Pesta Literasi Indonesia (Literally translated as Indonesian Literacy Party) is an annual event held by Gramedia to increase public interest in reading. This year, the event was held at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jakarta, from 26 August to 1 September 2024. This event was filled with activities such as discussions, book bazaars, writer meetings, and culinary bazaars.
What is interesting about this event is that while the event is focused on books and literature, the event organizer also holds a cosplay competition. This cosplay competition has 3 judges: Frea Mai (World Cosplay Summit Grand Champion 2016), Lois Arnando (Senior Editor of Elex Media Komputindo), and Driartha Vera (Senior Editor of m&c! Publisher).
The cosplay competition attracted over 20 participants. They went all out in crafting their costumes. Some of the costumes were so detailed that they amazed the judges, from the selection of materials to the accessories used. In addition, the choreography displayed is also quite good.
This competition lasts for one and a half hours, from 1600 to 1730 Western Indonesian Times. This cosplay competition provided a platform for participants to showcase their creativity by embodying various characters, impressing both the audience and judges.
Adding a cosplay competition to a literacy event is a unique step. It brings more awareness and public attention, especially the fans of Japanese pop culture. This competition is not just a chance for anime fans to showcase their hobbies but also acts as a bridge to introduce the world of literacy in a more interactive and entertaining form. By presenting characters from anime, manga, and video games—many of which are adapted from or inspired by written works—the event built a connection between the Japanese pop culture community and the world of books. Thus, Pesta Literasi not only attracted a larger audience but also helped promote literacy, especially among the younger generation who is a part of the Japanese pop culture community.
Also read:
Media Giants Gramedia and Kadokawa Establish a Joint Venture in Indonesia
The Indonesian Anime Times | This article is also available in the Indonesian Language
