The CP31 convention photos are finally here, and upon receiving the preview shots, I couldn't wait to share my experience cosplaying Janus with everyone. As a longtime fan of the Azur Lane Royal Navy faction, I finally brought this ordinary yet ever-hardworking J-class destroyer to the convention floor.
This white magical-girl style dress looks airy and ethereal, but preparing and crafting it tested my patience immensely. To recreate the delicate white feather trim around the neckline, I bought white feathers of varying lengths, trimming them individually and securing them onto the backing with hot glue. The cold-shoulder cutout design, along with the golden anchor pendant hanging from the neck, captures her signature character traits beautifully. The light blue vertical pinstripes and gold piping along the skirt had to be positioned by hand onto the white tulle to ensure natural, fluid pleats.
The soul of this entire look is undoubtedly the massive golden staff. To ensure it commanded the stage at the convention without exhausting me from excessive weight, I crafted the staff body with lightweight hollow materials. The most intricate crown piece—featuring the golden crescent moon, inlaid pearls, blue roses, and radiating silver-grey spikes—required every tiny component to be sanded smooth before painting. Once completed, I tied two long red ribbons to the staff. Walking around or posing on-site, the ribbons fluttered in the breeze, instantly injecting fluid grace into otherwise static shots.
For makeup, I selected a dewy foundation to brighten the complexion, paired with light blue contact lenses matching the wig to enhance the crystal clarity of my gaze. The lip makeup featured a vibrant, rosy finish that looked radiant under natural outdoor lighting. For hairstyling, the light blue straight hair with blunt bangs and side braids, accented with hair ornaments bearing gold charms and red ribbons, achieved high fidelity from raw materials to final styling.
The lighting on the day of the convention was phenomenal—free of harsh, blinding glare, bathed instead in a soft, diffused glow that provided ideal conditions for our light blue-and-white color palette. During shooting, I immersed myself in Janus's personality—slightly timid and shy, yet always striving to do her best for the port. In some frames, I held the staff in profile with my gaze turned toward the distance, pretending to patrol the naval port; in others, I lifted one foot slightly to display the proportions of the White stockings cosplay and legs, along with the gold-and-red thigh garter. The photographer was exceptionally professional, capturing many candid, natural moments.
Throughout the extensive convention photography and walkthrough, I realized bringing a beloved character to life truly demands immense dedication. While gorgeous, the outfit was structurally complex, making prolonged walking far from effortless. Yet when fellow fans passed by with appreciative nods and called out 'Janus,' that sense of fulfillment instantly washed away all fatigue.
Every completed set represents a deeper understanding of the character. I look forward to exploring more Royal Navy characters in the future and sharing more cosplay works across upcoming conventions.