Leveraging the Fate/Grand Order 10th anniversary "Over the Same Sky" project, we traveled to Wakayama Shirahama for an anime pilgrimage. Shirahama's waters truly lived up to their reputation—the crystal-clear azure sea and pristine white sand beaches perfectly matched the classic summer ambiance of Miyamoto Musashi. Changing into this iconic red crop top and black shorts under the blazing sun was quite hot, but seeing the magnificent ocean vista made every bit of the shoot worthwhile. To recreate the joyful scene of the "Summer Watermelon Phenomenon," we prepared various props—from two well-crafted katanas to a round watermelon—hoping to fill the frame with summer energy.
Photographer @TiebanYouyuren integrated natural light and scenery brilliantly. We started by utilizing the beach stairs and surrounding pine groves, which offered dappled tree shadows and expansive views. The pose frozen on the cover shot was captured right on this beach: holding swords in both hands facing the sea breeze, I truly felt transformed into that dashing master swordswoman. I personally love this expansive posture; it showcases the character's self-confidence while fully unleashing the vitality of midsummer. In terms of lighting, we avoided heavy grading, preserving the natural clarity and brightness of the environment so the blue sky, green foliage, and my red top formed vivid contrasts in the frame.
The entire shooting process was highly dynamic. Beyond putting care into static poses, we took numerous action snapshots. For example, wielding the red-and-blue painted katana with full force in the shallows kicked up white spray, and the photographer perfectly froze the water droplets splashing in midair with stunning dynamic beauty. But the most amusing part was the watermelon segment. After all, with the summer theme, how could we miss eating watermelon? Initially, we planned an action shot slicing open the watermelon with a sword; though execution was a bit frantic, the resulting moment was delightfully comical and authentic, breaking away from the stern swordsman image to reveal a playful, cute side.
Sitting down to eat watermelon brought a much more relaxed vibe. Sitting on the fine sand, taking big bites full of refreshing juice instantly cooled us down. This natural interaction turned the shoot into an authentic seaside vacation rather than rigid posing. To faithfully capture the character's demeanor, we had specific requirements for makeup—using colored contact lenses to intensify eye focus, and wind-proofing the hairstyle so this airy, light pink short hair maintained fluffy volume in the coastal wind. Accented by the black cord headband, the styling details were completely dialed in.
Beyond shooting, the slow pace of Wakayama Shirahama was deeply relaxing. Even in the heat of summer, the sea breeze swept away most of the swelter. Cosplaying over time, beyond the joy of seeing the final photos, the real pleasure lies in this immersive process within a specific environment. Thanks to this official Fate/Grand Order 10th anniversary project, visiting an authentic scenic destination and bringing a game character into real sunlight and crashing waves is the best reward for passion.
Selecting photos was fascinating because different angles provided entirely distinct impressions. Wide-angle shots captured the grand panorama where sea meets sky, while close-ups highlighted the character's focused expressions and intricate costume textures—such as the checkered trim on the top, metallic sheen of the belt buckle, and boot clasps, all displaying rich depth in the sunlight. We avoided relying excessively on post-processing retouching, focusing instead on composition and lighting control on set to create timeless photos with the genuine feel of travel photography.
The shooting experience was seamless, and the team's synergy was fantastic. The scenery of Wakayama Shirahama is definitely worth recommending—its blue hues are ideal for refreshing, vibrant shoots. Although running across the sand in boots took effort, seeing such great results made it entirely worthwhile. Before we knew it, the sun dipped toward the west, casting golden sparkles across the sea surface. We quickly captured back-lit silhouette shots, adding a warm emotional undertone to the final photos. The creative journey was tight-paced yet thoroughly rewarding, and I hope this summer beach photoshoot filled with gaming passion becomes a memorable highlight of this Miyamoto Musashi cosplay project.