Suzumiya Haruki no Seitenkan

23Mar/0821

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Oh man, even though I've been keeping tabs on the craze, little did I know that it would escalate to such feverish heights. From a few pieces of artwork parodying the original show, this gender-bending insanity has transformed into a full fledged rewriting project that has found its home in Baka-Tsuki, well known for translating light novels, among other things. Also in an unprecedented might of fandom, cosplay of the gender reversed cast has finally emerged, in the unlikeliest of places.

In a Haruhi festival event organized by Kadokawa Taiwan in Hong Kong, a number of fans were spotted dressing up accordingly to the respective characters of the parody version. And boy, was I amazed:

Kyonko

Haruki

Some Kyonko x Itsuko. OHMYGODYES!!11

Smiling Yuuki? Syntax error detected.

Group shot with Mitsuuru included ( ´∀`)

The gang doing Caramelldansen, with the PS2 version of Haruhi thrown into the mix.

Fuck yes, you are the best cosplay group ever! Sure enough, this bunch won the Best Creative Group award, so kudos to them! Below is a video of them doing the Hare Hare Yukai dance, and despite the obvious fact it's really dated by now, it's great to see the "new" cast perform it.

I have nothing but pure admiration for these visionary fans, so to speak, and it's quite a shame that I've yet to come across Japanese cosplayers with their take on the phenomenon, though in retrospect it was the Eleven's fanaticism with the Haruhi series even long after it had ended that led to all this.

A huge thanks to Rikimtasu and Kinny Riddle of the Animesuki forums for the images and video, I couldn't help but make a post on this the moment I was informed on it by the project leader of the genderbending rewriting project currently taking place in Animesuki right now(Arigato RmX!) The post that inspired this article here. More images and links thanks to Kinny Riddle.

At of this post, there's an entire wiki for the project hosted on SOS 団, so do check up on it from time to time for any relevant updates. With that, I can only imagine this venturing even further than it has ever before, and to quote the project leader himself;

YES WE CAN. BELIEVE IN ME WHO BELIEVES IN YOU! - RmX, Seitenkan Danchou

Posted by Shin

Tagged as: Omake, Otaku, Seitenkan Leave a comment

Comments (21) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Sana Jisushi
March 23rd, 2008 - 07:44

Ah, so this is the Haruhi genderflip thing I’ve been hearing so much about. I’ve been away for some time.

Sana Jisushi’s last blog post..Precure 5 game machine upgrade
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Faye
March 23rd, 2008 - 09:40

Omg Haruki actually looks gar…and the headphones was a good replacement for the headband. Kyonko is <3.

Seems like the non-Elevens have caught on the Haruki craze even more than the Elevens….has anyone showed this to KyoAni yet?
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AS
March 23rd, 2008 - 11:21

The PS2 Haruhi is cute ;p.

AS’s last blog post..For those who want to learn Japanese and own a Mac…
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EXEs
March 23rd, 2008 - 12:39

OMG this was in Hong Kong? How come I didn’t hear of it?!?
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Shin
March 23rd, 2008 - 15:21

@EXEs

I do wonder as well. At first I thought this was in Taiwan or something, if not Japan itself wwwww

@Faye

They probably already know, since I’ve seen this make its way to 2chan.
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Evern
March 23rd, 2008 - 15:44

Anyone has Kyonko’s number? jk! =P
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Kinny Riddle
March 23rd, 2008 - 16:17

“Anyone has Kyonko’s number? jk! =P”

Dammit! I knew I was forgetting something while standing beside her.

I was lucky that I came across an ad of this in a newspaper a week ago, otherwise I might have missed it. It must be a sign from Haruhi (God) for me to go there.

Kadokawa seems to value the market potential in Hong Kong more so than Taiwan, mainly because Hong Kong serves as the major hub for millions of potential fans and cosplayers from the China mainland.

