【Interview World Cosplayer Collection #032】 「-Maoru-」さん
世界コスプレ☆これくしょん
Today’s feature! Maoruさん from Singapore!🇸🇬
Yoroshiku!!^^
🐺 =Maoru
・Please tell us the reason of why you started cosplay. (And what is your first cosplay?)
🐺 :I always love anime and manga culture but I never really had anyone who had the same hobbies and interest that I have. I started cosplaying when I was booth-ing and selling my art merchandises at a local event for the first time, I observed how much fun the cosplayers had during the event and I eventually started to cosplay myself as I wanted to experience what it is like to be in a community. My first cosplay was Ib from the game Ib.
・Please tell us your favorite anime/manga/game character.
🐺 :My favourite game character is currently Koga from Ensemble stars. I really love his character and his character’s design, personality and interactions with other characters in the game. I admire him and I really want to be as confident as him when it comes to doing what he love.
◾️ Koga |Ensemble stars
・Which character cosplay do you think is your masterpiece?
🐺 :My cosplays of Jabami Yumeko are definitely my favourites. There were many feedbacks to me that I was able to portray both her innocent and craziness look in a single photo. To me, portraying her really came down to the expressions and I always have the most fun out of it during events and shoots! Furthermore, when I have a bad day, just putting on her costume immediately brought a smile to my face, cosplaying Jabami will always my most memorable moments.
・Do you make your own costume or props?
🐺 :I make my own costumes whenever I feel that it’s either something that is within my skill area or a character that I really like and I want to make it look perfect and legit.
Although my skills are not the best yet, I wish to do more sewing and prop making and learn from it.
・Have you ever took part in any Japan or oversea events? (If not, are you planning to go?)
🐺 :In 2017 February, I was given a chance to attend a program by SOZO to go to japan and visit Kurate Gakuen! We had the TV crew coming down to visit us and we appeared on Japanese TV, we also a chance to shoot at the Japanese school, which was a very big opportunity for Singaporean cosplayers, as we rarely get the chance to shoot in places like these. Other than Kurate Gakuen, I have also attended Malaysia and Thailand events such as Comic Fiesta and AFA Thailand.
・Have you ever took part in any cosplay contest?(If no, are you planning to go?)
🐺 :I have yet to attend a cosplay contest. I would like to try if given an opportunity as I want to venture into other areas of cosplays that I can do and experience more things. I have always enjoyed watching cosplay skits and singing videos online and I hope that when the chance comes, I will definitely challenge myself to go onto stage.
・Do Singapore have a lot of cosplayers? Would it be difficult if I want to start cosplay in Singapore?
🐺 :Singapore is definitely more welcoming when it comes to cosplaying compared to when I was cosplaying in other countries.
Although it may bring questions to some of the public’s head, people are generally very nice about the hobby and some of them might even want to take pictures of you when you’re out shooting and I would always receive pleasant and nice comments from them. Our community is considered quite close-knitted compared to other countries, so you can get as much help and tips from your friends without feeling shy.
・If cosplayers want to cosplay in Singapore, due to the religious factors, regionals factors, etc do they have to pay any special attentions?
🐺 :For me, I never had problems when it comes to religious factors. I think that mutual respect and basic knowledge about your fellow friends who are of different races is very important, so I always take extra care to note down if my actions may have an impact on the circumstances.
In Singapore, there are locations that we are able to cosplay at publicly and use the area. Although there are times where you have to contact the people handling the area before hand, most of the time the areas we use have no problems as long as you don’t leave make a ruckus or destroy the place. The public is for everyone’s use !
◾️Dice Arisugawa |Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle
・Do Singapore have any special props making techniques or tools? If yes, please share with us
🐺 :Most of my cosplayers friend who specializes in prop making mainly uses foam.
It’s one of the more accessible and cheaper material. I think that the skills they use are mostly the same as overseas but many of them develop their own way of doing their props which is very fun to watch !
・What Are Your Future Goals?
🐺 :Right now, i want to be able to cosplay and have more conceptual shoots. I really love storytelling so this is a way i can portray my love for the characters i admire. I also want to attend more overseas events and learn more about their cosplay culture, it’s something new to me every time and i really enjoy meeting people from different countries.