Impact character, is more experienced in the world of cosplay, having been involved for approximately two years. This year alone, Risyan has participated in five to six cosplay events.
At the Motion Ime Festival, Risyan cosplayed as the character Sucrose from the game Genshin Impact. However, she admits to having a favorite character she frequently portrays at various cosplay events: Violet from the anime Violet Evergarden.
As hijabis, Aina and Risyan reveal that selecting cosplay costumes for Muslim women who wear hijabs presents unique challenges. Nevertheless, it is now considerably easier to find suitable cosplay attire for Muslim women.
“Honestly, it’s quite difficult to find costumes that aren’t too revealing,” Aina shared during her inaugural cosplay.
“In the beginning, it was tough, like around 2020, it was extremely difficult. But now, there are more options,” Risyan added.
Despite wearing a hijab, Aina and Risyan can still express their creativity and passion as cosplayers. The costumes they wear maintain modesty and adhere to religious guidelines. So, for all you hijabis who are fans of Japanese culture, are you interested in trying cosplay like Aina and Risyan?
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