[Raiden Shogun cosplay] A Slash at the School Convention, Count Me In Next Time!

Yesterday was our school's self-hosted anime convention, and I started preparing for this Raiden Shogun cosplay a month ago. Since the venue was right in the school's teaching area plaza, everything was super familiar, and there was no need to squeeze onto crowded subways or queue up to enter like big off-site conventions, which was a huge plus.

I woke up early at six in the morning to do my hair and makeup. For the Shogun's wig this time, I specifically spent a lot of time trimming it, tweaking the blunt bangs' length and sideburn curves across several versions to make the hairstyle look natural while capturing her decisive, resolute vibe. The headpiece was a custom-made horn with blue floral ornaments and yellow tassels on the side; wearing it indeed gave an added aura of majesty. I also carefully adjusted my facial makeup, elongating the eyeliner at the outer corners to match the character's sharp, stern gaze.

As for the outfit, this Japanese-style modified wide-sleeved uchikake coat was extremely time-consuming. From fabric selection to the purple-and-gold piping technique on the sleeves, I had a tailor modify it several times to achieve the current tailored fit. Since the school convention was crowded, I had to constantly check the smoothness of the garment. The wide red sash adorned with classic fret patterns and the layered purple skirt layers were quite heavy as a whole—especially the braided cord and tassels around the waist, which swayed with every step and felt wonderfully premium. The combination of the high-slit lower garment and knee-high boots required multiple anti-exposure adjustments after putting them on, ensuring poses remained natural and poised during photo captures.

Regarding props, I only retrieved that long polearm from the pickup station two days ago. Although made of lightweight material, holding it in hand still felt quite substantial. Probably because the headpiece and props were so eye-catching, my head-turn rate while walking around the school convention yesterday was extremely high. Quite a few schoolmates came up to ask for photos together, and at that moment, I truly felt that the greatest charm of cosplay is bringing a 2D character into 3D reality. Getting recognized by others brought such an incredible sense of achievement.

Even though the entire day was exhausting—standing from morning until sunset, feet nearly going numb inside the long boots, switching venues mid-way, touching up hair and makeup, and carrying heavy props around—the collaboration with photographer ZERO during the shoot was super pleasant. The angles he chose beautifully highlighted the design details of this costume. That complex feeling of being thoroughly exhausted yet immensely happy is probably something only a true Cosplayer can appreciate.

Finally, I want to thank the passing classmate who took the candid hall photo. Although the image quality might not compare to a DSLR, the sense of participation and joy were captured perfectly in the lens. Hosting an anime convention at our own school is just so convenient—no tiresome traveling out of town, and easy to adjust my condition anytime. This experience also helped me spot a few garment details that could be improved further; next time I portray this character, I will probably tighten the waist corset to fit even more snugly.

In short, walking through a familiar campus wearing clothes of a character I love feels absolutely amazing. If our school hosts similar events in the future, I will definitely sign up without hesitation!