This time at the cocexpo anime convention, I challenged myself with Hikawa Kyoka cosplay from Princess Connect! Re:Dive. The preparation process was quite interesting—the light purple wig was styled multiple times, with bangs layered specifically so they wouldn't look too heavy. The light blue bow with long ribbons on top, together with elf ears and tiny gold butterfly pendants, perfectly captured the character's spirit.
As for the costume, this modified traditional Japanese design is crafted with meticulous care. The shoulder armor features layered deep purple decorations accented with pearl strings, looking both gorgeous and refined. The sash uses an eye-catching bright yellow with two long streamers dangling down that gently sway as I walk. Below, the black ruffled miniskirt paired with a voluminous layered skirt delivers great fluffiness during turns or leg lifts. The gradient craftsmanship on the outer skirt transitions naturally from blue to purple and pink at the edges in 2D Cosplay styling.
The starry sky staff in my hand was the ultimate highlight—the shaft features champagne gold coloring, while the massive deep purple sphere at the tip carries starry textures that display distinct luster under natural light or speedlights. During the shoot, I deliberately adjusted the sphere's angle so its reflection resonated with my gaze.
At the cocexpo event, transparent venue lighting combined with glass curtain wall reflections made it ideal for Convention photography of such colorful outfits. Before shooting, photographer DJ and I confirmed key angles to emphasize both gradient skirt layers and staff completeness. Although wearing geta clogs required constant balance control, getting used to them allowed more natural weight shifts. Raising the staff made the top orb look deep under overhead lighting; to capture this, we fired the shutter twice in complex lighting zones. Smooth teamwork allowed me to fully immerse in character Roleplay.
Lighting on convention day was super friendly, with glass curtain walls keeping indoor light even and clean for Convention photography. I tried sitting poses, holding the staff single-handed, and double-handed stances. My favorites were snapshots catching skirt motion and leg lines in 2D Cosplay styling. Wearing geta clogs was a small challenge, but finding center gravity helped strike unique poses. A good cosplay photo requires quality outfits, props, posture, and facial expression control. Since the character naturally possesses a serious yet stubborn cuteness from Princess Connect! Re:Dive, I kept my eyes focused while subtly curving my lips into a slight smile to match her personality.
Communication with photographer DJ was effortless; his mastery over light and shadows gave this detail-rich outfit incredible 3D presence. Among these photos, I personally love the full-body shots utilizing venue depth. From the trailing skirt hem to the top of the magical staff, the overall visual is striking. Although the shoot was tiring, seeing the final Hikawa Kyoka cosplay results made every effort completely worth it. This cosplay experience allowed me to delve deeper into her persona while enjoying the joy and achievement brought by Roleplay.