[Kasugano Sora cosplay] Classic School swimsuit from Yosuga no Sora: A Summer Trip to Chimelong Water Park

The weather at Chimelong Water Park was ideal for shooting this set—the light was soft and the water was clean, yielding high color fidelity. For this kind of Anime-style swimsuit character, choosing the right outdoor venue is vital; the water park atmosphere beautifully accentuates the character's setting.

For these photos, a lot of thought went into selecting the School swimsuit material. Since a School swimsuit is very unforgiving on figure and fits snugly, where any flaw shows, I carefully conditioned my body before shooting. The fabric was chosen specifically for low water absorption to ensure better texture, preventing it from clinging paper-thin when wet or becoming see-through. The semi-sheer white gauze cover-up is the soul of the outfit; it blocks the sun while adding flowing movement, balancing the plainness of a solid-color School swimsuit and making the overall frame more dynamic. The cut of the shoulder straps and neckline in the photos also helps shape the silhouette, flattering the bust and waistline. In an outfit like this, poses shouldn't be overly exaggerated, but rather as natural and relaxed as possible to avoid stiffness.

As for makeup, to match Sora's traits, I chose red colored contacts, blended red-toned eye makeup, and applied a lively red lip. This slightly bold makeup works wonders by the water—under abundant light, subtle makeup easily looks washed out, whereas vibrant colors bring out that delicate 2D aesthetic. Waterproof foundation and setting spray were used since water droplets inevitably splash poolside. For hair, I went with long silver-white locks; to manage them easily during shooting, plenty of hairnets and hairspray were used. A place like Chimelong gets quite breezy, so hair easily blows across the face or collapses when wet, requiring constant grooming with a fine comb, making this shoot rather taxing.

For props, I chose a white bunny plushie; the bunny creates a lovely contrast with the character, and its fluffiness fits the summer water park vibe. During shooting, care was taken not to let props obstruct the face or silhouette—for example, holding the bunny in Photo 2 looks petite without cluttering the composition. The lighting by the water was intense, so post-processing leaned slightly toward cool tones to highlight porcelain fair skin while keeping the blue water and background saturation vibrant and translucent. Beyond front close-ups, I also tried slight side profiles and looking back into the lens to enhance depth.

Regarding safety, water park surfaces are very slick. For safety and cleaner backgrounds, I usually avoid peak hours and shoot during less crowded morning or afternoon windows. While playing in the water, I took care to keep the wig and makeup from getting overly soaked, as maintaining the character's look is paramount. In Photos 1 and 4, to highlight legs and overall lines, I adjusted my stance; turning slightly sideways accentuates curves, while holding the plushie subtly blocks unnecessary parts to keep focus on the character. Many visitors were around during the shoot, and curious onlookers were unavoidable. I was a bit shy at first, but to bring the character to life, I focused on posing and gradually adapted. Especially at a place like Chimelong Water Park, summer crowds are naturally large and full of cheerful energy.

Preparing for a water park cosplay requires more effort than ordinary locations. Under high summer outdoor temperatures, wearing a tight School swimsuit gets stuffy and sweat-inducing. Makeup touch-ups happen much more frequently than usual, requiring blotting paper and powder compacts on hand. With crowds everywhere, getting clean backgrounds takes quick reflexes and strategic angles to avoid people and garish attractions. I prefer contrasting large color blocks like red pavement against blue water. Outdoor swimsuit shots have high contrast, so in retouching, I avoided over-smoothing the skin, preserving natural water gleam so it wouldn't look like a plastic doll. For photographers wanting to try this, bringing a polarizing filter (CPL) is essential to tame glare off water that could ruin facial exposure.

Ultimately, it was a delightful experience. Chimelong has a wonderful, relaxing vibe, and cosplaying in a swimsuit while playing in the water makes the immersion even stronger. Despite all the details to monitor—keeping hair dry and outfits neat—capturing great photos made this summer entirely worth it.