I've finally sorted out this set of Matcha Daji photos from the Jinling event. Whenever I look back at these raw shots, the first thing that comes to mind isn't the elaborate sets, but rather the venue's scent blending chilly air conditioning with the sweet aroma of popcorn. This time, I cosplayed the matcha-themed Daji: refreshing mint green woven together with milky white, with a bold red brooch at the neckline serving as the only striking color contrast. I adore this clash of tones—resembling a fresh strawberry perched atop matcha ice cream, looking effortlessly summery.
Regarding the costume, this dress features far more layers than anticipated. Puff sleeves, tiered ruffled cupcake skirts, and separate wrist cuffs—each layer relies on inner boning supports and snap buttons to stay in place, taking over forty minutes just to get dressed. Fortunately, the fabric is a slightly lustrous satin that casts a soft pearlescent glow under the flash. Xiaoxiao did a fantastic job with color correction in post-processing, preventing the green from turning dull or grey. However, my biggest gripe goes to those platform high heels: crisscross ankle straps look stunning, but standing for hours left my arches terribly sore. Especially during leg-extending poses, my ankle bearing points pressed entirely against the stiff leather straps, requiring a thirty-minute foot soak after getting home to recover.
There was actually a little episode during the shoot—the tail. As mentioned in the post description, I didn't wear the tail this time. The original design includes a large, fluffy plush tail, but its internal support frame was so heavy that trying it on set made me realize I hadn't mastered balancing my center of gravity at all. Turning around slightly caused me to tip backward, let alone attempting forward reaches or kneeling heart poses. After discussing it with Xiaoxiao, we decided to skip the tail altogether. While it lacked a signature character element, looking at it from another angle, the cleared lower back allowed the skirt layers to show more completely and created a lighter, crisper silhouette. Sometimes imperfections add authenticity; given how many unexpected situations arise at conventions, knowing when to simplify is an essential lesson in cosplay.
Speaking of pose design, I deliberately chose compositions from varied perspectives: sitting on the floor with one leg extended forward and the other bent, using wide-angle perspective stretch to elongate leg lines alongside platform shoes and white lace leg warmers for flattering proportions; standing with hands curled gently into fists near my chest paired with a slight head tilt for a hint of tsundere charm; and a perspective shot reaching one hand toward the lens, requiring precise focusing where finger details show up close while the face stays softly blurred beyond depth of field, communicating through gaze alone. My personal favorite is kneeling on the white fluffy rug, leaning forward slightly with fists at my sides, looking as if pouting yet cheering. Xiaoxiao softened the harsh overhead venue lights beautifully, avoiding unflattering facial shadows while capturing the subtle shimmer of the eyeshadow.
The venue was quite crowded that day, with booths and passersby visible in the background. Xiaoxiao used a wide aperture to blur the backdrop, alternating between high overhead angles and low upward shots to transform cluttered surroundings into soft washes of color. The only headache was the reflective concrete floor; laying down a white fluffy rug solved the ground texture issue while nicely echoing the white lace trims on the skirt for a cohesive palette.
Centering on the theme of 'sweets' and 'sweetness,' my goal when conceiving this shoot was to convey an easygoing vibe with little surprises. It may not carry an overpowering, grandiose aura, but this fresh, approachable, and healing state reflects my understanding of Matcha Daji. Although missing the tail left me frustrated all afternoon, Xiaoxiao refined the physical dynamism during editing, and I genuinely rediscovered my joyful self in those moments. Flipping through these photos feels like encapsulating both the small regrets and immense happiness of that day—which is probably the greatest meaning behind doing cosplay.