Why Did a Marcille Cosplayer Receive Death Threats

Why Did a Marcille Cosplayer Receive Death Threats?

This question has become central on Japanese social media following the controversy involving cosplayer Shikano Tsuno, who was heavily attacked after attending Osaka Expo dressed as Marcille, a character from the anime and manga Delicious in Dungeon.

This Marcille Cosplayer Received Death Threats – What Happened at Osaka Expo?

To understand why a Marcille cosplayer received death threats, we need to look at how it all started. With over 27,000 followers on Twitter, Shikano first gained attention in 2024 when she appeared at that year’s Comiket in her striking Marcille cosplay. However, everything changed when she decided to wear the same costume to the Osaka Expo in 2025.

Below: Shikano at Comiket 2024.

At the Osaka Expo, despite cosplay not being prohibited, part of the online community reacted with outrage. Some accused her of disrespecting the event and even went so far as to threaten her life. The situation escalated quickly, with her personal information — including the name of the train station near her home — being leaked, forcing her to seek help from the police.

Below: Shikano cosplaying Marcille at the Osaka Expo.

Why Was the Reaction So Extreme?

Many people wondered why a Marcille cosplayer would receive death threats when the Expo itself allows costumes that don’t break any specific rules. The truth is that the hatred seemed to have deeper roots. Some users dug up old posts in which Shikano suggested that original creators should appreciate derivative creators — in other words, cosplayers, doujin artists, and fan creators.

It’s common knowledge in the fan community that cosplays, fanart, and doujins exist mostly because copyright holders choose to tolerate them — which isn’t always the case. For example, Uma Musume recently banned fans from profiting off the series through doujinshi and other fan-made works.

Shikano’s comments reignited old debates surrounding copyright in Japan, especially after the country passed stricter laws in 2021. While those laws were later relaxed to allow most forms of cosplay, many people still view it with suspicion.

Here’s an example of the criticism she received:

“I was wondering what happened to the person who cosplayed at Osaka Expo, and I was shocked to see she said something like ‘original creators should respect derivative creators.’ Isn’t that wrong? Isn’t it disrespectful to think you’re on equal footing with the original creator, who is only tolerating you? Have you never thought, ‘what if works like this get explicitly banned because of me’???”

This way of thinking is still widespread in Japan.

Threats and Consequences

The case of why a Marcille cosplayer received death threats took a disturbing turn. Comments like “You’re trash” and “Just die already” became common. One user even posted a shooting threat with a specific date. Shikano reported that the situation severely impacted her mental and physical well-being, prompting increased police patrols around her home.

Even people who simply took photos with her at the event were harassed, pressured to delete the photos, and made their social media accounts private.

The situation became so serious that the official Osaka Expo website issued a statement confirming that cosplay is allowed as long as it doesn’t violate public decency rules. Shikano followed all the guidelines — she stayed at a nearby hotel, got dressed there, and took a taxi to the venue, as the Expo doesn’t provide changing rooms or allow costume changes in the bathrooms.

Despite the hostility, Shikano remained resilient. She stated:

“I can see how someone who isn’t me might have killed themselves because of this. It was that bad. I’m glad it was me.”

via Você Sabia Anime