[Tatara Kogasa cosplay] Comicup 30 Day 1: The umbrella youkai emerges with her purple umbrella!

This set of Comicup 30 convention photos features Tatara Kogasa from Touhou Project, commonly known as the umbrella youkai. On the day of the shoot at the convention venue, this Japanese-style Lolita-inspired dress paired with a bright blue wig turned quite a few heads.

First, let's talk about the costume details. The main body of the outfit is a modernized Japanese-style dress with delicate vintage patterns, accented by a red collar tie and a pink ribbon bow. The sleeves are styled as dramatic furisode sleeves with a white outer layer and pale green lining that flutter gracefully as you walk. The bottom consists of a layered white lace petticoat, while the trickiest part was definitely the pair of platform geta clogs. Because of their extra-thick cork platform, maintaining balance across the venue required careful stepping, and finding the right leverage point on the toes and ankles was quite challenging. I paired the geta with white slouch socks on the day, which, despite the fatigue, certainly elongated the leg lines visually.

During shooting, the hardest element to control was the purple Japanese umbrella adorned with the eye and gaping mouth design, trailing long red ribbons. Because it was windy outdoors that day, capturing dynamic arcs with the red ribbon required constantly adjusting my standing position and orientation. The first two photos showcase standing and forward-stepping poses, while the third shot—selected as the cover—is a low-angle upward shot taken while balancing on one leg. This pose was a serious test of core strength; due to the rigid feel of the geta, balancing on a single leg while holding the umbrella, turning my head, and keeping my center of gravity steady left my leg trembling slightly after finishing. The photographer, Jinhaiyao, was wonderful at capturing light, shadow, and movement, guiding me to slightly lift my chest while on one foot to work alongside the trailing red ribbons, creating a vibrant, dynamic image.

Cosplaying this character for the first time at Comicup 30 was a refreshing experience. I ran into many fellow fans in the open area outside the exhibition halls, and everyone immediately recognized the iconic elements of the umbrella youkai. From preparing the costume to the actual shoot, meticulous attention went into character design details—including the direction of the eye on the umbrella, the sleeve proportions, and the iconic red ribbon—all aiming to stay true to the original atmosphere. Character accuracy aside, the striking contrast of colors in the sunlight alone made for gorgeous photos. When curating this set, I placed primary emphasis on body posture and movement lines. With voluminous skirts and wide sleeves, standing too rigidly can easily make you look blocky, so I incorporated twists, leg lifts, and side profiles to break up the visual weight of the outfit. I hope this stark contrast against the modern concrete background conveys both the playful charm and lively spirit of Tatara Kogasa.