Yunmao Ayakawa on Cosplay

This year’s Tokyo Game Show played host to “Cosplay Collection Night @TGS,” a video game cosplay fashion show organised by renowned cosplay community Cure. Many of the costumes here match or even supersede those of the World Cosplay Summit, so the night becomes all the more strange when they all partake in the video game music dance party at the end of the night.

We caught up with the night’s MC, Yunmao Ayakawa, to ask her how she became involved in cosplay, her advice to budding cosplayers and her impressions of TGS.

Ready Up: How did you first become interested in cosplay?

Yunmao: I was a big fan of “Yu Yu Hakusho” when I was in elementary school. When my friend and I saw a Yu Yu Hakusho cosplayer at an event I got interested in cosplay right away.

Ready Up: Who was the first character you cosplayed as?

Yunmao:It was Kurama of Yu Yu Hakusho!! We rarely had good quality of wigs back then, so it looked nicer if we arranged our own hair for cosplay. I thought Kurama would be a great character for me since I had long hair. But, honestly, I liked the main character, Yusuke, so I really wanted to do his cosplay!

Ready Up: How long have you been cosplaying?

Yunmao: Wow, amazingly, I’ve had a 17-year career in cosplay!!

Ready Up: Do you play video games much?

Yunmao: I like video games, but I try not to play since I cannot stop playing the game once I start. So I hardly play the games now. If I do, I play fighting video games!! I feel better after a good rumble! But now when my friends come over my house, we play Wii Mario Kart ♪

Ready Up: Who’s your favourite game character?

Yunmao: Snake from METAL GEAR SOLID!! He is so strong and cool, isn’t he? He is my type. His beard makes him hardcore! One day I want to try “snake” since he eats snake.

Ready Up: Which game character would you most like to cosplay as in the future?

Yunmao: Lightning from FINAL FANTASY XIII. I admire such a strong woman!

Ready Up: What are your opinions on crossplay?

Yunmao: I think it is OK. Cosplay is a means to express love of the character and the work. So crossplay is as fun as regular cosplay.

Ready Up: Have you ever crossplayed?

Yunmao: Of course! Although I mostly do girls’ characters these days…

Ready Up: Do you find crossplaying more fun than normal cosplaying?

Yunmao: Boy character cosplay makes us perky and playful!! It may be exciting since we are playing opposite gender, which allow us to present a “different ME.” It is fun to hang out when crossplayers and girl cosplayers are in the same group. But it is also fun when I play girl cosplay!

Ready Up: Was it hard to get used to having your photo taken when you first started?

Yunmao: I am quite often asked for pictures when I do cosplay. I enjoy when my picture is taken. It is a sign that people enjoy my cosplay, so I am very flattered and happy! Photo shoots are fun, and the pictures are a record of my cosplay. I received pictures from photographers, and always enjoy the pictures.

Ready Up: What’s been the best moment for you in your cosplaying career so far?

Yunmao: Going to overseas… I WANT TO GO TO ENGLAND!!!

Ready Up: Both last year and this year the cosplay event at TGS featured many game music remixes. What’s your favourite video game music?

Yunmao: This is a tough question! I cannot choose just one song since game music is cute, cool, splendid and mysterious… it is of high quality. So I have to say I love all video game music!!

Ready Up: What were your favourite costumes at TGS this year?

Yunmao: Cosplayers who played the FINAL FANTASY series. Their costumes were very stylish!

Ready Up: Did you like any of the booth attendants’ costumes?

Yunmao: Princess Peach! She was really cute! I will try her costume one day… and hang out with other cosplayers in Mario and Kinopio [Toad] costumes…

Ready Up: Did you get to play any games at TGS this year?

Yunmao: I saw may games that I want to play, but I was busy interviewing people and working on the stage… I did not have time for myself to enjoy the TGS (cry~~~)

Ready Up: Why do you think cosplay is becoming more popular in Western countries?

Yunmao: Because it is fun! And it is a main attraction of the event. The more people who love manga, anime and games, the more people do cosplay. It is a fun way of expressing ourselves. It is fun to do and watch others cosplay. We share something in common through cosplay. We can see what the cosplayer likes, right? We can communicate with each other through cosplay. Recently the quality of cosplay is getting much better since cosplayers put a lot of effort in creating their costumes. Cosplayers also try harder to present themselves well at events. When people see cosplayers who look so real, they become fascinated with cosplay and probably start thinking to do cosplay. Now we have more materials to make better costumes and wigs and pre-maid costumes are available at the store. So recently it’s became easier to start cosplaying. I believe that cosplayers will keep improving the quality of costumes, and that cosplay will be GREAT CULTURE!

Ready Up: What advice would you give to people around the world thinking about cosplaying for the first time?

Yunmao: Cosplay is fun! Getting wigs and costumes is fun, and feeling as if you become the character is fantastic. You will meet people who do cosplay from the same game or anime, and make friends. You will feel happy when other people enjoy your cosplay. If you have not done cosplay before, you may feel a bit strange to wear anime, manga and videogame characters. BUT, think about Halloween! We wear costumes and have fun, right? So try Cosplay anyway. You will like it, and a completely new world will open up!

Yunmao Ayakawa is not only famous for her cosplaying endeavors, she has appeared as Jonathan Ross’ trusty sidekick on Japanorama and is the official spokesperson for the Nihon Maid Association in Japan.