“IkeHallow 2025” First Appearance: Miyata Toshiya’s “Too 2.5D” Cosplay Becomes a Hot Topic! “Aaaahhh, he’s so cool!!!”, “The prince is too beautiful!”

The 12th annual Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes 2025 Powered by dwango, a massive Halloween event for cosplayers, was held over three days from October 24 to 26, 2025. This year saw a significant increase in international visitors enjoying Japan’s vibrant cosplay culture, drawing a grand total of 161,000 people to Ikebukuro.

Ikebukuro Halloween Night and Daytime Festivities

The event kicked off on October 24 with “Ikebukuro Halloween Night,” transforming Sunshine City into a vibrant hub from evening until late night. Cosplayers and photographers enthusiastically participated in photo sessions and social gatherings, skillfully utilizing the urban nightscape as a backdrop. A brand-new underground parking lot photo venue also proved immensely popular, bustling with numerous attendees.

On October 25 and 26, the main festivities began at 10 AM, with cosplayers from all corners of Japan converging on designated photo areas such as Naka-Ikebukuro Park, Sunshine City, Ike-Sun Park, and Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park, all spread across the expansive east exit area of Ikebukuro.

Special Ceremony and Grand Parade

During the “Ikebukuro Halloween Special Ceremony” held on the 25th, an impressive lineup of guests appeared in popular character cosplays. These included Toyoshima Kuchou Takaki Miyuki, Dwango Torishimariyaku Yokozawa Daisuke, Animate Holdings Senmu Torishimariyaku Niwa Yasuhiro, and Sunshine City Daihyou Torishimariyaku Shachou Waki Emi.

Following the ceremony, the much-anticipated parade, a major highlight featuring approximately 400 cosplayers, captivated the crowds. Accompanied by the spirited live performance of a marching band, the cosplayers paraded from Sunshine 60 Dori to Hareza Ikebukuro. Despite the unfortunate rain, the breathtaking spectacle, which vividly adorned the streets of Ikebukuro, drew enthusiastic cheers from the many spectators lining both sides of the route.

Engaging Stage Events and Festive Food

The main stage at Naka-Ikebukuro Park was a hub of entertainment, hosting a diverse array of events designed for all ages. These included the “Nico Nico Cosplection,” where participants proudly showcased their elaborate cosplays, “Halloween with Parents and Children,” and “Welcome New Cosplayers!,” a heartwarming segment featuring married couples who found love through their shared passion for cosplay. It was a joy to see many children’s faces light up as they spotted their favorite characters.

Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park introduced a delightful new addition to the event: the “Ikebukuro Halloween Food Fes.” This lively area buzzed with visitors and cosplayers indulging in a variety of Halloween-themed treats, from spooky churros to monster lattes, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Growing International Appeal

Furthermore, the event experienced a remarkable increase in international visitors this year, surpassing previous figures, with a particularly notable rise in attendees participating as photographers. Many were observed actively documenting and reveling in Japan’s unique cosplay culture. Additionally, popular Japanese cultural experiences like jinrikisha (rickshaw) rides and matcha drinks were also enjoyed, further highlighting the event’s burgeoning appeal as a truly international and culturally rich celebration.

Kis-My-Ft2’s Miyata Toshiya Makes a Grand Appearance!

One of the most anticipated highlights was undoubtedly the appearance of Kis-My-Ft2’s Miyata Toshiya on the 25th. Miyata-san first graced the special stage for the “Ikebukuro Halloween Special Ceremony,” drawing a massive, enthusiastic crowd despite the less-than-ideal rainy weather.

Even before the ceremony officially commenced, “hime” (princesses), a term of endearment for his devoted fans, watching the live broadcast were buzzing with excitement, commenting things like “I’m so jealous of the hime on-site!”, “Can’t wait for Miyata-kun!”, and “Hime without umbrellas, don’t catch a cold!”. As Miyata-san made his spectacular entrance as a special guest, exclaiming a cheerful “Happy Halloween!”, the screen instantly exploded with comments such as “So cool!!!”, “Nikki is amazing!!!!”, and a continuous stream of “88888888” (Japanese internet slang for applause or cheers).

It was revealed that Miyata-san has actually been a long-time admirer of this event, eagerly checking out the venue’s happenings via social media every year. For his much-anticipated appearance, he wore the impressive cosplay of an original character, a costume he previously debuted on the cover of the October issue of “COSPLAY MODE” magazine.

This distinctive original character was brought to life by meticulously combining features suggested by fans who responded to Miyata-san’s question on his X (formerly Twitter) account: “What kind of character cosplay would you like to see?”. When asked about his future cosplay aspirations, he excitedly mentioned characters from Final Fantasy and Kurapika from HUNTER x HUNTER, as well as expressing a desire to cosplay characters he himself has voiced. As he elegantly walked the runway, the screen was once again overwhelmed with ecstatic shouts like “Aaaahhh, so cool!!!”, “The prince is too beautiful!”, and “His posing is incredibly alluring!”. Following his stage appearance, Miyata-san surprised everyone by also joining the parade through the streets, walking alongside fellow cosplayers in their imaginative costumes and receiving a wave of enthusiastic cheers from the delighted spectators.

