[Touhou Project cosplay] Memory Fragments of the Early Gensokyo

Flipping through old photo albums and seeing that 2013 childhood photo of my first Touhou Project cosplay brought all the memories rushing back. Being in this community for years, starting from simply following my older sister around for fun to now being an old-timer in the fandom. Back then I was young with baby fat, ill-fitting clothes, and my sister casually slapped some eye makeup on me. I didn't even understand how to detangle a wig back then, yet the result was unexpectedly full of childlike wonder and authenticity. Looking back at it now, it feels priceless.

Since getting into Touhou, I've basically cosplayed all my favorite canon (first-party) characters, attending countless conventions and meeting so many fellow fans. But in recent years, I've done Touhou Project cosplay less frequently. First, I've already completed the canon designs, and second, those glamorous fan-made figure outfits are truly too punishing on the wallet—an exquisite set costs thousands, so I can only stare in awe at the veterans' gear. But whether cosplaying or not, Touhou has given me a passion deeply rooted in my bones, and Doujin games in particular remain my ultimate source of joy.

To this day, I still play Doujin games like Touhou Mystia's Izakaya and Hero of Ice Fairy every week. Cooking with Mystia and exploring the frozen lands are second nature to me, and I know every little detail inside out. Among official danmaku games, Mountain of Faith remains my absolute favorite addiction. Though challenging, repeatedly practicing and dodging danmaku bullets offers an exhilarating rush that relieves stress so well. Loving these so much means that even if I don't do Touhou Project cosplay as often now, I still know the lore, character personalities, and iconic BGMs like the back of my hand.

Among this photo set are a few works I meticulously styled later on. Comparing the old costumes with the recent ones really shows the technical progress. From camera coordination during candid captures and lighting integration across different scenes, to delicate makeup detailing, eye shadow blending layers, and natural foundation work—these subtle details were honed through countless photoshoots. Although recent photos turned out great, deep down I miss that past self who had no technique or experience, with childish innocence on her face, yet portrayed characters purely out of passion. Doing Touhou Project cosplay rarely now is mostly because I cherish that pure feeling and want to preserve that initial reverence and love for Gensokyo forever.

Speaking of being unable to afford derivative fan designs, it really tests one's mental fortitude. Looking at gorgeous illustrations by artists in the past always made me itch to cosplay, but actually commissioning those intricate dresses, lace trims, grand capes, and shiny accessories meant long turnaround times and scary budgets. Compared to the crisp, clean canon designs, derivative looks are absolute torture for perfectionists on a budget. Staring at those top-tier interpretations, I could only quietly add them to my cart and close the app. That's why I turned more to Doujin games—watching Mystia hustle around in Touhou Mystia's Izakaya or challenging limit tests in Hero of Ice Fairy provides an immersion that looking at photos simply cannot match.

As an old Touhou fan, I see makeup very clearly now. In this photo set, the expressions of each character are quite intriguing—from initial natural rawness to increasingly mature camera presence. It also evolved from basic preset filters to gradually learning various grading tools to match the atmosphere of character settings, like that dark purple lighting that required careful color temperature control to blend skin tones seamlessly with the background.

No grand wishes—just hoping the Gensokyo I love remains this beautiful forever.