Phoenix, Arizona - Matsuri - Oh The Costumes!
I expected to see traditional clothing, especially with those involved in shows. I was not ready for the costuming outside of traditional. I have not kept up with what has been happening with the Japanese arts and the youth. or just youth. I saw several people in animal costumes, hood and all (and it was in the high 70s so this wasn't to keep them warm). I finally stopped a young girl in a costume and asked her why people were in different types of costumes. I guess that I implied that she was in a costume. (She is pictured below in the blue and pink dress, walking away). She told me that this was how she dressed on the weekends and that she wasn't wearing a costume, but that she had selected this particular little dress because the fabric had an Asian-type print. She went on to tell me that some may be in costume. I asked her about the animal costumes. "Oh, those are 'fuzzies' (or did she call them Furries) and they just dress like that beca...