[Yuki-chan cosplay] Meiju Story at ChinaJoy On-Site Event

Today, I worked as the booth cosplayer representing Yuki-chan at the Meiju Story booth (Hall N2, AI-49) at ChinaJoy. Hair and makeup prep kicked off at six in the morning. To recreate the character with fidelity, I specifically opted for high-pigment amber contact lenses, emphasized lower lashes and aegyo sal definition in the eye makeup, and swept blush generously across the center of my face to cultivate that subtly shy, gentle innocence. The wig had been pre-trimmed; the blunt bangs and gently curled tips required careful styling to ensure an airy, natural bounce.

The Sailor suit I wore was tailored specially for this convention: a beige long-sleeved sailor top paired with a dark pleated skirt, the yellow neckerchief tied into a crisp triangle knot at the collar, while the dark contrast striping on the cuffs and collar strictly replicated the character design sheet 1:1. Although ambient temperatures in the expo hall were high and wearing layered garments felt rather sweltering, these physical discomforts were easy to overcome for the sake of presenting the best visual showcase.

Foot traffic at the booth surpassed our wildest expectations, and attendees in Hall N2 brought incredible enthusiasm. Many players passing by immediately recognized the Meiju Story display, forming a steady stream of fans coming over for photo ops and demo playtests. Holding a tablet in hand, I walked players through the in-game UI and daily slice-of-life interactions; many expressed immense interest in this healing companion-focused game. Throughout these interactions, maintaining continuous posture and expression control was essential—standing before the booth, even when my calves began aching from standing in flats on the vinyl flooring for hours, I strove to project Yuki's light, gentle, and welcoming presence.

In portraying cosplay, I have always believed that costumes and props serve merely as the baseline foundation; what matters far more is aligning with the character's temperament and emotional essence. Yuki is conceived as that comforting presence who lets you cast aside exhaustion and simply listens quietly the moment you open the door. Facing the cameras and fans, I consciously slowed my physical cadence, kept my gaze soft, and moderated my speaking voice to be gentle and soothing, hoping to convey that unforced, authentic healing warmth right through the lens.

I bumped into several familiar photographers and fellow fans on-site, sharing thoughts on character interpretation during brief lulls. Because the hall ceiling consists primarily of industrial steel trusses, overhead ambient lighting was harsh, compounded by the colorful spill light from neighboring LED screens, making photography lighting quite tricky. To ensure high-quality shots, I continually adjusted my blocking, using the anime graphic backdrop at the booth as an anchor to seek out softer fill light while micro-adjusting angles under the photographers' guidance to dodge unflattering facial shadows caused by top-lighting. Around 2:00 PM, a small queue formed at the playtest area, so I helped guide the line while chatting with players about their story expectations.

Participating this time was not only a promotional duty for Meiju Story, but also a fantastic exercise in stage presence and camera awareness. Today's Sailor suit fabric was somewhat dense; despite air conditioning in the hall, sweating in front of the densely packed booth was inevitable, but luckily I packed ample setting spray and loose powder to maintain makeup integrity. By evening closing time, foot traffic gradually thinned out and ambient light softened considerably compared to midday, so I snapped a few hall photos along the periphery with several photographers, using the fading twilight and interior lights to craft a cozy mood.

All in all, working at N2-AI-49 today was wonderfully fulfilling, and interacting with everyone brought pure joy. Stepping into ChinaJoy as Yuki-chan and sharing this character's heartwarming warmth with visiting friends made every bit of preparation and sweat genuinely worthwhile.