15 March 2010

Frequently Asked Questions

I've been recieving a lot of emails lately, and it's about time I address some of the questions you've all been asking me. So here goes...


Who are you?
My real name is Columbia Kho, and my Chinese name is 許 美美. I started writing about cosplayers in a Sanriotown Blog as a hobby back in June 2007 and got addicted to searching for cosplayers and writing up about their anime counterparts ever since.

Have you ever cosplayed yourself?
No, though I've worn my fair share of Japanese school girl uniforms and french maid outfits. I've never seriously cosplayed as of yet. The cosplayers I feature are far too intimidating..!

You can read Chinese and Japanese?!
...a little. 因為我母親是中國人啦~! Japanese, I'm trying to learn by myself. I think I should take classes for both languages soon!

Isn't the Japanese name of Cosplay "コズプレ" (kosupure) without the イ (kosupurei)?
That's correct! However, when I created Cosplay Holic, "kosupure" was already taken, which is why I decided to use kosupurei instead.

Where do you get your cosplay photos?
I started out with some of the pictures I had collected from the internet and took some of my own in anime conventions. Soon afterwards, my readers started sending in their own photos / pictures they saw on the internet and asked me to feature those, too.

Could you feature this cosplay or cosplayer that I have/know?
Yes, you can contribute as many photos as you'd like! Send them to kurohiko@gmail.com!

Can I request a cosplay of _____ from the series _____?
Yes, you may! Just send in your requests to kurohiko@gmail.com.

If I send in my photo, does that mean I'll be automatically featured?
That really depends. I post cosplay pictures of people I like, but I'm quite easy to please.

Can you help me decide who to cosplay as? Or maybe give your opinion about my cosplay?
I'm not a cosplay expert, but I will definitely do my best! Just send your photos to kurohiko@gmail.com, but remember to indicate whether or not I can feature you on the site!

Why do you post only low resolution images even though I gave you a high resolution one?
That's because Cosplay Holic was created as a reference site only, and the photos are mostly not mine. I prefer to link the photos back to the cosplayer's or the photographer's site. If that's not available, then I link it to the contributor's image host.

Why did you delete my comment(s)?!
I deleted them because they contained one of the following:
  1. Foul language, spam, flames, critiques, and other negative comments.
  2. Links to other sites. However, this rule is forfeited when the links are posted for references to cosplays in the Unknown Section, and on cosplay features that need corrections.
Can we exchange links?
For now, link exchanges are open! Link Cosplay Holic to your blog or website then send your link exchange request at kurohiko@gmail.com!

Why are you adding Cosplay Holic links to photos that aren't even yours?

Well, that's actually still up for debate. The reason why I started adding links was because there are several blogs copy-pasting my articles, including the photos, while removing the links whether it's to the cosplayers' websites, or the photographers', or the source from where I got the photo. Adding links was one of the ways in which I can get these plagiarists to stop or at least think twice about what they're doing (some are still copy-pasting my stuff on their sites, but they're now using the original photos).

Cosplay Holic is supposed to be a reference site so that fans can see more of their favorite cosplayers from their own websites... this is not the place to steal content from just because you want more money from your ads.

I still think you're stealing my photo anyway, and I don't want to be linked to you!
That's ok! You can comment on the article or send me an email to file your request. I can change the image so that there's no link, or I can take down the article completely. You just need to say so.

Why aren't you updating Nanao's Cosplay Research anymore?
Sanriotown bought the blog and all of its previous contents from the blog's beginnings until February 25, 2010 from me, as they wanted to try and update it themselves. We came to an agreement, and now that blog is being taken cared of by someone else.


And there we have it, folks! If you have any more questions you'd like to add to the F.A.Q. section, feel free to leave a comment or email me at kurohiko@gmail.com!

14 March 2010

Vampire Knight: Ichijou Takuma 02

vampire knight cosplay - ichijou takuma 02A close friend of Shiki Senri and Touya Rima, Ichijou's grandfather allowed him to enter Cross academy so that he could spy on the pure blood, Kuran Kaname. Ichijou refused to follow his grandfather's orders out of loyalty, but when Kuran Rido possessed Shiki, he was forced to go against Kaname in order to protect his friends. He returns to Kaname's side once Shiki was freed, going so far as challenging his own grandfather to put an end to the Ichijou line.

Deviant Cosplayer *ac024, also known as Chen Mei Yi, makes a beautiful Ichijou. Thank you for sharing this with us! And we are most certainly looking forward to more of your cosplays soon!

13 March 2010

Sekirei: Musubi

unknown cosplay 044 / sekirei cosplay - musubiI have no idea who this one is either, but she's from Winter Comiket 2009, and she looks like a fighter to me. Maybe she's from a game I haven't played yet?

I have to admit though, her costume is really cute. I love the ribbon details on her outfit. Who knew you could string the ribbons on your stockings?

Guesses are definitely welcome! Oh, and in case you're wondering why I don't reply to emails lately, it's because I have too many contributions coming in! I will try to feature them all, so please be patient with me! Thank you for all the beautiful photos! Keep sending, and keep a look out for new posts on Cosplay Holic!

EDIT: Thanks to anon and Furei for commenting that this is Musubi from Sekirei!

