[Menma cosplay] Tatami Afternoon in Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

In terms of the photo setting, this time I tried a very daily and lifelike scene for this Menma cosplay. Friends who are familiar with this work should know that Menma's pure yet somewhat persistent personality is difficult to fully encapsulate with a single expression.

For the costume, I chose this white multi-layered ruffled dress, slightly adjusting the blue ribbon at the neckline to make it look true to the original without being too stiff. While ensuring high volume, the wig's bangs were also trimmed to fit Menma's slightly messy yet natural hairstyle. The blue colored contacts are the perfect finishing touch, adding a lot of life to the gaze. As for the bottle of sake in my hand, it was actually a small prop added on a whim during this shoot. Originally meant to match the tatami scene to express a relaxed state at home, I didn't expect it to bring such a lifelike vibe, creating a highly interactive feel in the photos.

The shooting location was a room with a Japanese tatami and wooden bookshelves. This warm-toned wooden home background fits the original work's daily atmosphere perfectly. The lighting wasn't set too harsh; we tried our best to use soft natural light to highlight the translucent skin tone. The low-angle shot can elongate the silhouette and add a playful feel to the frame, which suits the character quite well.

It has actually been a long time since this work was broadcast, but everyone's love for the character remains. As a cosplayer, trying to capture a classic character with a gap moe and a Japanese casual style often tests your grasp of the atmosphere more than shooting those grand, gorgeous scenes. This time, I didn't deliberately force those sad poses, focusing more on recording her relaxed, natural state in the room with her friends. Because Menma herself is a very vivid cute girl who loves to blend into everyone's life.

For the makeup, to fit Menma's youthful setting, the base makeup was made very fair and translucent. The blush was placed on both sides below the eyes to create a slight flush, which, paired with the light blue colored contacts, beautifully presents that crystal-clear gaze.

Regarding the action of holding the sake bottle, I communicated with the photographer for a long time. If held rigidly, it would look very stiff, so I specially posed with my body slightly turned, center of gravity on my knees, turning my head to look at the camera. This not only showcases the costume and props but also creates a playful feeling of being suddenly called out. The tailoring of the white ruffled dress is also very meticulous; the pleats of the skirt allow it to spread naturally on the tatami when sitting, forming great visual layers. Stepping barefoot on the woven bamboo tatami, the cool touch also helped me relax into a more effortless state.

As a classic character from a classic old anime, doing a Menma cosplay is a matter of nostalgia, but also a challenge. Her image is so deeply rooted in people's hearts. I chose not to deliberately imitate that hysterical crying state from the anime, but rather interpret her with a relaxed daily atmosphere. I hope to show everyone a girl-next-door image stripped of the tragic filter—just a real, cute girl who would share sake (though it's a prop) with friends on the tatami.

This set of photos is a small attempt of mine at a daily-oriented cosplay photoshoot, retaining the original woven texture of the tatami and the feel of the wooden furniture. The sake bottle also becomes a special visual anchor in the frame, making the whole set look more like a snapshot of daily life. Through this shoot, I am also reflecting on how to use scenes and props to tell the character's story beyond just styling. Although the props are simple, as long as they can convey the character's unique purity and directness, and touch the emotion in the fans' hearts, it is a very meaningful attempt.