00:00There is a curious phenomenon in the otaku scene.
00:03More and more men are dressing up as female characters to the point that
00:07it's almost impossible to tell their boys.
00:10In Japan, this is called otokinoko, man-lady.
00:14That is, boys with feminine expressions or who dress directly as women.
00:18As Vice Magazine explains, otokinoko are neither gay nor transvestites.
00:24They're simply heterosexual boys who love to dress up as beautiful young girls.
00:30This subculture has grown so much that international media outlets have
00:33interviewed otokinoko cosplayers, noting comments such as,
00:37how cute, they must be boys when they see them.
00:41The term crossplay comes from cosplay cross-dressing.
00:45The anime-slash-manga world is full of very striking female characters,
00:49and some boys wear makeup and dress up to play those roles.
00:53According to Wikipedia, male-to-female crossplayers, men dressed as female characters,
00:59are especially popular outside Japan, where classic series such as Sailor Moon
01:04cause humorous effects, with boys cosplaying as magical girls.
01:08This phenomenon is not exclusive to Japan.
01:12For example, in the West, there are communities of trap or femboy cosplayers,
01:17boys dressed up in anime glamour.
01:20Kotaku points out that the otokinoko genre has even been integrated into video games.
01:25For example, Bridget from Guilty Gear is a male character who dresses as a nun.
01:31This taste for male characters who look like girls encourages many boys to imitate them with real cosplay.
01:38Minato-san Japan
01:39This 30-year-old office worker went viral by showing off his transformation from boy to anime girl.
01:46He learned makeup techniques, wigs, silicone prosthetics, and even digital editing to look like an anime heroine.
01:54His before-slash after fooled thousands.
01:57It's no joke that it's impossible to guess his real gender when you see him.
02:02A collage with his natural face and his female alter ego got over 100,000 likes on Twitter.
02:08Minato-san used tape to change the shape of his face, went to a beauty salon in Akihabara,
02:14all to achieve a perfect cosplay that left many speechless.
02:18Himini-ai, Japan
02:20Himini-ai is a Japanese influencer who literally gained fame by pretending to be an anime girl.
02:26He dresses up as a kawaii schoolgirl, poses coquettishly,
02:30and then records a video revealing that he actually has a deep male voice.
02:34The press reports that his talent for fooling everyone with his appearance has earned him thousands of followers.
02:40As Oddity Central, quoted by Jacarana FM, points out,
02:45There are many boys dressed as women in Japan, but Himini-ai uses this talent to create funny comedy content.
02:52His favorite joke, approaching real girls and telling them he's a man.
02:57The contrast between his anime girl look and his hoarse voice generates viral material.
03:03Otokinoko scene in Taiwan.
03:05It's not all happening in Japan.
03:07Taiwan also has a vibrant Otokinoko community.
03:09Two Taiwanese cosplayers interviewed by local media confessed that cross-dressing is just a hobby,
03:16but the reaction of others is often,
03:18They're so cute, that's why they're boys.
03:21They're so feminine that people literally assume the opposite.
03:25This case illustrates that the phenomenon is widespread.
03:28Straight guys who enjoy the aesthetics and empathy of female characters.
03:33Mixed couples, cross-dressing guy plus original girl, have become common at conventions, adding to the confusion of the public.
03:41As with any online phenomenon, gruesome stories have emerged.
03:46There is no official source for this rumor, but it circulates in forums.
03:50It is said that there were cosplayers who actually uploaded photos of other girls saying,
03:56Look at my cosplay to fake cross-play.
03:59Although it seems like a fairy tale, it reflects the obsession with likes.
04:03Some will go to any lengths.
04:05With or without memes, these tricks fuel the urban legend that even a simple photo can deceive you.
04:12Be careful, because many TikTok videos of hashtag fanboy hashtag cross-play show makeup so perfect that it's scary.
04:20Cross-gender cosplay continues to grow.
04:23In American Europe, there are plenty of videos of boys cosplaying as Powerpuff Girls, Sailor Moon, or other heroines just for fun or humor.
04:32Halloween contests with reverse cosplays are not uncommon.
04:35The News Lens website notes that the Ota Kinoko subculture adopted cosplay as something natural.
04:42Just as the onagata, kabuki actors of yesteryear continue to play women, today's male cosplayers bring the concept to otaku events.
04:52The cosplayers mentioned reveal their secrets.
04:54Good makeup, a top-quality wig, a well-styled fringe hides the forehead, girdles, or silicone padding, and even retouching apps.
05:03Many spend hours creating a faithful female version of the character.
05:08The result is amazing.
05:10Tutorials for cross-play makeup and gender-bend cosplay sets are sold online.
05:15Most find a visual deception fun.
05:18As Hemeni-Eye humorously said,
05:20Wearing women's clothing is the most masculine game there is.
05:24Don't even think about bringing up the moral issue.
05:26Here, the goal is to laugh and admire the dedication.
05:30At otaku gatherings, these guys are usually greeted with admiration.
05:35In fact, hearing him chat with friends in a normal voice is the recurring joke that no one expected.
05:41In short, Ota Kinoko cosplayers are a spectacle in themselves.
05:46The combination of expert makeup, passion for anime, and acting talent creates hilarious,
05:52and sometimes confusing, moments at conventions and on social media.
05:56As Kotaku points out in describing this trend,
06:00Ota Kinoko combined cross-dressing with cosplay to create life-size dolls that Mondo girls would envy.
06:06No matter how unbelievable it seems, it's real and contagious.
06:11So now you know.
06:13Next time you see an anime heroine, take a good look before you respond.
06:17She may actually be a guy in such impeccable cosplay that even you won't notice.
06:22Next time you see an anime heroine, take a good look before you factions.
06:29No matter how awesome you generate, you can see it,
06:36or you can see it in your image.
06:39What a You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You're You.
06:40In one of my dearautholes you live every Monday in your kampasitzle.
06:42Let's do it, even if we're waiting for you.
06:44It's a reporting time that you're mating this pledge.
06:46And if you don't grab przeci-æ, you're up to see this speaker on the rise of our blown PPE,
06:47I do know how do you continue to respect your kind,
06:49but what for you'll notice.
06:50It's all yours.
06:50Then we'll notice.
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