[Nitocris cosplay] Fate/Grand Order 5th Anniversary Project: On-Site Record at the Tottori Sand Dunes

Arriving at the Tottori Sand Dunes in Nitocris's classic outfit to recreate the vast sand sea from the Fate/Grand Order 5th anniversary newspaper project on-site. The desert wind blew fine sand against my face, blending with the moisture from the coast to form the unique climate experience of the Tottori Sand Dunes.

This chosen look focuses on recreating the character's iconic purple wig and the blue-and-gold pointed-ear headdress. To maintain my complexion under the strong outdoor light, I specially emphasized the round blush on my cheeks, which, paired with the light-colored contacts, showed just the right level of color under natural light. The checkered vest is the visual focus of this outfit, with a white base layer underneath. The hem is tied with red fabric to create a waistband effect, paired with shorts and leather ankle straps, which not only made it easy to walk on the sand but also preserved the character's original style.

The long-handled staff prop took a lot of effort; the bird-head shape at the top is very solidly made and has a certain weight in hand, making it highly practical as a foreground for composition. On the dunes, the wooden and metallic textures of this prop reflected great light and shadow under the sun.

During the shoot, the natural conditions of the Tottori Sand Dunes indeed brought many challenges. The fine sand is very soft; stepping on it not only makes your feet sink easily, but you also need to constantly clean out the sand that slips into the crevices of the props and the folds of the clothes. When the wind was strong, the wig would blow around, but it also allowed for a few perfect snapshots of the hair naturally floating, adding a dynamic feel to the frame. The photographer, Tieban Youyuren, is excellent at capturing this state under natural light, especially through the use of backlighting and rim lighting, creating beautiful rim light on the hair strands and headdress.

Regarding the composition of this photo set, we tried some exaggerated selfie angles, such as low-angle looking up and looking down, which perfectly highlighted the vastness of the dunes. These close-up perspectives bring a closer feel to the image, as if the character is directly leaning out from the sand sea. As for that final long shot of running, though it was a moment captured during playback on the camera screen, that state of running unbound on the sand perfectly matched my mood while stepping on the sand here.

Making a special trip to Tottori for this project certainly required some determination. There aren't many local train shifts, so the transportation isn't particularly convenient, but actually standing on the dunes, looking at the distant coastline and continuous sands, one can understand why the newspaper chose Tottori for such a project. Experiencing the vastness of nature in person leaves a much stronger impression than a simple studio shoot.

Documenting this outdoor cosplay experience is also a way of wrapping up this anime pilgrimage. The sunlight on the dunes was intense, and the ground temperature was very high, consuming a lot of physical energy over several hours of shooting. However, being able to ultimately present this set of photos that restores the character and scene atmosphere makes all the fatigue during the process worthwhile. I hope that while sharing my shooting insights, it can also let everyone feel the unique visual impact brought by this outdoor field filled with wind, sand, and scorching sun.