While in Japan last week, I got an invitation to attend Tokyo Comic Con. When my friends found out, they asked if I’d go in cosplay. First, I was on vacation and, not having attended a Comic Con before, never thought to have a costume handy. Secondly, the original design of the outfit I was inclined to wear was more than 91 kilograms of urethane, bamboo and cotton and required an oxygen tube because it was so hot inside. That would be the Godzilla suit that Toho Co. ordered up for the first of 33 movies starring the king of all monsters. (It was also sprayed in concrete for a striated scaly look.) Eventually, the get-up became lighter, though still not featherweight: The actors playing Godzilla were always terrified of falling face-forward in the giant pond they stomped through for ocean scenes, as the costume could fill up with water and potentially drown them.

I said I’d go to the convention in civilian clothing but fantasize about being ... well, having a secret identity.

In any case, you don’t travel to Comic Con in costume in Japan. You need to purchase a special ticket that gives you access to gender-specific changing rooms where you can transform into the superhero or fabulous entity of your fantasies. As long as you don’t expose certain parts of your anatomy, wear underwear (even under a swimsuit) and can’t weaponize your props, you’re fine.