[Tatara Kogasa cosplay] The Karakasa-obake in Touhou Project

To recreate the startling and mischievous vibe of Tatara Kogasa from Touhou Project, I put a lot of thought into my makeup styling and expression management. The most eye-catching part of the photos should be this pair of heterochromia eyes—red on the left and blue on the right. To make them look natural in front of the lens, I not only tried contact lenses of various diameters, but also specifically emphasized the blush under the eyes and the processing of the eyelashes. Combined with bright red lip gloss, I managed to capture that slightly spooky yet cute Karakasa-obake vibe. In front of the camera, I made a V-sign near my cheek, opening my mouth slightly to show my teeth, serving as a tiny "boo!" to all of you in front of the screen.

Let's talk about the details of this costume. To fit the character's setting, for the inner layer, I chose a white shirt with rich ruffles at the collar and cuffs; this layered retro feel enhances the character's mystery. The blue-green vest on the outside was matched by myself, with a color deliberately kept consistent with the wig on my head. The intersecting black cloth strip pattern right in front of the vest is the soul of the entire outfit; I chose a material with slight elasticity, and after sticking it on, I repeatedly adjusted its position to ensure clean-cut lines. The small blue-green round button at the collar is also the finishing touch. The blue-green ribbons wrapped around the cuffs are a bit tricky to secure, but as long as they are tied well and paired with the fluffy wig, the overall layering comes right out.

Although this photo looks like a casual selfie, the lighting during the shoot was quite elaborate. To make the colors of the heterochromia eyes and the blue-green wig more saturated, I added fill lights in the front and on the sides, so that the highlights in the eyes could refract a translucent feel. The wig also received basic styling before wearing, trimming the bangs' length to let stray hairs fall naturally on both sides of the cheeks to flatter the face shape.

Cosplaying characters from Touhou Project is actually very interesting because fans have a deep-rooted impression of the characters, so every time I cosplay, it feels like having a face-to-face communication with the character. Tatara Kogasa is a yokai who likes to scare people but often bumbles it; this contrast moe is especially attractive to me. I practiced my expressions in front of the mirror many times; if it's too fierce, it loses its cuteness, and if it's too sweet, it doesn't fit the setting. In the end, I felt that this slightly triumphant mischievous expression fits best.

In fact, every time I cosplay, from wig styling and makeup design to clothing coordination and prop preparation, a huge amount of time needs to be invested. But seeing the effect presented in the photos makes me feel that everything is totally worth it. For this background, I chose simple curtains and a dark door frame, so that the visual focus is completely concentrated on the character's face and costume colors. I hope to have the opportunity later to bring her iconic paper umbrella prop and go on-location for a more complete cosplay photoshoot, showcasing more of the storytelling sense regarding this character.