This time at the convention, I teamed up with my bestie to cosplay Touhou Project's Reimu Hakurei Cosplay and Patchouli cosplay. The Golden Dolphin venue was enormous, leaving our legs completely sore. To achieve higher fidelity, we spent a long time fine-tuning Patchouli's purple headwear and glasses, adjusting the details on the book and ribbon bows multiple times. Reimu's red-and-gold dress and the floral branch prop on her back were also quite heavy; managing the overall styling meant we were constantly fixing each other's outfits and wigs throughout the day. Wearing such voluminous gowns is a substantial test of endurance. We also made many makeup adjustments to match the characters, spending nearly two hours carefully doing nails and intricate eye makeup according to the official character art.
The convention hall was packed, making it challenging to find well-lit spots for an Anime convention group photo. This shot was taken in a relatively dim corner against a wall, which actually brought out the color contrast and rich textures of both outfits nicely. The photographer's guidance was also crucial: we had to control our expressions and gazes while making sure props weren't cropped awkwardly or breaking the immersion. Even though we were physically exhausted, seeing the finished photos and having passing fans recognize Reimu Hakurei Cosplay and Patchouli cosplay to greet us enthusiastically made all the fatigue fade away.
Preparations took about half a month, mainly focused on wig trimming and sewing costume accessories. Costumes from Touhou Project naturally feature abundant elements—like Reimu's gold lace and red ribbon bows, or Patchouli's purple tulle and pearl jewelry—all requiring thoughtful coordination. We aren't professional photoshoot veterans, just fans who genuinely love these two characters, doing our best within our means to recreate the imagery in our minds. Every convention feels like an intensive march, walking everywhere and queuing for photos, so we'll likely need a few days of good rest afterward. I hope next time we can return in even better form to continue cosplaying Touhou Project with Besties in the same frame, bringing our favorite characters to life even more beautifully.