[Shinobu Kochou Cosplay] Demon Slayer Convention Photos with My Sister from Chengdu ACJOY

The set of Shinobu Kochou Convention photos from the Chengdu ACJOY Anime Convention has finally been sorted out. After receiving the returned prints, I swiftly picked out these few photos where I felt my overall state and the visual output were quite good.

A massive amount of heart went into this gear from preparation to final execution. The white-based haori is the soul; the fabric needed to adhere as closely as possible to the lightweight texture of butterfly wings, while ensuring that when moving around in a densely packed venue like an anime convention, the edges wouldn't frequently fold over or wrinkle poorly. The black-and-white lines and the pink-and-blue gradient were repeatedly checked against the pattern layout by the tailor. The inner layer features a black stand-up collar, with clean details at the neckline and chest to emphasize the character's sleek temperament. For accessories, securing the butterfly hairpiece was a technical feat—it had to lock into the updo without falling out while ensuring it faced the camera from various shooting angles. Although the blade in my hand was unsharpened for safety considerations, I tried my best to restore the design palette for the white scabbard, the orange-and-black cord wrap on the hilt, and the tsuba guard details, giving me a few degrees of confidence in character molding through its heft. The purple-black gradient highlights in the wig were also a critical link in the overall styling; the bun structure at the crown combined with wisps of stray hair at specific angles required organizing a look that was both layered yet wouldn't poke my eyes during the shoot. For the makeup, we intentionally took a minimalist approach, avoiding over-intensity in the eye makeup and instead using soft blending to match the unique weightless feel of the character. Furthermore, regarding the management of the standing posture, I consciously adjusted my body's tilt angle in this set of photos so that the wide haori could generate a dynamic illusion of being lightly ruffed by the wind even while standing still, making the scene look more natural.

The venue environment at ACJOY this time actually presented quite a challenge for output. The large-scale glass curtain walls brought excellent natural light sources but were prone to generating harsh reflections; isolating the character from the cluttered light-and-shadow and background truly tested the photographer's proficiency. Fortunately, the photographer caught the timing wonderfully, not only preserving the dynamic feel of the movements but also keeping the gaze and emotion on point. I specially selected several different angles: one front-view shot looking at the lens while holding the blade, where the eyes carry a touch of the character's characteristic calmness and softness; another with eyes closed holding the blade up by the face—although the range of movement is small, I feel this serene ambiance perfectly aligns with the character's own personality; and the dual photo, where we deliberately struck a back-to-back pose to echo the Kochou sisters setup. Of course, hitting a convention is incomplete without coordinating with a great sister. Although our outfits belong to the same series, shaping the differences in hairstyles and subtle nuances in temperament cost us a great deal of time adjusting for each other. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of a back-to-back composition; in truth, to find the optimal solution for both of our body placements and blade-holding angles, we tried back and forth multiple times on the floor. For the dual shot, to make the color transition more natural, we even mutually coordinated the folds of our haori at the back, and the final print successfully captured the sisterly bond atmosphere we desired.

However, pulling off full-heavy makeup is ultimately an endurance task. Wearing the wig and headpieces all day combined with maintaining the character's posture and poise left my neck and shoulders genuinely stiff and aching by the time I removed the makeup at home in the evening. Yet, seeing that I could fairly accurately restore the character's essence in the photos, a massive portion of that fatigue instantly dissipated. Quite a few fan friends have been asking about personalized autographed prints (To-signs); I did indeed encounter many passionate people during the two-day offline event. But because my subsequent schedule and energy are fully packed, I temporarily cannot accept To-sign requests, and I sincerely apologize to everyone here. Sharing this memory belonging to the anime convention is done in hopes of presenting a genuine Shinobu Kochou to everyone, along with the passion and dedication the two of us poured into this character. With this set of photos shared, my mind is much more at ease.