[Megumi Kato Cosplay] Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend: Tranquil Moments in a Japanese Garden

When putting on this pink kimono and walking into the Japanese garden, I felt myself completely calm down. The inspiration for this shoot was actually quite straightforward—I wanted to recreate that unique nonchalance of Megumi Kato from Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. The outfit was custom-made in advance, featuring a pink base dotted with cherry blossom patterns and stunning red accents along the collar. A bright blue obi was selected, creating a soft color-blocking effect with the pink, paired with geta, white socks, and cute flower hair accessories with tassels on my head, making the overall look extremely faithful to the character.

The lighting on the day of the shoot was exceptionally good, with Japanese shoji doors and quaint lanterns arranged in the studio. The seated postures in the first and third photos were actually adjusted for a long time; wanting that casual laziness, I adopted poses like hugging my knees or leaning back. The dark ceramic tea bowl in my hand served as a great prop—when holding it, I unconsciously dropped into the character's unhurried rhythm. The photographer was skilled at capturing these natural states, requiring no exaggerated expressions, just quietly looking at the lens or bowing my head to sip tea.

The greatest charm of Megumi Kato lies in that perfect balance of being ordinary yet special. She doesn't make noise proactively, yet she always has a full sense of presence. To fit this temperament, we deliberately reduced dramatic posing while shooting this Japanese-style photoshoot, focusing more on capturing my relaxed demeanor. The gravel on the ground and scattered pink petals also added to the garden's realism.

During retouching, many warm tones of the environment were preserved to make the skin look more translucent and natural, with soft light from paper lanterns nearby illuminating my face and making features look three-dimensional. The fabric texture of this outfit showed subtle grain under the light, exceeding photo expectations.

I've done cosplay in many other styles before, but Megumi Kato's quiet, soft tone really requires a settled mindset. Sitting there in this outfit, staring blankly at the tea bowl, I truly felt the inner peace of the character. This is probably where cosplay is fun—experiencing another person's perspective through costumes and settings.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable shoot. The makeup artist handled things exceptionally well today, with eyebrows and eye makeup amplifying the eyes' traits just right. Props prepared by the assistant had great texture, especially that small ceramic tea bowl, which felt very authentic in hand. During breaks, some dynamic snapshots were taken, though currently these static shots turned out better. Organizing this set of photos, I found myself liking them more and more; this subtle Japanese style is truly great for photo sharing.

Honestly, when deciding to cosplay Megumi Kato at first, my heart was filled with both anticipation and anxiety. Because Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend is extremely popular in the anime community, and Megumi Kato, as the central character, has a look deeply imprinted in fans' minds. How to capture that unique temperament without forced imitation was the question I pondered before shooting. So I decided against ostentatious poses, striving instead to present a state merged into the environment. For example, sitting with knees hugged at the edge of a wooden garden veranda, holding a tea bowl while dazing—these casual scenes often best capture the character's soul.

In addition, we spent much thought on costume details this time. Though it was a modified kimono, the obi knotting style, collar overlapping layers, and even a hidden pin in front were checked repeatedly to ensure the best visual depth in front of the camera. As for the flower hair accessories on my head, I initially worried they might look too heavy or abrupt, but after putting them on, they proved remarkably photogenic, especially under warm lighting where petals seemed to hold a soft halo.

Speaking of prop arrangements, they were truly attentive. Not only were there staggered Japanese paper lanterns, but also a green-leaved small pine bonsai and an oil-paper umbrella in the background. Combined together, these elements instantly pulled one into a quiet atmosphere far away from urban hustle. I personally love scenes with traditional tranquility; compared to noisy convention halls, this highly immersive real-scene studio allowed me to enter the zone much faster.

Regarding posture selection, we tried several different angles. In the first photo, resting my chin on my hand under lantern light created a lazy gaze; the second photo showed a side profile holding the tea bowl, cleanly displaying costume tailoring and silhouette lines; the third photo was a full-body seated shot on the ground, where white socks and geta paired with elongated leg lines made the overall image look slighter and lighter; the fourth photo utilized a top-down angle, using cherry blossom shade in the foreground as bokeh to create a misty beauty. All four images are styles I adore, each with its own merits.

However, if I had to pick one as a cover photo for sharing, the seated pose in the third picture would be most representative of the overall vibe. In this shot, one can simultaneously see bottom hem pattern details, the blue obi at the waist, as well as gently crossed legs with geta. My state sat in a natural, relaxed defensive posture while looking straight into the lens, carrying a quiet power.

The photography team this time was truly awesome, and our teamwork throughout the shoot was super seamless. The photographer's lighting was clever, avoiding harsh white light in favor of diffuse soft light simulating Japanese natural light, an approach perfectly fitting Megumi Kato's character traits as part of Japanese-style photography.

All in all, cosplaying Megumi Kato was a very special experience for me recently. She isn't a blood-pumping male protagonist nor a flashy magical girl, but her seemingly ordinary details that always catch people's hearts allowed me to relax completely in front of the camera and enjoy this roleplay process. This is not just a visual record, but a capture of character emotion. I hope to pass on Megumi Kato's serene composure and the tenderness conveyed by the Japanese garden in these photos just as they are.