12 March 2010

Chobits: Chi 08

chobits cosplay - chi 08As a Chobit, Chi is highly advanced compared to other persocoms. She has the ability to read data from other persocoms without opening a direct channel with them. When Chi accidentally wore Omura Yumi's Chiroru uniform, she became upset and ran away in tears. The bakery's manager, Hiroyasu Ueda, then asked Chi to call Yumi's phone (which is a small persocom) in order to find out where she went; however, Chi was actually able to locate Yumi without calling her persocom.

Cute cosplay! And I know a certain reader who adores this series as much as I do. Thanks to Yayoi-san for sharing this with us!

11 March 2010

Vocaloid 2: Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Len

vocaloid 2 cosplay - hatsune miku and kagamine lenThe most popular Vocaloid, Hatsune Miku, is accompanied by a rather grown-up looking version of Kagamine Rin's "twin", Kagamine Len. It makes you wonder if Kaito will get jealous over this picture.

Then again, Len and Rin are supposedly "one and the same", aren't they? Where in the world could Rin be?

Thanks to Fakir for sending this in!

10 March 2010

Nana: Osaki Nana

nana cosplay - osaki nanaThe tough looking punk rocker with a kind heart, Nana Osaki is the vocalist of the band called Black Stones, which is also known as Blast. Raised by her grandmother after being abandoned by her parents, Nana was expelled from high school after being falsely accused of prostitution. These hardships may have led to her dark and possessive behavior, going so far as to hooking up Komatsu Nana with her guitarist, Terashima Nobuo so that she could keep Komatsu Nana by her side.

Impressive cosplay! I've never seen the series, but I do love the way she customized her eyepatch with chains instead of elastic. Thanks to Miguel for sending this in!

09 March 2010

Final Fantasy X-2: Yuna and Tidus

final fantasy x-2 cosplay - yuna and tidusTwo years after the events that occured in Final Fantasy X, Yuna becomes a prominently featured gunner who journeys to Spira to find the truth, and to see Tidus once again. Now 19, she is significantly more confident and outgoing, but also tends to be quite nostalgic. The fayth is her key to finding Tidus, who is the only one able to locate Tidus' scattered pyreflies and reform.

So cute! It seems kids can beat professional cosplayers any day. Thanks to Manuel for sending this in!

08 March 2010

Loveless: Sagan Youji and Sagan Natsuo 02

loveless cosplay - sagan youji and sagan natsuo 02Created by an easily angered woman named Sagan Nagisa, Youji and Natsuo are known as the 2nd generation of Zero fighters... that is, a fighting pair that cannot feel any pain. You might think this will give them an advantage when it comes to spell battles, but Soubi was able to prove otherwise.

Cute cosplay! I had to crop the original image again to focus more on the cosplayers. Thanks to Deborah and KCC Studio for sending this in!

06 March 2010

Hetalia: Axis Powers: Italy Romano and Italy Veneziano

unknown cosplay 43 / hetalia: axis powers cosplay - italy romano and italy venezianoI bet people guessed this was coming...

Winter Comiket's flood of cosplays are not over yet! There are several more photos sent to that were impressive and cute, but I have no idea who they are cosplaying!

Take these two for example. Pure white clothing and they are holding what appears to be... apples. tomatoes! Could they be cosplaying twin characters? Or is the same character cosplayed by two people?

Take a guess and let me know! And yes, posting links for unknown entries as references is completely acceptable, but those who want to contribute, please be sure to email them instead in kurohiko at gmail dot com. Otherwise, comments with links in other posts will be deleted. Thank you for understanding!

EDIT: Thanks to anon for letting me know they are Romano and Italy from Hetalia! ...and that those are tomatoes, not apples.

03 March 2010

Bayonetta: Bayonetta 02

bayonetta cosplay - bayonetta from winter comiket 2009500 years before the incident behind Bayonetta's memory loss came to be, the Umbra Witches and the Lumen Sages shared two distinct treasures known as the "Eyes of the World". Each faction has one of the two eyes, but they mysteriously disappeared under unknown circumstances. Bayonetta believes the red gem on her jewelry is the Left Eye and searches for the Right Eye in order to regain her memory.

A late entry from last year's Winter Comiket! She kinda reminds me of Lucy Liu with that look of hers. I'm confused though; does Bayonetta like lollipops? Thanks to Reeve for sending this in!

02 March 2010

Final Fantasy X-2: Rikku 08

final fantasy x-2 cosplay - rikku 08

The prominently featured Theif and one of the main protagonists of Final Fantasy X-2, 17-year-old Rikku showed Yuna a mysterious sphere featuring a familiar person. This convinced Yuna to leave Besaid on a journey, with Rikku following close behind her.

People might say her hair is all wrong since she's not blond, but she still makes a pretty Rikku! Thanks to Benjamin for sending this in!

01 March 2010

Final Fantasy IX: Kuja

The main antagonist of Final Fantasy IX, Kuja is a gunrunner obsessed with power. He is narcissistic, flamboyant, and ruthless who is considered a classic villain due to his habit of monologuing. He is well versed in the arts and has a great fondness for classical works such as Lord Avon’s play, “I Want To Be Your Canary”.

Cosplayer Saya makes a beautiful Kuja. I cropped the original photo in order to focus the image on the cosplayer more. Thanks to Mini Mandy for sending this in!