Costume and cosplay ideas to heat up your school cultural festival

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

At school cultural festivals, there are all kinds of events—exhibitions, food stalls, and even stage performances! Among them, many students probably want to stand out and have fun in free-style outfits, such as stage performances or costume contests.

Since it’s a once-a-year event, you want to make it a memorable day by dressing differently from usual, right? In this article, we’ll introduce recommended ideas for those looking for costumes and outfits for cultural and school festivals.

We’ve picked a wide range, from classic outfits to slightly more elaborate cosplay, so please use it as a reference.

Costume and cosplay ideas to liven up cultural and school festivals (41–50)

Gender-Swap Cafe

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⚠️Fabrication⚠️ For the school festival, Class 2-1 is doing a gender-swapped café! I went and made my fantasy of a long maid outfit a reality.Rintaro Kakunaga cosplay Inarizaki High School cosplay
♬ Boss Bitch – Doja Cat

The contrast from the usual is so much fun! Here are some ideas for a gender-swapped cafe.

When planning a maid café, many of you may be thinking about adding an extra theme.

This gender-swapped cafe concept is perfect for a class like that.

It’s unique to have male students wear long maid dresses to serve customers, while female students wear men’s suits or the boys’ school uniforms to serve.

Visitors are sure to get excited by looks you’d never see in everyday life!

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Anya (SPY×FAMILY)

How about a cosplay costume of Anya, one of the most popular characters from the manga SPY×FAMILY by Tatsuya Endo? Since she’s a small girl, the key is how well you can convey that aspect through the outfit and accessories.

Her basic features include a one-piece, uniform-style outfit, pink hair, and horn-like hair accessories.

She’s also memorable for her distinctive reactions and way of speaking, so focusing not only on the costume but also on her mannerisms will make the cosplay even more complete.

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Uta (ONE PIECE)

How about a costume inspired by Uta, the main character of the theatrical film ONE PIECE FILM RED, based on the nationally beloved manga ONE PIECE? Her red-and-white hair and outfit leave a strong impression and give off a glamorous vibe.

Another distinctive feature is the futuristic feel of her accessories, including her shoes, which creates a striking contrast with the softness of the costume.

Since Ado provides the singing voice, the character carries a powerful image, so conveying strength through her stance and facial expressions would also be important.

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sailor uniform

Many people have probably had the experience of finding another school’s uniform cuter than their own.

Precisely because it’s a school festival, it might be fun to dress up in a longed-for uniform as cosplay.

Wearing an off-the-shelf costume as is is fine, but it also sounds interesting to use a certain school’s uniform as a reference and modify it to get closer to that look.

You could simply highlight a sailor-style uniform, or use a sailor uniform as a base and decorate it with accessories to make it more glamorous—there seem to be many possible directions for the outfit.

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cheongsam (qipao)

Just by wearing a cheongsam, you can add a touch of glamour to any setting.

It’s not only the sexy vibe—it’s also the sense of dynamism it conveys that really matters.

Another hallmark is the wide variety of base colors and embellishments, so the process of finding a design you love can be fun in itself.

It could also be interesting to wear different colors with friends to express a sense of unity.

If you’re not comfortable wearing it on its own, I recommend throwing on a jacket or layering it with a kung fu outfit.

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Mario & Luigi

Costumes of Mario and Luigi—characters who are practically synonymous with Nintendo—will likely resonate across generations.

The outfit is simple: layer blue overalls over red and green clothing, and you’re set once you have the hats.

The key point is that it’s easy to prepare while still clearly conveying the characters.

Because Mario and Luigi are so strongly associated as a pair, wearing these costumes with someone you’re close to can also express the bond between you.

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Lolita

How about creating a glamorous look with Lolita fashion, charmingly adorned with frills and lace? Rooted in images of medieval Europe, princesses, and dolls, this style spread in Harajuku, and its hallmark is a voluminous, flared skirt.

The go-to fabric colors are pink and white, giving an overall soft, gentle impression, color included.

You can also enjoy choosing not just fabric patterns but the types of accessories to incorporate.

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