This was the third year that a Kitakyushu qualifying round has been staged. The three person judging panel for the preliminary contest consisted of Toru Morita (Kitakyushu Subculture Association Chairperson), Banana Hime Luna ("cosplay civil servant" in the Kitakyushu Tourism Division), and Yuki Narumi (Japanese representative at the "WORLD COSPLAY SUMMIT 2016"). The judges raised expectations in the venue by saying that they wanted to see the winners of the preliminary round in Kyushu go on to represent Japan at the WCS!


(From left) Toru Morita, Banana Hime Luna (lit.: Banana Princess Luna), and Yuki Narumi