I shot this Goutokuji Mike cosplay mainly because I was deeply captivated by the Lucky cat fanon design in Touhou Project. The character design is very distinctive, blending feline traits with divinity to create a lively and approachable impression. During the preparation stage, everything from the shape of the animal ears to the size and weight of the wooden plaque required careful deliberation. In particular, the wooden plaque inscribed with 'Ten Million Ryo' not only needed an aged wooden look, but also had to stay stable during single-leg standing poses, which demanded precise wrist angle control when holding it.
On the day of the Autumn outdoor shoot, we chose a suburban autumn forest. The autumn foliage was at its most gorgeous, and the overwhelming orange-red palette complemented the character's costume colors perfectly. Having tried a few indoor scenes beforehand, none could quite capture the high-energy, vibrant vibe of the Lucky cat. The photographer suggested an outdoor location with abundant light to create a warm atmosphere using natural light, giving rise to this photo set. The most challenging aspect of the shoot was balancing on one leg atop a long red wooden bench. Maintaining my center of gravity while ensuring the skirt flared naturally with my movement required constant micro-adjustments of my leg muscles, which was genuinely exhausting. Moreover, the bench surface was uneven and prone to wobbling with the slightest slip, making the shoot quite tense.
The ten-million-ryo plaque in my hand produced noticeable glare under strong light, so the photographer specially adjusted the fill light angle so the lettering remained legible without being obscured by light flares, while allowing the autumn background to blur softly into creamy bokeh, emphasizing the subject. The orange lace trim on the outfit echoed the fallen autumn leaves flawlessly, creating a natural synergy. The weather was wonderful; in backlighting, the sunlight rimmed the fluffy tail and hair edges in gold—an effect nearly impossible to fully replicate in post-processing.
To capture the character's essence, I paired the outfit with white sock boots (White stockings / footwear), which elongated my leg lines while keeping the overall styling clean and refined. Regarding balance in styling, shooting on the bench meant balancing the fear of falling with maintaining facial composure; the resulting defenseless, buoyant lightness felt truly precious. Through this process, I also experienced the joy of expressing a character's personality through body language in cosplay.
In this late autumn season, capturing the moment dappled sunlight fell across my cheeks felt incredibly lucky. Although this Goutokuji Mike cosplay attempt had minor hiccups—like strong winds messing up the wig or flipping the skirt—the character's personality came through richly. Through the wooden plaque, autumn scenery, and fluffy textures, the character felt vibrant and natural in front of the lens. Thanks to the photographer's patient guidance, we flawlessly captured that dynamic, fleeting moment of the Lucky cat.