The annual Tokyo Comic-Con has caused controversy after announcing a ban on male crossplay during its two-day event in December.

According to Anime News Network, the organizers of Tokyo Comic-Con have included the "no male crossdressing" rule on its official cosplay guidelines, which includes other rules which prohibits excessive skin exposure, real military costumes and transparent attire.

The rule has raised eyebrows among the community, especially abroad, as the rule only specifically applies to male crossdressers, not female ones. Surprisingly, this rule is nothing new in Japan, as there are some organizers who have already banned male crossplay during their respective events.

Why are organizers banning male crossplay? Photographer Naoko Tatibana, who has worked with lots of crossdressers, both male and female, and has a cross-dressing studio in Tokyo named Taiyodo, has written a post about this long-standing issue on Rocket News 24.

"Despite all the exposure transsexuals and cross-dressers are given on TV and in magazines in Japan, men are forbidden from dressing up as the opposite sex at the one place you would think it would be most acceptable: cosplay events," Naoko wrote.

Naoko then went on to say that these organizers are afraid that middle-aged men in schoolgirl uniforms will attend their events, which they perceive as "visual terrorism," as the photographer puts it.

The organizers have since lifted the ban on male crossdressing, and has released this announcement on the official Tokyo Comic-Con Facebook page (translation via Anime News Network)

As a result of committee consultations, we will remove the ban on male crossplay. However, to accompany this, we will have different colors for men and women on the on-site cosplay registration IDs. Cosplay registration IDs will be checked at the entrances to bathrooms and changing rooms, so please bring them with you. We kindly request your understanding and cooperation.

This is not the first time where this issue has occurred in Japan. In 2013, the Osaka government has placed a similar ban on male crossdressers during an event which took place at the Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building. The ban was eventually lifted due to pressure from the residents of the town.

Despite this, male crossplay is widespread in the country, with popular Japanese male crossdressers Hideaki Kobayashi, better known as Sailor Fuku Ojisan, wrestler Ladybeard, and a lot more leading the crossplay scene in Japan.