Interest in Japan persists well after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami

J-FEST (http://www.j-fest.org/program.html), a festival for introducing Russia to the world of contemporary Japanese culture, including its fashion, music, and anime, was held on the 19th and 20th in Moscow and was attended by many youths.

Sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Russia, a highlight of the event was the National Cosplay Tournament, which saw Vitalia and Galina, third-time visitors to the festival, become champions for cosplaying as characters from the popular anime, “Trinity Blood."

Awarded airline tickets to Japan, the two commented with glittering eyes that they didn’t believe Japan was dangerous anymore after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and that they wished to visit Tokyo and Kyoto. They also expressed their appreciation for Russia's support to Japan after the disaster struck. 

The event also featured a concert by KAN, a popular Japanese singer, who set the audience abuzz with excitement when he started to talk in fluent Russian.

Nippop News : Cosplay and J-Pop arrive in Russia