Miyata-san also made an appearance at the “Nico Nico Cosplection” stage event. This popular segment offers lucky lottery winners the thrilling opportunity to step onto the stage and become the star. As overjoyed cosplayers, exclaiming “I can’t believe I won!”, strutted down the runway, Miyata-san made his dramatic entrance as the final participant.

When the MC teasingly announced, “What?! Could it be *that* Miyata-san??”, he made a graceful entrance onto the stage, once again showcasing his stunning original character cosplay from “COSPLAY MODE.” The screen instantly exploded with a cascade of adoring comments: “Kyaaaaah!!!!”, “Sexy!”, “Wonderful!”, and “He’s literally a god!”.

After Miyata-san completed his runway walk, the venue erupted in a thunderous round of applause. Earlier, a cosplayer meticulously dressed as Kochou Shinobu from the popular anime Kimetsu no Yaiba had also walked the runway. Miyata-san candidly confessed, “The usual Miyata you’d imagine would probably be exclaiming ‘Oh, it’s Kochou Shinobu-san!!’ after seeing the cosplay, but today I’m holding it in tightly…”.

When the MC asked for his thoughts, Miyata-san passionately shared, “Cosplay is incredibly fun, and I genuinely believe it should become a foundational main culture of Japan. That’s precisely why I want to help champion and elevate it alongside everyone.” When probed about his feelings regarding walking the runway, he swiftly and good-naturedly retorted, “That was embarrassing, you know!”

The conversation then naturally shifted to Miyata-san’s impressive body-building regimen. True to his playful declaration during a past live performance about training his abs to be “6LDK” (humorously implying a perfectly sculpted six-pack), he once again graced the stage with a truly magnificent physique. Viewers enthusiastically chimed in with comments like “6LDK is the absolute best!” and “I want to move into that 6LDK!”, fueling the excitement. When a cosplayer from the audience complimented him, saying, “Your cosplay suits you incredibly well, I’d love to see you try many more characters!”, Miyata-san responded with infectious energy, “Then let’s do it!”.

Furthermore, when presented with the compliment, “You’re so utterly beautiful and enchantingly alluring…”, he humbly replied, “Please, don’t hesitate to tell me if there’s anything I could do better or differently!”, demonstrating his unwavering enthusiasm and open-mindedness for future cosplay endeavors. When the MC aptly described his aesthetic as “Miyata-kun has a 2.5D (two-and-a-half dimensional) style, doesn’t he?”, the live stream was instantly flooded with comments such as “Miyata-kun’s style is impossibly handsome!” and “His face is unbelievably small!!!”. As he gracefully posed and took commemorative photos with other excited event participants, countless cameras from the crowd were aimed his way.

During the emotional closing, when asked for his reflections on his very first Ikebukuro Halloween, Miyata-san offered a heartfelt comment: “Even amidst the cold weather, the sheer passion and spirit of embodying a character you love is truly wonderful. I deeply felt that today.”

Full Comments Below

Miyata Toshiya

Participating in Ikebukuro Halloween for the very first time was an absolutely incredible experience! It was so much fun, and I could genuinely feel everyone’s profound love for their characters. It has inspired me to express my own deep affection for anime, games, and manga even more! I want to cosplay again sooooo much!!

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes 2025 Powered by dwango
Dates and Times:
October 24 (Friday) – 26 (Sunday), 2025
└ October 24 (Friday): 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM (Ikebukuro Halloween Night)
└ October 25 (Saturday) & 26 (Sunday): 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM on both days
Venue: Ikebukuro Area
Organizer: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes Executive Committee
Co-organizers: Toyoshima Ward / Toyoshima Ward Shopping District Federation / Sunshine City
Support: Toyoshima Ward Tourism Association / Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toyoshima Branch
Operations & Production: Animate Co., Ltd. / Dwango Co., Ltd. / Hacosta Co., Ltd.
Sponsors:
【Gold Sponsor】 Zootopia 2
【Silver Sponsors】 Canon Marketing Japan Inc. / We Are FLAI / Proxima Beta Pte. Ltd / Wuthering Waves / DAIICHIKOSHO Co., Ltd. / Kakaku.com, Inc. / Vantan Inc.
【Cloak Sponsors】 Zen-Noh Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd. / Morinaga & Co., Ltd. / Nichiban Co., Ltd.
【Sponsors】 Kadokawa Dwango Academy / Uruma Halloween Cosplay Fes 2025
Cooperation: acosta! / COSPLAY MODE / World Cosplay Summit / Vantan Cosplay Club / Ikebukuro Inbound Promotion Cooperation Association / Hareza Ikebukuro Area Management General Incorporated Association / Cospa Co., Ltd. / Nico Nico

《Nakase Koutarou》

_

Source