[Aoyagi Toya cosplay] Convention photos: A Dashing Portrayal with Suit and Longsword

The Convention photos from the ijoy anime convention are finally here! This time, I cosplayed a genderbent version of Aoyagi Toya. When I received this design concept, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to merge the original character's clean, refreshing aura with the sharp, crisp poise of a gender-swapped look. The costume is packed with details: the white suit jacket has a structured, tailored silhouette, with exquisite gold embroidery adorning the lapels and cuffs. The layered grey waistcoat and gold-trimmed white cravat beneath add incredible depth, giving my entire posture a poised, upright presence once worn. To honor the genderbent styling, the wig was dyed in an asymmetrical two-tone split—deep violet on the left and light blue on the right—with plenty of hairspray locking the bangs into sharp arcs. Because there was plenty of walking at the venue, I reinforced the wig net to keep the look pristine and faithful without unraveling. For makeup, I chose light blue contact lenses to echo the hair color, blended with rich reddish-toned eyeshadow to infuse a hint of cool stoicism into the heroic look, finished with a nude lip color to sustain an overall cool ambiance.

As for props, this Western longsword carries substantial weight—beyond its polished metallic look, it felt quite heavy in hand. When striking poses, I had to master balance while projecting character confidence and nonchalant ease. I practiced sword-holding grips repeatedly; swinging the blade with one hand genuinely tested arm strength. Special thanks go to photographer @清风摄影人V for today's shoot; we discussed lighting and framing at length. Convention hall lighting is notoriously complex and chaotic. To capture the tactile texture of the suit and the layered shades of the wig, the photographer sought out darker backdrops or used a wide aperture to melt the bustling background, letting the white ensemble gleam as the visual centerpiece. Because the tailored suit was form-fitting, dynamic movements risked creasing the fabric, yet we needed to capture martial presence. Poses like drawing the blade, slashing, and sitting with one hand placed over the chest were shot repeatedly, with the photographer constantly guiding my gaze and hand tension.

Cosplaying a genderbent character is truly rewarding—it's never just putting on a different costume, but discovering the right subtle expressions and gestures. The original character is already such a charming boy; in this genderbent rendition, I wanted her to embody that composed serenity along with the gallant dash of a female knight. Walking and posing around the bustling convention was physically demanding, and wearing a full suit indoors got quite warm, but seeing the finished photos made every second worthwhile. The energy at the con was wonderful, and exchanging conversations and taking photos with fellow fans is always the highlight of attending. During post-processing, the photographer and I refined the color grading, preserving the vivid pop of the red rose boutonniere against the monochrome and grey contrast of the suit for a clean, sophisticated finish. This photo set pretty much summarizes my convention journey, and I hope this dashing charm reaches everyone.