Hakuouki: Hijikata Toshizo

_{About the photo}
For someone called the "Demon of the Shinsengumi", they sure incorporate a lot of flowers around Hijikata in Hakuouki. In the game version, there are of course the chrysanthemums on the lapel of his Western uniform (which I thought has a few small similarities with the one worn in this photo of the real Hijikata). In the anime, I've lost count of the sequences which involve him and magical sakura petals in the wind.

So for this portrait of Hijikata, I decided to roll with the flower theme as well. I chose asagao or morning glory as a motif because of what they symbolize. These flowers bloom in the morning and wither by nightfall, so they've been used to allude to ephemerality. It could stand for the fleeting nature of life, which I felt was appropriate for the Shinsengumi who could lose theirs in battle any day. However, the vine on which these blossoms grow brings forth brand new flowers every morning, so there is also a message of hope.

_{About the shoot}
Some of you might know the artwork this pose is based on as well. Cassie ~cazzu-chan is another coincidental Hakuouki groupmate. We got to know her through Hannah ~Hana181 as they are always together at cons, and they happened to cosplay exactly the characters our group was missing. It was our first time shooting together, but posing was so natural for her! _{It's not fair, I was so awkward when I was 15.}

For those of you who see Cassie around cons, you might notice the makeover I did on her eyes, hahah. I thought she and Hannah could use manlier, fiercer eyes for this cosplay. I've come to enjoy putting eyeliner on people since it's like drawing. Cassie was absolutely game for everything, and as serious as she looks in this shot, that's how bouncy and mischievous she actually was during the shoot.

Cassie as Hijikata Toshizo
photography, makeup, editing and background composition by me

_{Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan © Idea Factory}

I've been featured by the award-winning magnetic-rose.net Jin-ius — 1% Inspiration, 99% Perspiration
Do check out her other posts as well! There are lots of useful stuff for young cosplayers or cosplay enthusiasts, such as How to Get Your Parents To Let You Cosplay: [link]