Suzumiya Haruki no Seitenkan
Posted by: Shin in The Melancholy Of Suzumiya Haruhi, tags: Omake, Otaku
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
Mika on 
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 am
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
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
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?
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:21 am
The PS2 Haruhi is cute ;p.
AS’s last blog post..For those who want to learn Japanese and own a Mac…
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
OMG this was in Hong Kong? How come I didn’t hear of it?!?
March 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
@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.
March 23rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Anyone has Kyonko’s number? jk! =P
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
“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/
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Thanks a lot, Kinny. I’ll be updating the post with those links ^^
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
this just keeps getting better and better
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
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.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:59 am
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.
March 24th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Haha oh wow, that was fast. *A* They beat the Elevens too it. XDD
Snacks’s last blog post..Persona 4 for the PS2!
March 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am
They should’ve gotten real guys rather than reverse traps to cosplay Haruki, Yuki and Mikuru. Hehe.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
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
March 26th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
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
March 27th, 2008 at 1:52 am
z0mGwww爆笑ktkr
Thanks Kinny. I’ve already posted in her chatbox complimenting her. Love her Clannad and Gurren Lagann stuff too
( ´∀`)
March 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
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?
March 27th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
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 ^^
March 27th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Wow. I mean…wow. That’s all I can say.
lanie-emon’s last blog post..Awesome couldn’t even begin to describe it…
March 27th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
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.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Today, me and Kinny are the happiest fanboys alive.