Cosplay Matsuri 2023: The Year Ender to the Isekai Adventure!

Cosplay.PH has brought forth their year-ender event for the “Isekai Aventure” series with Cosplay Matsuri (CosMatsu) 2023, held at the SMX Convention Center, Manila, Function Rooms 2-5 last December 28-30, 2023.

Let us look at Setsu-Ani‘s point of view for this three-day jammed-packed event that Cosplay.PH brought us last week.

The event doors open for the three-day event at exactly 10:00 A.M., with them opening the venue to the con-goers at 9:00 A.M. to have the con-goers line up on the second floor of the SMX to avoid the heat outside.

Tons of attractions, booths, and stage events happened during the jammed-packed three-day event, including the infamous “Isekai Truck” the main attraction for all of the Cosplay.PH “Isekai Series” event last year, and CosMatsu‘s notable entrance arch as well as its yearly charm wall where you can put your wish for the upcoming year.

Some of the notable booths for CosMatsuri ’23 include the likes of Aniporium, VOLS Project, District 1 Cosplay Studio, Hubbyte Toy Store, Pizza Hut Gaming PH, and Gamdias PH to name a few. We were also fortunate enough to see our friends from Aniradioplus having their booth over at CosMatsuri found at CC-03 “Isekai: The Anime and Hobby Store”.

Different stage activities were spread out over the three-day event which included the traditional Cosplay Auction, Anisong It! performances, Dokuen Cosplay Contest, and the Doujin Dance Duo.

We also got to see some performances from the Vtuber guests, including PanTheBread and the Vtuber group, DayJobÜ.

Aside from the Vtuber performances we also got to see Touka Kaneko and Anna Sasaki/AnnChan perform onstage and special guest cosplayer BoiledCurry. ???? do cover songs of Hoshimachi Suisei‘s “Stellar Stellar” and “Baka Mitai” from the Like a Dragon series.

Of course, CosMatsu ’23 would not be complete without its Cosplayer Attendees as we spotted some of our local PH cosplayers roaming around the convention hall, the Cosplay Exhibitors found at their respective booths and over at the All-Star Avenue, and CosMatsu ’23 special guest cosplayers, BoiledCurry. ???? and Riiyuukii Cosplay.

Cholo Tolentino, Katiecakey, and ELIJ‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Day 1: Aphelios (Casual), Scáthach (Bunny), and Eren Yaeger

Cholo Tolentino, Katiecakey, and ELIJ‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Day 2: Caelus, Nun OC, and Miguel O’Hara (Spiderman 2099)

Vera Mare Cosplay, NAMI, and YANA ??? ‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Day 1: Hoshino Ruby, Enmusubi no Kami, and Momosuzu Nene

Vera Mare Cosplay, NAMI, and YANA ??? ‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Day 3: Juvia Lockser, Hannya, and Hoshou Marine

LuckyElie, Miho – Cosplay, and Sowon – ?? ‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Day 1: Kurosaki Mea, Golden Darkness, and Yae Miko (Alter)

LuckyElie, Miho – Cosplay, and Sowon – ?? ‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Day 2: Mococo Abyssgard, Fuwawa Abyssgard, and Milim Nava

Aikashi??????‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Days 1-3: Yanfei, March 7th, and Jingliu

Jane Yu Cosplay‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Days 1-3: Nanakusa Nazuna, Topaz, and Yuzuriha Inori

Yumemii‘s cosplay line-up during CosMatsu ’23 Days 1-3: Shenhe (Race Queen), Jingliu, and Sangonomiya Kokomi

BoiledCurry. ????‘s Meet and Greet session during Days 2 and 3 of Cosplay Matsuri 2023

Riiyuukii Cosplay‘s Meet and Greet session during Days 2 and 3 of Cosplay Matsuri 2023

We also got a chance to interview both Gelo Grayson for The Creator’s Lounge and Nagi –  ????? for Cosplay Spotlight, which are both our feature segments, during the final day of CosMatsu ’23. You can check both of our interviews for Gelo Grayson and Nagi –  ????? on our Facebook and YouTube channels to be uploaded soon.

Overall, Cosplay Matsuri 2023 has given its attendees a proper send-off for the “Isekai Adventure” series for both cosplayers and convention goers to look something back to in the years to come.

We at Setsu-Ani are once again grateful to Cosplay.PH to have us as one of their media partners to help cover CosMatsuri ’23 as well as their five events last year: CosCarni ’23, FanFes ’23, ACX ’23, CosMania ’23, and CosMeet ’23. Thank you as well to Cosplay.PH and Cosplay Matsuri for the pictures that were taken during BoiledCurry. ????‘s and Riiyuukii Cosplay‘s respective stage panel segments. You can check the rest of the pictures from CosMatsuri ’23’s Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 Album as well as Setsu Ani‘s Album for all three days of CosMatsu ’23.

Let us look at what Cosplay.PH has in store for us this year as they reveal their event schedule and guest cosplayers for Cosplay Carnival 2024, Xiaoyukiko (Xiaoyu) and Larissa Rochefort. Look forward to more upcoming announcements for CosCarni ’24 over at their social media sites.