Several Anime Conventions Announce New Ban on Attendees Wearing ‘Ahegao’ Clothing

Spencer Baculi |

Jan 23, 2020

Three different anime conventions have announced new policies specifically banning attendees from wearing ‘Ahegao’ print clothing, citing reasons such as “feedback from staff, attendees, guests, and the industry” and the “social climate” for the ban.

‘Ahegao’ clothing refers to items such as t-shirts or hoodie sweatshirts that bear multiple cropped images, taken from various hentai doujins, of characters making the ‘Ahegao’ face, a facial expression typically featuring rolled back eyes and a protruding tongue featured in numerous adult manga and anime. These items have recently grown in popularity, as many have begun to wear the t-shirt as an ironic joke or in contrarian response to the growing number of complaints about the adult origins of the clothing.

On January 15^th, the Colorado Anime Fest became the first convention to officially announce a ban on Ahegao clothing, stating that they “will not permit ‘ahegao’ or similar clothing with graphic sexual imagery to be worn on the convention floor.”

POLICY UPDATE: We’ve given our existing rules for cosplay and clothing one tweak: Starting with #COAF2020, we will not permit ‘ahegao’ or similar clothing with graphic sexual imagery to be worn on the convention floor.

— Colorado Anime Fest (@coanimefest) January 16, 2020

As you may know, we are a con that tries not to have too many rules. We made this change based on feedback from staff, attendees, guests, and industry. We appreciate your understanding and support.

View full cosplay and dress code: https://t.co/ORP0GclvSQ

— Colorado Anime Fest (@coanimefest) January 16, 2020

The next day, Anime Milwaukee announced a similar change to their “Costume & Clothing Policy”, stating that this change was implemented because “the world and social climate has changed dramatically over the past couple years” and clarifying that this ban will not affect cosplay costumes:

Beginning w/ #AMKEthe13th, we will be adjusting our Costume & Clothing Policy: Graphic sexual imagery—such as ahegao and similar designs—is not permitted to be worn on the con floor. We are also providing a clearer diagram to illustrate permitted minimum expectations w/ cosplay.

— Anime Milwaukee 👻 (@Animemilwaukee) January 17, 2020

We know that some may not agree with this ban. The world and social climate has changed dramatically over the past couple years, and as an event that hasn’t always gotten it right in the past, we adamantly believe conventions must adapt as well.

— Anime Milwaukee 👻 (@Animemilwaukee) January 17, 2020

We aren’t the first con to implement this policy, but we know we won’t be the last and we’re proud to be part of the early wave.

View our full Clothing, Cosplays and Props Policy: https://t.co/UeZmHrM5Yq

— Anime Milwaukee 👻 (@Animemilwaukee) January 17, 2020

Clarification: we’re seeing some confusion on cosplay. Save for this ban, we did not change any rules on cosplay. The diagram is an illustration of the same policies we’ve had for years.

— Anime Milwaukee 👻 (@Animemilwaukee) January 17, 2020

UPDATE: We’re seeing some confusion on cosplay requirements. Save for this ban, we did not change any existing rules on cosplay from previous years. We have removed the diagram because it was causing more confusion than it was helping. We appreciate the chance to clarify.

— Anime Milwaukee 👻 (@Animemilwaukee) January 17, 2020

Announcing that they had “decided to follow suit of some of our fellow conventions,” Minnesota-based anime convention Anime Detour revealed that they would be instituting a similar policy for their “2020 convention and all future conventions.”

Hello Attendees,

As we come closer to con we have reexamined some of our policies. We pride ourselves on being a family friendly convention, and because of this we have decided to follow suit of some of our fellow conventions and further clarify our Costume Policy.

— Anime Detour (@animedetour) January 18, 2020

We will not be allowing clothing with graphic sexual imagery, such as ahegao and other designs like it, on any public space in our convention hotel. This policy will be in effect for our 2020 convention and all future conventions.

— Anime Detour (@animedetour) January 18, 2020

We understand some may not agree with this, but we feel this policy is necessary to continue to provide a place for all ages to enjoy.

— Anime Detour (@animedetour) January 18, 2020

In response to this announcement, the official Twitter accounts of Colorado Anime Fest and Anime Milwaukee assured Anime Detour that the convention had their “full support.”

You have our full support.

— Anime Milwaukee 👻 (@Animemilwaukee) January 18, 2020

And ours!

— Colorado Anime Fest (@coanimefest) January 18, 2020

While some applauded these policy changes, others took issue with the apparent hypocrisy of the conventions’ decisions, as while the ‘Ahegao’ clothing items were targeted for their sexual associations, “sexy” cosplayers were still permitted unrestricted:

It’s not porn it’s doujins, and it’s only faces, poeple who know it means they have watched some doujins, people who don’t know it, probably won’t give of much attention.
Animecons are meant to let people express themself, of you wanna wear it, do IT, where has freedom gone?

— BistAkal (@AkalBist) January 17, 2020

If you’re going this route you might as well ban scantily clad cosplay outright too. This is a very slippery slope and it sets a bad precedent. I don’t like the shirts myself but I dislike censorship of con goers even more.

— Not Telling You (@LordKaizen) January 17, 2020

Will you get rid of fishnets, skin tight outfits, cleavage, midriffs, etc.?

I need you to think of the children. /s

You guys suck.

— Ryan (@CatNameIsShadow) January 20, 2020

What do you make of these policy changes?

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