World Cosplay Summit Representative Yuji Koi

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Happy Cosplay Friday! This week we present to you an internationally known cosplayer who represented her country in a huge cosplay event. Yuji Koi is a Vietnamese cosplayer currently studying abroad in Switzerland. She has been cosplaying since 2011 and holds many high accomplishments in the cosplay realm. Her amazing cosplays have earned her representation in an international cosplay summit. Over this past summer she represented her country of Vietnam in The World Cosplay Summit. This summit had representives from countries all over the globe including USA, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and Vietnam. Yuji answered some of our questions on cosplay and her opinions of cosplay in general.

JR:How long have you been cosplaying? 

Yuji: For about 6 years. My first convention was from 2011.

 

JR:Do you cosplay or crossplay or both?

Yuji:I do both male and female cosplay. However, I prefer cosplaying male characters more.

JR:Most cosplayers consider there to be three main categories of cosplay,tv, movies, and video games. What do you consider yourself to specialize in?

Yuji: I often like cosplaying characters from video games and movies. In particular, the characters from Japan or belong to Japan’s culture.

 

JR:How do you think your cosplays have developed from when you first started cosplaying?

Yuji: My cosplays have improved a lot. Day by day what I cosplay is becoming prettier. If I compare pictures of me from the past to now, you can see a big difference.

JR:What do you consider your most memorable cosplay to be?

Yuji: Every memory is priceless. Although I do really love the moments when my partner and I stayed awake late into the night to prepare costumes for our performance.

 

JR:What is advice you have for someone looking to turn cosplay into a career?

Yuji: As I moved around I realized that in other countries beside Vietnam it’s easier to turn cosplay into a career. I just want to say if you want to start doing something, you should put a lot of effort in it and be patient.

 

JR:Do you make your own accessories or buy/rent?

Yuji: I’m not really good at sewing but can still sew some basic clothes. My strength lays in making props, weapons, and small accessories.

 

JR:If there was one fictional character you would compare yourself to what would it be and why.

Yuji: I enjoy Female warrior characters because because of their strength. They’re my favorite type of character. However, I love Lightning Farron from Final Fantasy the best. She is a determined, concentrated and independent person. Some people see her at first as a very cold person and she doesn’t care if someone is left behind. However, she is also warm inside and treats her sister very well. I can see the characteristics in myself. I am willing to sacrifice for the people that I sincerely love and care about. For the rest, I honestly do not care so much.

JR:Is there a character you have found comes naturally for you to cosplay?

Yuji: That would have to be Jeanne d’arc from Fate Grand Order. At first I just thought of her as one of the warrior characters that I would admire but maybe not lean towards cosplay. But when people saw my cosplay of her, they were surprised that I fit her so much. Now when people mention Jeanne d’arc, they remind me how much I love this cosplay.

 

JR:What was your first convention?

Yuji: My first convention was Hanoi Carnival 2012 in Vietnam.

JR:What was your last convention? 

Yuji: World Cosplay Summit 2017. I was the representative of Vietnam and had a chance to come to Nagoya Japan to compete with more than 30 countries from all over the world.

 

JR:What is your next convention?

I still do not have any plan yet, but I am looking forward to attend some events located in Europe where I am studying abroad in Switzerland right now.

JR:What role do you believe cosplay plays in the fandom world?

I think cosplay has been a very important role in the fandom world. It helps a lot of fans see and meet their favorite characters in real life.

 

JR:What does cosplay mean to you?

It is my now-and-forever hobby. I will not stop cosplaying even when I am getting old. Thanks to it, I have so many precious moments with my friends and my fans. It helps me gain so many experiences in life.

 

To check out more of Yuji Koi’s work, visit her social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yujikoicosplayer/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UColUy-MOl3EQknzNj_4aZfg

 

And as always,

Have a geek filled day!

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