Several reasons made me choose the wish-granting witch as my very first cosplay ever, back then in 2011. First, I'm a huge CLAMP fan - I love both their stories and their artwork. Second, it's age appropriate - I was well past 30 when I got involved in cosplay (I started cosplaying in the line of duty, as the host of Japanizam's main stage), and I couldn't see myself running around as your average cutesy, chipper and painfully underage anime heroine. And thirdly - and most importantly - I can deeply relate to Yuuko as a character.

Yuuko Ichihara is a rare bird in the world of manga and anime. A mature woman of immature behavior, veiled in mystery and pipe smoke, Yuuko has a rare power: she can make any wish come true. No matter who you are, no matter what you wish for -- she can give it to you. The catch is that every wish has a price: it costs exactly as much as it is worth, no more, no less. To have it granted, you must be ready to lose something dear to you - and of course, more often than not, it turns out that the price was higher and harder to pay than you would think. Trapped in her shop that she cannot leave, spending her days granting people's wishes fully aware it would end up ruining them, no wonder Yuuko's a borderline alcoholic, cynical to the bone and with little faith in humanity. Yet in spite of her nihilism and trolling habits, it is obvious that deep underneath Yuuko does have a kind heart, which she shows only occasionally, to a chosen few.

Oh, she's also shamelessly, crushingly sexy - but sex appeal is not there for the male gaze. Yuuko dresses in her outrageous outfits because it amuses her - and that confidence is something I fully identify with. So it was an honor to bring Yuuko to life not once, but twice - in 2011 and in 2015, showing how my cosplay skills have improved.

This set of pics is from April, 2015, of course.


Credits:

Kimono dress designed by Mistiqarts, made by Ana Barajević and Marina Anđelković
Kiseru pipe by Endymion Craftsmanship & Cosplay
Makeup by Ljubica Mirković
Photo by Aleksandar Jovković, edit by Tenshi