by DCist contributor Leigh Bailey
Last weekend, one corner of the D.C. area was taken over by more than 7,000 zealous, costumed individuals. No, it wasn’t a Lady Gaga concert; it was Katsucon 18, a fan convention for anime, manga and Japanese culture enthusiasts.
The convention, which traditionally takes place over President’s Day weekend, has been operating since 1995 and has grown steadily from 500 attendees at the inaugural event. This year was its second at Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center. Entry fees for the weekend ranged from $20 to $60 depending on age and registration date.
We visited Katsucon on Friday evening, a few hours after it opened, walking into the hotel essentially as total outsiders. Visiting National Harbor and the Gaylord can be a surreal experience on a “normal” weekend, but the thousands of costumed fans swarming the hotel and convention center space took the experience to a whole, new level.
The range of costumes was huge and encompassed everything from Renaissance fair fur tails to full-on giant robot reproductions. For women, a twist on the “sexy Halloween” costume was a common look as were Japanese style maid, and Lolita costumes. Sexy school girls abounded, several with a nod to Sailor Moon. Many women sported a gray pallor and candy-corn colored horns in homage to the Homestuck Trolls. Toy rabbits were a popular prop for the ladies and it was unclear whether these bunnies were good or evil. Fans of “My Little Pony” sported lurid, pastel fur boots, rainbow colored manes and tales, along with wings and equine ears.
A few male fans—”bronies”—also donned those fur boots, and we noticed a bit of male and female cross-dressing (or “crossplay”). For the guys, Jack Sparrow and Mario Brothers were popular looks. There were nods to steampunk ranging from top hats and goggles to studded military uniforms and a dash of Dr. Who. Unusual sightings included two malevolent Santas, Jesus Christ and a samurai rabbit.
There were people of all ages but the average looked to be about 18. Katsucon is kid-friendly so there were a few cutely costumed children and a handful of geeky middle schoolers skulking behind parents. Surprising was the large number of African American attendees and a not insignificant wheelchair bound contingent.
The convention ran 24 hours a day from Friday to Sunday afternoon and featured a packed schedule of video screenings, workshops and lectures along with a formal ball on Friday evening and various musical performances throughout. Sunday culminated with a game of live, cosplay chess. There was a full retinue of lectures on contemporary Japanese culture and introductions to the language.
During our brief visit, we stopped by the “Giant Robot Rumble” which took place in a convention room meant for hundreds of people. About 25 audience members were dotted throughout. Organizer and robotech.com co-founder, Steve Yun, selected a panel of “robot expert” judges from the audience, broadening the criteria from expert to “just watching a lot of cartoons is enough” until a panel of five took the stage.
A play-off style bracket was displayed first, followed by slides of each giant robot, with the line-up ranging from Gundam RX-78–a giant robot with “machine guns in his cheeks–to KITT, the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am from Knight Rider. Panel members discussed the merits of each robot and which would win in a fight, until a virtual winner was decided and entered into the bracket.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the formal ball was getting underway. Surprisingly there was a strict dress code, one that was spelled out in over 700 words on the Katsucon website and banned everything from T-shirts, jeans and flip-flops to “large wings… costumes made from vinyl, fishnets or other sheer material… wet liquids on your person such as body paint or fake blood.” Hence those in line looked like a mixture of kids attending prom and those in classier costumes. The dress code was enforced and we witnessed an otherwise nicely dressed fellow denied entry due to his sneakers.
Inside the ballroom, mostly male-female couples (with the inevitable cluster of girls dancing together) moved to tango and other tunes spun by a DJ. The atmosphere was festive with everyone smiling, talking and having a generally good time. Down the hall a small contingent turned out for “Katsucon Karaoke” which consisted of hardcore fans singing cartoon theme songs in Japanese. This was a qualifying event for Sunday’s “Katsucon Idol.”
Throughout the evening, the convention center halls were dotted with small groups sittiing against walls, taking a break from their costumes or just hanging out. As with all events with hardcore fans, especially those who don’t quite fit in with conventional society, there was a general feeling of relief and comfort; of “I found my people.” The official MarioKart Lounge was in a corner of the downstairs corridor and was filled with folks hunched over their 3DS players.
The merchandise hall was another popular destination. About 50 booths sold handmade Steampunk jewelry, cutesy fleece hats and entire elaborate costumes. Every other booth offered manga drawings and sported a sign offering on-the-spot illustration commissions.
Upstairs a workshop entitled “Supernatural Make-up” offered practical advice on how to get an even skin tone with “unnatural colors.” Brittany, a cosplay cosmetics expert, who was dressed as a “crazy cat lady” in a teddy bear T-shirt, teal polyester pants, fanny pack and white tennis shoes, explained that mixing water and oil based make-up is key to getting a realistic look that neither slides off easily nor cracks. She and a volunteer from the audience transformed two other volunteers into gray-hued Homestuck trolls as the audience watched in earnest.
Katsucon attendees quickly made everyone feel welcome. They were friendly and excited to show off their costumes. The convention was professionally organized and offered a breathtaking range of programming, really something for everyone. Rules were carefully defined and enforced to ensure that everyone had a good time. There were multiple events which raised money for charities including the Japan Relief Fund through Anime Aid, the American Cancer Society and the Cherry Tree Maintenance Endowment Fund. Despite the sensory overload we’d undergone, when it was time to get back to our Zipcar and head home, we were sad to go.
