Photo of Singaporean civil servant at World Cosplay Summit in Japan goes viral

Singapore—Everyone loves a good joke, cosplayers and non-cosplayers alike. But one Singaporean civil servant in Tokyo went the extra mile by deliberately being basic, much to the delight of many netizens.

Last Saturday, July 26, the opening ceremony of the annual World Cosplay Summit (WCS) in Tokyo was held, attended by a colorful array of cosplayers bedecked in lavish costumes and wigs and carrying all sorts of accessories. However, one man stood out from the rest, simply because he wasn’t dressed as a much-beloved character from manga or anime.

Instead, he was dressed in a coat and tie amidst all the outrageous costumes. Yes, First Secretary Michael Chew from the Singapore Embassy in Japan came to WCS dressed as a civil servant, and the embassy ran with the joke.

A Facebook post from the Embassy featured the country’s representatives at the WCS, together with a surprising addition. It reads,

“Japanese anime and manga have spread across the world, and one way fans can show their passion for their favourite anime is to cosplay!

The World Cosplay Summit 2019, taking place from 26 July to 4 August in Tokyo and Nagoya, is the 17th edition of this international event showcasing the passion and talents of cosplayers all over the world!

This year, Singapore is represented by Kai 
Kai’s Crafts and Cosplays and Rith Rithe リティ 莉提.Check out the photos below of the opening ceremony that took place in Tokyo earlier today!”

One photo shows Mr Chew flanked by the well-known cosplayers, Rithe and Kai, who are dressed to the nines for the occasion, while Mr Chew is in his suit and tie. It reads,

“Rithe (left) is cosplaying Violet Evergarden from Violet Evergarden, while Kai (right) is cosplaying Giorno Giovana from Jojo Bizarre Adventures Part 5: Vento Aureo.

With the Singapore Embassy’s First Secretary Michael Chew, cosplaying as a civil servant.”

Whether Mr Chew did this on purpose is unknown, but the photo delighted netizens, some of whom commented that it was the “best cosplay ever.” The picture has been shared more than 500 times.

Even cosplayer Rithe re-posted the photo on her own account, captioning it with, “Micheal, most accurate cosplay ever. good job!!”

Little is known about Mr Chew, aside from the fact that he is First Secretary (political) at Embassy of Singapore in Japan. The summary of his LinkedIn biography reads, “Experienced Foreign Service Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the government relations industry. Skilled in French, Political Science, and Policy Analysis.”

Whether he is a cosplayer in real life is anybody’s guess (probably not) but well played, Mr Chew, well played indeed!/ TISG