[Cosplay] A Man in the Twilight
I am sorry that I haven’t uploaded for a month. October is going to end soon and this year is also going to end soon…how fast time goes by. But my life is the same as before, I mean, work and cosplay…meet people, that’s about it.
This year, I made friends with a couple of photographers, and have had some photo sessions with them. They are not professional, but to me, they are because they make really wonderful cosplaying photos. I truly realise cosplaying photos are not like portraits. Professional photographers surely take photos very well, but that is not enough. We cosplayers are trying to be a character from fantasy, which means those photos have to be something from fantasy. If you cosplay someone from your favorite anime, you have to find a good location. Location is very important. And you have to learn about the character, which means what kind of pose is required, which angle looks good the most, how much the lighting is, how you photoshop, or that kind of thing. In this way, you can make a cosplaying photo. People who can handle these things so well are, of course, the fans who love the character. When I cosplay, I always try to find someone who knows the character I cosplay. Otherwise, good photos won’t come out.
This year, I haven’t cosplayed new characters a lot because I want to re-do my old characters to make much better photos. I usually ask which character my friends want to take before the photo session. The character I have cosplayed the most this year is absolutely him.
He is Hijikata Toushiro[土方十四郎] from Gintama[銀魂]. I don’t think this anime is that popular out of Japan, but it really is here. Especially among young girls including fujoshi. It’s not like Tiger and Bunny, but why do fujoshi love Gintama? Anyway, in this anime Shinsengumi is depicted as police. Hijikata is the lieutnant who always smokes and carries mayonnaise with him.
I shall upload the photos taken by the two photographers, Yoru and Aya. They are a big fan of Gintama, and asked me to cosplay Hijikata. Yoru took my Hijikata at Japanese Garden, and Aya did at the sea. I had two sessions with Aya because she wanted to use the sunset. But unfortunately, the weather was not good first, so she changed the plan. She asked me to run in the waves, and swing the sword in the air. Next tiime, finally the beautiful sunset came.
I really want to say thank you to the two photographers because I have never seen such wonderful photos before. If you want to make a film, you need a director and an actor. A photographer and a cosplayer are something like that.
Series: Gintama[銀魂]
Character: Hijikata Toushiro[土方十四郎]
Cosplayer: bangin
Photographer: Yoru[garden], Aya[seashore]
Japanese words of anime fans, by anime fans, for anime fans 
ojamiya said,
October 27, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I’ve been following your blog now for a few months and enjoying the excellent photos and portrayals! This month’s portrayal is my favorite, even though I haven’t seen the anime.
bangin said,
October 28, 2011 at 11:21 am
Thank you for following my blog and your first comment. Please come anytime!
Filip said,
October 27, 2011 at 1:19 pm
It’s pretty epic… I think. Waves, blood and mayonnaise ^^ It looks like it could be the scenes from an actually existing movie – a one of the ironic, playing with the convention of a B-grade action genre kind of movie. I’d love to see it : )
About 6th and 7th photo – be careful with setting contrast in photoshop, ’cause the black stops looking like colour and starts acting like a hole in the picture.
I guess my favourites are the ones at the seashore. They have this “a lonesome hero riding away into the sunset” kind of feel to them. I like the last one especially. Well, no wonder, it’s a beautiful scenery with pretty handsome Hijikata in it, I’d say.
When I first saw the title of this post only, my first thought was; “A Man in the Twilight… um… means Edward?”. Well, this is but a really lame joke, so please, don’t ever cosplay that sparkling thing… =x=’
Btw, I just got my hands on the first volume of the Polish edition of “Kuroshitsuji”. It’s printed really nicely, and seeing a good manga released in one’s native language… well, it feels good ^^ So i just had to say it :}
And one more thing… wasn’t it awfully cold? In the sea, I mean. Just curious…
bangin said,
October 28, 2011 at 11:36 am
Thank you, actually all of the photos were photoshopped by the photographers. Usually I do myself, though.
No it wasn’t cold at all since just my knees got in the water.
