China has recently sparked controversy by initiating a ban on cosplay—or costume play—around the popular Japanese anime character, Detective Conan. Despite a thriving cosplay fanbase spanning the globe, Chinese authorities have cited undisclosed reasons for this surprising prohibition. This move is met with significant pushback and confusion from fans in Japan and China alike.

In Japan, cosplay is more than a mere hobby—it's a form of self-expression tightly woven into pop culture and celebration of anime and manga characters. The love for Detective Conan—one of Japan's most beloved and enduring anime characters—is widespread, and this ban by Chinese authorities directly impacts many fans in Japan who join cosplay events, both domestic and international, especially those held in China.

In comparison, the US and EU have a more liberal stance on cosplay. Despite occasional rules or guidelines at specific events aimed at promoting safety or propriety—restrictions on realistic weapon props, for instance—outright bans on particular characters, like Detective Conan, are virtually unheard of.