[Kochiya Sanae Cosplay] Eating Steamed Buns at the Anime convention: Experiencing the Joy of Touhou Project

For this Anime convention, I chose Kochiya Sanae's outfit from Touhou Project, casually grabbing a steamed bun at a booth to use as a prop for a few shots. Convention schedules are always packed, and grabbing a quick bun during breaks is standard, so capturing it in photos actually felt much more natural. Let me share some prep tips from this experience.

First, the costume: this blue-and-white dress is packed with details. It features a mandarin stand collar, with cloud and wave-like patterns across the chest and cuffs. The most distinctive feature is the semi-sheer tulle on the sleeves; while it looks ethereal in photos, you must be careful not to snag it on others' clothes or jewelry while walking around. Next, hair and makeup: the long green wig needed prior styling, particularly the curves of the bangs and sidelocks. To prevent the hair from messing up while roaming the venue, I sprayed plenty of setting spray, and combed the wig several times with a metal comb to achieve a natural drape. Blue colored contacts gave my gaze a more ethereal 2D look, but since they dry out after prolonged wear, I kept eye drops handy. For makeup, to make the eyes look larger and brighter, I emphasized the lower lashes and aegyo sal shadows. I selected a fair, matte base foundation, as reflectors at conventions easily create unwanted facial shine, whereas a matte base provides a cleaner texture.

I brought paperclips and safety pins to secure the shoulder parts of the dress against slipping, which could otherwise make poses look sloppy. The Anime convention was packed with complex lighting, so finding the right angle toward the light was crucial to avoid harsh facial shadows. Huge thanks to the photographer's superb capture, catching such a relaxed moment while snacking. Holding that half-eaten bun was honestly just because I was starving, but the resulting shot added a delightful touch of everyday realism, channeling a relaxed stroll through the convention.

Because the skirt hem is quite long, extra care was needed to keep people from stepping on it, lifting it slightly while walking. Such large areas of light colors reflect light heavily, so post-processing required careful attention to avoid blown-out highlights and maintain smooth grayscale transitions to preserve fabric texture. I met many fellow Touhou Project fans on-site, exchanging thoughts on character settings—the atmosphere was wonderful. For a green-hair and blue-eyes design, blush placement requires care; since the outfit is cool-toned, blush shouldn't be too heavy. A subtle peachy-pink natural tint worked wonders under harsh overhead convention lights.

The stiff collar and straps of this outfit looked sharp but rubbed against the neck, so padding the inside with soft fabric made wearing it far more comfortable. I'd give my overall look an 80 out of 100, saving the remaining 20 for future improvements, like setting the skirt pleats better. I truly enjoy this Roleplay immersion, and seeing everyone's joy made every effort worthwhile. Next time, I want to try even longer skirts, more intricate headpieces, or more ornate designs. Still, this setup was relatively comfortable and ideal for extended Anime convention days—wearing flats instead of high heels was what saved my feet through the afternoon. Overall, it was a fantastic experience enjoying complete character immersion.