The event itself invited a cosplay group from Taiwan as guests and judges for the “Hare Hare Yukai” dancing competition. Their Haruhi and Yuki are definitely cute. While performing “God Knows”, their Kyon and Koizumi were standing in the background doing the Caramelldansen. (Though why didn’t they get any cosplayers from Japan is beyond me. )

Here’s my album if you folks want to see more

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v298/KinnyRiddle/Haruhi%20Fest%202008/

And more photos and stuff from other people:

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/qooalex83/e/4506d1bcb2c3a20092983dc176368936
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10683166@N05/sets/72157604196368576/
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Shin
March 23rd, 2008 - 18:25

Thanks a lot, Kinny. I’ll be updating the post with those links ^^
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wakuwaku
March 23rd, 2008 - 18:30

this just keeps getting better and better :P
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Setsuna-san
March 23rd, 2008 - 20:57

Kyonko X itsuko. My wet dream has officially manifested in reality.

looks like the cult has spread quite far now. guess the Haruhi purists will be up in arms over it.

Setsuna-san’s last blog post..SONY PSP COSPLAY: The Force is STRONG with this event.
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Kinny Riddle
March 24th, 2008 - 00:59

What purists? The genderbenders ARE the purists. They have singlehandedly reinvigorated the drive of the Haruhi-ists as they became astray due to the long wait for series 2, which hopefully we’ll get some news about from Kyo-Ani at the airing of next week’s Clannad epilogue.

If you look closely at my video, you’ll notice Itsuko attempting to harass Kyonko during the dance, to the applause of everyone.
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Snacks
March 24th, 2008 - 01:20

Haha oh wow, that was fast. *A* They beat the Elevens too it. XDD

Snacks’s last blog post..Persona 4 for the PS2!
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wolfx
March 24th, 2008 - 08:02

They should’ve gotten real guys rather than reverse traps to cosplay Haruki, Yuki and Mikuru. Hehe.
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Choo
March 24th, 2008 - 12:08

OMG. The dance was great! Then the cosplayers. what can i say? Cosplayers for all the characters are so hot. T_T

Choo’s last blog post..Myself; Yourself
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Kinny Riddle
March 26th, 2008 - 23:44

Remember how I was cursing myself for not getting Kyonko’s number earlier?

Well, by luck, today I managed to stumble into her blog.

http://blog.yam.com/user/kingyo.html

So if you can read and type Chinese, please feel free to congratulate her on a job well done. But absolutely please keep do it civil so as not to freak her out. Remember that you’re posting as admirers, not stalkers. (And definitely please do not say it was me that gave you this address, I beg you, lol )

And here’s Haruki’s blog if you’re interested

http://blog.yam.com/user/cargo.html
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Shin
March 27th, 2008 - 01:52

z0mGwww爆笑ktkr

Thanks Kinny. I’ve already posted in her chatbox complimenting her. Love her Clannad and Gurren Lagann stuff too

( ´∀`)
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apo
March 27th, 2008 - 20:15

Shin san>>
Hi i’m Kyonko’s cosplayer apo(*´∀｀*)
(hakuki is my sister :P)

Thank you for your courtesy notice.
It is a great honour seems our cosplay can get your recognition.
And I have just read your blog, it is a bit surprised.///////
We will strive to make more good cosplay.

My next cosplay scheduled is Kyonko in”The Day of Sagittarius” ver.^w^
Welcome to take a look.
Sorry , my english is poor（；´Д｀）
ps: I’m waiting for CLANNAD season2…OTZ

Kinny Riddle san>>
Can I use the photos you take in the album?
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Shin
March 27th, 2008 - 23:09

Wow, you’re sisters? You both look nothing alike xD

Oh no, THANK YOU for cosplaying Kyon-ko. You can’t imagine how excited I was to see somebody cosplaying the female version of Kyon wwww

Day Of Sagittarius eh? I’m definitely looking forward to that ;)

ps: Clannad After Story has been announced ^^
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lanie-emon
March 27th, 2008 - 23:16

Wow. I mean…wow. That’s all I can say.

lanie-emon’s last blog post..Awesome couldn’t even begin to describe it…
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Kinny Riddle
March 27th, 2008 - 23:49

Wow, Kyonko personally asking if she could use my album. *pinches self* Damn, it’s true!

Apo-san, please see your blog for my reply. Glad you actually like my lousy photos.
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Shin
March 27th, 2008 - 23:59

Today, me and Kinny are the happiest fanboys alive.
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