くまフェス KUMA FES

KUMA FES. Is organized and carried out
by a non-profit organization, Grand12.

We are a non-profit organization, Grand 12, established by manga and anime fans in Kumamoto. For our motto, “Make Kumamoto the mecca of manga,” we organize various events and activities that are related to manga and anime. We also support next generation manga authors including YUKARI, one of the Kumamoto’s manga authors who have been attracting public attention. We are hoping to support Kumamoto’s local development by creating tourist attractions that are related to manga culture.

  • History of Our Activities

    • Held the campaign to collect signatures for the
    • invitation of One Piece Theatre Play
    • Held the cosplay street cleaning event
    • Held and participated in various cosplay events
      nvited voice actors for the Kumamoto shopping
      district announcement
    • Held the voice actor events
    • Conducted the presentations on how we can
      contribute to local development through manga
      and anime
    • Held the events for manga fans
    • Establishment of Manga Library
    • Funded for kindergartens
    • Established a relief fund, Mugiwara Kodomo Kikin
    • Have been conducting an annual event, KUMA
      FES. for manga, anime, and pop culture lovers
      since 2012.

活動実績

「くまフェス2017」について

  • About KUMA FES.2017

    • This year, we will hold the 6th KUMA FES. For the first time, we will use Kumamoto
      Castle Ninomaru Park for our event. Although the castle is still recovering from the
      earthquake that hit Kumamoto a year ago, we would like to energize Kumamoto
      people by the power of manga, anime, and pop culture.
    • The KUMA FES. Overview
    • Dates: Saturday December 2 and Sunday December 3.
    • Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
    • Place: Kumamoto Castle Ninomaru Park
    • Anticipated participants: Approximately 50,000 people within the two days
    • Contents
    • Anime song Live band, cosplay performance such as “Utattemita” and “Odottemita.”
      (mainly on the first day)
    • Live talk shows with famous anime song singers and voice actors. (Mainly on the
      second day)
    • “Ita-chari” Grand Prix (at the Kumamoto Castle Jousaien)
    • Cosplay event, “Gura Kosu.”
    • Pubric Relation Booths by various institutions and businesses (on both days)

    開催概要

  • COSPLAY

    You can enjoy your cosplay anywhere
    in the city on the KUMA FES day.
    If you want to participate in the cosplay events,
    you will need to register
    on the day of the event of your choice.

  • ＜Rules to Participate＞

    The grand-rules to enjoy KUMA FES is to respect other’s values and not to disturb others.

    It is expected everyone to have interactions with other people in such a public event. Either you are a cosplay lover or not, to create a fun time, we should support and respect each other.

    • ＜About the Use of the Changing Rooms＞

      You can use the changing rooms that we prepared. Please do not take any pictures or videos in the changing rooms. Please take away your own possessions including garbage. Please do not use nail polish and hair spray inside of the changing rooms or the bathrooms because these will intoxicate the air in the small space. Also, please do not cut hair or your wig’s hair to maintain the space clean.

    • About Cosplay Costumes

      ＜Exposure of your body parts＞

      Although we respect freedom to wear anything one wants, please refrain from extreme exposure of your body parts. For the upper body, shoulder and belly exposure (for example, wearing bustier) are considered as acceptable. For the bottom, shorts are okay as well. Please do not walk with your bare foot to avoid injury. Please wear skin-colored tights or body suit in order to avoid unnecessary skin exposure. You could also wear some outwears such as coats and jackets when you are not taking pictures or when you are using public transportations. Please inquire us if you cannot judge whether or not your costume is acceptable.

    • ＜About the costumes that might disturb public safety＞

      It is prohibited to wear authentic uniforms of police offers, military personal, fire fighters. In addition, it is also prohibited to wear any sorts of school uniforms that are actually used in real schools or that had been used in real schools. It is permitted to wear military motived costumes and carry fake weapons. However, do not point the fake weapons toward other people. It is prohibited to wear any national emblems that give others the impression of wars such as hakenkreuz. Please refrain from using undried paint or fake blood, sticky materials, something that emit strong light, something that smells bad for your costume.

    • ＜Cross-dressing and animal suits＞

      Any cross-dressers and animal suit dressers are welcomed.

      If you have any troubles during the event, feel free to inform us.

    • ＜Swords and other accessories＞

      You can carry fake swords, but if the fake swords are made of metals, they should be shorter than 30cm. Do not brandish and do not leave your swords. Please keep your swords as close as possible to your body.

      Do not pull out your swords or hold any fake weapons at the ready when you are not take pictures especially in the city’s shopping districts and indoor areas.

      Carrying of actual weapons including model guns (air guns) is prohibited even if the model guns have no structure to launch ammunitions.

      Please feel free to inquire about fake weapons and accessories using the inquiry form on the website.

    • ＜During the Event＞

      • Please follow the event staff’s instruction.
      • You are obligated to show your registration card when you are asked to.
      • KUMA FES staffs patrol the “cosplay-able area” that are indicated on the webpage or the event map. The event staffs wear the staff emblems or carry the staff cards. Please feel free to address us.
      • Please follow the same rules that the non-cosplayers follow. Please be mindful that your actions and behaviors will give other non-cosplayers an impression about overall cosplayers, as well as the characters that you like.
      • Use of violent language, talking with unnecessarily loud voice, making unpleasant sounds, other behaviors that annoy other people are prohibited.
      • Please obtain a permission when you want to promote other events.
      • Please be careful not to stain your costumes and other people’s clothing’s when you walk and eat.
      • Do not litter. Please throw your garbage away in the permitted places.
      • Be careful about any accidents or injuries. Regardless of intentional or unintentional troubles, the event staffs or the organization will not take any responsibility over any issues caused by participants.

      • ＜About Media＞

      • You do not obtain any official registrations to take pictures of participants. However, please ask people if you can take pictures of them before you take pictures.
      • Please do not take pictures for a long time because this might put some trouble on the person who is taken picture and might interfere the traffic.
      • Please do not occupy a certain place for a long time in order to take picture. Please be mindful that the public space is used by many other people.
      • Please refrain from taking pictures in the middle of corridors, narrow streets, or stairs because it will prevent smooth traffic of people and vehicles. Especially group pictures take time, so please refrain from taking pictures of big groups in such areas.
      • Please do not enter flower beds or fountains. It is prohibited by the municipality.
      • Please do not enter any places that were not permitted by the city even though the location may be attractive for picture taking.
      • In case of publishing your pictures on the internet, blog, or twitter, please make sure that you ask a permission to those who are in the picture.
      • On the days of the event, local newspapers and TV clues will come to the event. They might ask you to participate in their interviews, but it is not obligated to answer. If you have any troubles with these media clues, please let us know.
      • Secret photographing is a crime. Taking pictures using an unnecessary telescopic lens, or taking pictures from lower angles might be warned and reported by the event staffs. The staffs might take the case to the police depending on the situation.

    • ※Although individuals’ freedom is respected, follow the rules that were mentioned above.

    • After the event

      • Please follow the instruction of the event staff and move quickly after the event.
      • The participants are obligated to show the registration card when they are asked to do so by the staffs.