[Kochiya Sanae Cosplay] A Day as a convention booth girl at the ACG convention

Over the past two days at the ACG convention, I worked as a convention booth girl while doing a Kochiya Sanae Cosplay from Touhou Project. Sitting behind the table sorting freebies and merchandise, I felt completely enveloped in that lively yet exhausting convention atmosphere. Sanae's outfit is packed with intricate details—from the tiered blue-and-white skirt and shoulder lace to the weighty pair of snake hair accessories and plush frog ornament overhead, which genuinely tested my neck stamina every time I put them on. Still, wearing this ensemble to meet everyone at the booth brought me so much happiness.

As a booth attendant, I barely had time to sit down and rest. The moment doors opened in the morning, crowds surged in, jamming the aisles in front of the Touhou Project doujin booths shoulder to shoulder. Between managing artbooks, postcards, and acrylic stands, I was busy handing out freebies to fans who dropped by to say hello. Since I was cosplaying Kochiya Sanae, many passersby paused to ask tentatively if we could snap a quick meetup photo. Snapping photos across the booth was a lot of fun—everyone would hold up their phones from across the table, and I usually posed with a peace sign or held up one of my talisman paper props. A few seasoned fans immediately recognized the fine details on the frog hairpin and chatted with me about Sanae's canonical lore in the games; brief exchanges sparked by shared passions like that always melted away the fatigue of standing all day.

To keep things reasonably comfortable throughout the event, I made subtle tweaks to my inner base layers. Styling the wig took considerable work, especially the two white curved ornaments on top, which had to be secured to the base using bobby pins and heavy-hold hairspray to ensure they wouldn't wobble during long hours. The plush frog was reinforced as well. The paper talisman props in hand were written after practicing calligraphy multiple times, and the five-pointed star was hand-drawn; though a bit rough up close, they were more than enough to capture the vibe.

Watching people browse was fascinating. Customers ranged from newcomers taking their first plunge to longtime supporters of Touhou Project doujin works. Some brought their freshly purchased books for signatures, while others gifted small snacks and handmade freebies. Sitting behind the booth, watching neighboring creators network passionately, the entire hall buzzed with shutter clicks and cheers of friends reuniting. By afternoon, stamina noticeably dipped; to keep makeup pristine, I kept sipping water and had to sprint whenever running to the restroom. Yet when friends who traveled long distances stopped by, or online mutuals finally met in person, that tangible warmth was something no screen could ever replicate.

At teardown, packing leftover merchandise back into cardboard boxes left me feeling a bit bittersweet. Both cosplaying and staffing a booth are demanding physical labor, and staying upbeat in full gear amidst convention noise isn't easy. But bringing a character I love to life for everyone to see and sharing that collective passion for Touhou Project made all the running around and exhaustion completely worthwhile. These two convention days were a truly fulfilling conclusion to a busy season.