[Yakumo Chen cosplay] As the Shikigami of the Yakumo Household, Full of Energy Today as Well!

Shooting this set with Yakumo Chen's design concepts, transitioning from studio shoots to the comic convention floor, was a completely contrasting experience. For the wig, considering the color and length settings, I picked a base wig in brown tones, paired with her iconic pink and white hair clip and fluffy cat ears. All the headpieces combined actually felt pretty heavy. To keep the headwear stable, I used plenty of bobby pins, leaving my scalp slightly numb after a full day of shooting. Still, looking at the finalized appearance in the mirror made all the hassle feel entirely worth it.

The texture of this costume is truly unique. The main fabric for the upper body is a bright yellow brocade with a subtle sheen, woven with delicate gold patterns. Its structured texture supports the upper silhouette beautifully. The sleeves and forearms are spliced with generous amounts of white fabric, crafted into wide, multi-layered ruffles and pleats that lengthen the visual lines and create an extraordinarily light and flowing movement when walking. The waist skirt and orange-red patterned fabric below fuse with traditional Japanese motifs, creating a vivid color contrast. Because the skirt has massive volume, when sitting (Figures 1 and 3) or side-sitting (Figure 2), the skirt naturally spreads out like a fan, instantly exuding gorgeous elegance. Figures 4 and 5 were shot on the convention floor; the lighting gear and reflectors in the background reflect complex ambient lighting conditions, requiring constant angle adjustments relative to different light sources to capture ideal frames.

I must mention the pose in Figure 2, sitting barefoot on the floor. Since the character design is barefoot, I prepared a delicate gold ankle chain as an accessory. On the studio's reflective gray floor, going barefoot with that anklet focused the visual weight onto leg lines and details. The plush white tail resting beside me complemented the skirt nicely as a charming accent. Although stepping directly onto cold ground felt chill, overcoming these details was essential to restore that unconstrained, nimble vibe. In Figure 4, I put my index finger to my lips in a "shh" gesture, a highly recognizable pose for Touhou Project fans, which, combined with dim convention venue lighting, gave my gaze a focused sharpness. Figure 5 features leaning slightly forward with a hand by my ear, perfectly highlighting the wig layers and shoulder-neck lines. Overall, these five photos document my full progression from quiet, poised seating to casual sprawling, and finally integrating into the vibrant convention environment.

In terms of details, I aimed to stay as close as possible to her cunning yet innocent disposition. For eye makeup, instead of loud colors, I chose deep reddish-brown tones for blending and elongating the eye shape, keeping it faithful to character lore while maintaining bright eyes on camera. Throughout the shoot, whether on the slick gray tiles of the studio or in the messy backstage area of the convention, ambient surroundings constantly reminded me of reality. Yet the moment I put on this costume, my whole aura shifted, and my actions naturally aligned with the character's wavelength. This immersive experience is, to me, the purest essence of cosplay.