Now that I received photos from my Gakupo Kamui photoshoot, I became sort of sentimental so I felt like writing a few words about this cosplay of mine.
For those who don't know what Gakupo or Vocaloid are, here's a brief explanation.
Vocaloid is a Japanese software which produces songs sung by premade syllabic-vocal voicebank. One can make any kind of song by simply inputting lyrics and melody. It was meant to spark a community of fans who make songs with their idols for themselves and others alike. It's a phenomena very popular both Japan and overseas. Voicebanks for numerous versions of this software are provided by people who are generally unknown, with a few exceptions, one of them being the Gackpoid voicebank. Gackpoid, or Kamui Gakupo, is an avatar created for a voicebank provided by famous Japanese singer, Gackt. Among many styles of his, Gackt is usually connected with samurai-like styling, including long hair and traditional outfits, which is what Gakupo's styling was based upon, combined with the fact that there was an obvious lack of quasi-traditional designs among Vocaloid avatars.
When I first heard a Vocaloid sing, I didn't like it at all. Truth is, I still don't like it that much. At least female vocals. But, situation had it that I do adore the aforementioned singer, and when I heard his Vocaloid sing a song "Madness of Duke Venomania", on the second listening I fell in love even with Gackt voice's digitalised counterpart. Much as I did with his design once I googled it!
Design has been created by fabled Miura Kentaro, the author of Berserk. It's a mix of traditional and futuristic style, which resulted in something we today know as Dancing Samurai, Kamui Gakupo. Wielding his music katana, Miburi, he creates tunes and melodies to dance to and enjoy. The kanji on the back of his Jinbaori, or traditional samurai battle jacket is a stylised version of the kanji "Music". Also, every Vocaloid features a fruit/vegetable/some sort of food as a trademark, and so Gakupo got his to be - an eggplant.
So, exactly a year ago, I decided to cosplay Kamui Gakupo.
I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I was determined. I went and bought very decent materials, cotton, felt, and lycra, spent a huge amount on money on them, and started sewing. I made the hakama and the jinbaori the traditional way, using only textile panels of the size that was available in the ancient times of Japan, (that being around 60cm, or 24'') . I pride myself in what I did on those motifs, all the felten applications were hand sewn by my grandma and me, and on this occasion she taught me how to use the hidden stitch, and so my sewing skill got a level up. The bodysuit was a pain on its own. Lycra is that superglossy-super-stretchy material used for Zentais and the likes of, and the sewing machine just couldn't cope with it, it was sewing right through leaving no stitches behind, even with paper and/or some thin cotton fabric put in between and under the layers of it. As I already had this situation with my Aoba costume, I was ready not to break my head about this and sewn it altogether again, by hand. A few strands of waxen blue rope to tie the jinbaori, braided thread curtains from chinatown for the hakama belt - and the majority of my costume was complete!
Next came Gakupo's headphones, headpiece, and shoulderguard. Headphones and headpiece I've drawn in Autocad as a vector, and took it to be laser-cut to achieve perfection. (professional deformation xD ) For the shoulderguard I used thin pieces of EVA foam and a metal base. It is permanently tied for the jinbaori.
To top off my costume, I wanted to put some lights to it. Originally, I meant to put a circular UV lamp on my chest to make the entire whiteness of my costume glow, but that didn't go as planned. I took a circular UV lamp from a computer cooler, but never succeeded in wiring it into working as I failed to find out at which voltage does it operate. Which pushed me into opting for an easier solution - simple white LEDs. This was effective enough for my taste, combined with red glowsticks I installed into headphones and headpiece.
And I'd say that was it! Oh, I also painted a big paper fan and tweaked my katana to complete my prop list.
I debuted this costume on Chibicon 2015, I was dancing on stage and the photos from the performance turned out fabulous!!! (do notice the eggplant in my left hand)
A good friend from Hungary (Phoenix Feather Works Photography) who attended the convention took some amazing pics of Gakupo after the cosplay show. These were the only pics I had of this costume up until now!!!
Two weeks ago, or a round year later, I took this costume to the studio for a full photoshoot. I'm so excited about the upcoming photos!!! ^-^ Also, I think I do look a bit better as Gakupo now than I did back then. Another point for cosplay level-up and a great pleasure of replaying this character for me!!
