Taking on Mai Shiranui's Hanafuda Flash Form from Honor of Kings required over a month of preparation leading up to the shoot. The complexity of this attire exceeded expectations—while the concept art looked vibrantly colorful, holding the garment revealed that every single layer of fabric bore distinct jacquard weaves and custom prints. To recreate the metallic luster of the golden waist crest, it was sculpted with high-density EVA foam and painted, giving it substantial physical weight. Assembling the wig and headpieces was equally massive: the horn-like metallic tiara required layers of heavy-duty hairpins to anchor securely, paired with red-and-white floral clusters and dangling tassels on both flanks. Styling alone took over an hour, demanding constant vigilance to prevent the headpieces from tilting mid-take.
To complement the overarching mood, we specifically chose a realistic studio set furnished with tatami mats and shoji sliding doors. The background was dressed with varied traditional wagasa umbrellas, framed by cherry blossoms on the left and crimson maples on the right, alongside warm-amber standing lanterns that created rich ambient lighting gradients. Such multifaceted illumination heavily tests skin texture; fortunately, delicate lighting on set combined with conservative retouching in post preserved natural skin pores without aggressive smoothing. For pose design, to channel the alluring yet dangerous energy of the Hanafuda Flash Form, I deliberately altered my seated posture—shifting my center of gravity to one side to elongate leg contours. Thanks to the high-slit skirt, paired with bare feet and crimson nail polish, it introduced a buoyant lightness amidst the lavish, weighty fabrics.
Prop handling was another core focus throughout the shoot. The red oil-paper umbrella and black sake cup needed steady grips while angling precisely relative to the camera. When holding the umbrella, avoiding reflections from the primary light was essential; raising the sake cup demanded wrist control to stay motionless while keeping my gaze engaged with the lens. Because this is the Flash Form, I injected sharpness into my eyes and posture rather than staying soft, aiming to project that confident, dominant presence in combat.
Shooting in a realistic studio wearing this multi-layered ensemble was quite exhausting, severely limiting mobility. With every shift in seated posture, the train had to be spread out again to achieve the most picturesque drape. Yet the skirt and billowing stoles were extraordinarily long, blooming across the tatami mats like an unfurling blossom. I especially adored the texture of stepping barefoot onto the tatami, complemented by the crimson nail polish for rich nuance. The makeup centered on the eyes, blending deep purplish-red eyeshadow paired with bold red lips to heighten mystique. Despite the heavy physical toll, seeing the final photos made every effort worthwhile. Immense gratitude to the photographer and support crew—working together on every tiny nuance brought the exquisite texture of this Flash Form to life.