At the opening ceremony of the World Cosplay Summit 2019, Tokumaru Oguri (front row, fourth from left), executive committee chairman of the World Cosplay Summit 2019, and Mitsuko Shino (front row, fifth from left), director-general for cultural affairs and assistant minister for the Foreign Ministry, pose with cosplayers representing 39 countries and areas at the Tokyo Dome Hotel on July 26. The World Cosplay Championship will be held at the Aichi Arts Center on Aug. 4. | YOSHIAKI MIURA