I don’t know A Man in the Twilight in fact. Just coincidence, is that a novel?
Filip said,
October 28, 2011 at 11:46 am
Oh no, nothing like that, I just meant the usual Twilight – all that sparkly vampires nightmare…
About the photos – I just knew there was something off. Beacaue usually they are edited really well.
nobody said,
October 27, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Great cosplay although you look somewhat too young to be cosplaying Toushirou yet. I’m not quite sure how popular Gintama is in Japan but it’s far from unpopular in Western world despite being hated by quite a few because of the vulgar jokes and overall crazy setting. I guess they fail to see the fun and heart-warming side of Gintama.
bangin said,
October 28, 2011 at 11:24 am
Really? I am actually elder than any other characters in Gintama.
Yes, you are right. Gintama sometimes shows such a heart-warming stories.
tasukihoneybunny said,
October 27, 2011 at 11:31 pm
WOW!! Kawaii-desu! Wonderful as usual. Your makeup looks great!!!!
I have not seen Gintama but now I kinda do ^-^
Weren’t you cold running through the water like that? *brrrrrr*
I too saw the title and my first thought was “twilight.” I am NOT a fan of twilight I actually found the books to be quite funny.
I love Tiger&Bunny!! I think you would look sexy as either Kotetsu or Barnaby!!!! Yummy!
bangin said,
October 28, 2011 at 11:23 am
I didn’t feel it cold because I forgot the cold while I was cosplaying.^^
I like Sky High (Keith Goodman)!
Filip said,
October 28, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Oh my, I love that character ^^ He’s such a good boy, too good for his own good… kind of. And I also liked Origami Cyclone very much – it’s hilarious, the way he was such a Japanophile and how he always lurks in the background : D I always called him Onigiri Cyclone, though.
Dee said,
October 29, 2011 at 8:31 am
As usual, very nice! I saw them on your photo album and when they were posted here, that’s when I found out which setting they belonged to!
I especially like the shots where you’re rushing in with the sword, amongst the splashing water. Looks kinda epic, if you asked me.
Mmm yep, doesn’t Gintama refer to “Golden balls”? Soo lol…
Sadly, this manga didn’t sell too well in America and Viz cancelled publication. I heard it has a lot of Japanese cultural references and they just fly over the head of too many people. Probably otaku will get the terms though.
bangin said,
November 5, 2011 at 1:47 am
Gintama means silver soul. Gin[銀] means silver, and this tama[魂] means soul.
Dee said,
November 5, 2011 at 8:51 am
Oops, oh my gods… I heard it wrongly then. x_X;; I’m sorry for being so long-winded and I’ll keep things shorter next time.
Oh yes! I recognise the kanji or should I say “hanzi”? Thank you very much for explaining things.
Ryan A said,
November 3, 2011 at 12:10 am
Great cosplay and photos. I really like these, especially Hijikata in the water. The scenery and color gave a nice cinematic touch to the photos. 🙂
bangin said,
November 5, 2011 at 1:44 am
Oh thank you, Ryan. Yes I like the Hijikata in the water, too!
[Cosplay] A Man in the Twilight | Anime said,
November 19, 2011 at 2:55 am
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Bloodytear27 said,
January 1, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Awesome! Love Hijikata and the second photo seems to be exactly from the anime! You really are a great cosplayer!
bangin said,
January 3, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Thank you very much! Gintama is not that popular out of Japan.
wollmonster said,
March 17, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Wow, these are amazing! Most definitely the best cosplay pictures of Hijikata I’ve ever seen so far (and probably some of the best cosplay pictures I know in general). The motives are great and you really fit him too. I’m a big fan of Gintama too, Hijikata is my favorite character. xD The only thing: I think it would look better without that eye make-up or it should be more subtle, this “Cleopatra”-like look (don’t know what it’s called) is looking too feminine IMO!
bangin said,
May 2, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Oh really? Thank you very much.
When I cosplay Hijikata, I always make my eyes look sharper than they really are. Hijikata’s eyes are so cool and sharp, that’s why. Thank you for your opinion.