Watch Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima From NatGeo's Cosplay Documentary

Wednesday, 04 May 2011 10:40

Written by Dave Walsh

Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima has for the past few years been hands down the most colorful fighter to step into a K-1 ring, largely due to his affinity for cosplaying. He has insisted in the past that it is not cross-dressing, although he might choose to dress as female characters, but simple costume play, known as cosplaying in Japan. His cosplaying has spilled over into the ring for him as he enters the ring fully dressed up before stripping down to his fight gear and has garnered him international attention.

National Geographic Channel ran a program about cosplaying earlier this week and a whole feature portion of the show was based upon Jienotsu himself and the reasons behind why he cosplays and the ridicule he receives for it. It is somewhat sad that a professional fighter like Nagashima has to declare to the world that he is not a homosexual and doesn't do things because it is a fetish for him, it is simply something he likes to do. While there is no way that I could ever see myself or one of my friends participating in cosplay or anything like it, it is brave of Nagashima to talk to the world about something he loves to do and is often misunderstood.

Share this story