Cosplayer Spotlight: Kiyo at Cosplay Matsuri 2025

 Cosplayer Spotlight: Kiyo at Cosplay Matsuri 2025

Long known to be a space for creativity and passion, Cosplay Matsuri has always been a place for fan-gathering and self-expression—and we had the pleasure of interviewing this year’s special guest cosplayer, Kiyo, during the event! Known for her dedication to the craft, her attention to detail, and love for anime characters, Kiyo shared her insights about their cosplay dreams, creative process, and even left a heartfelt advice for aspiring cosplayers who are still in the process of finding and building their confidence. Here’s what she had to say.

Q: What’s one cosplay dream you still haven’t done yet—but really want to make happen?

Kiyo: Probably Rukia’s Bankai version from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.

Q: What song or playlist instantly gets you into ‘cosplay mode’ while working on a costume

Kiyo: Oh, I usually have my own personal playlist that I listen to whenever I need to get work done. It isn’t anything specific, but I update it with whatever is new and whatever I’m obsessed with at the time.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start cosplaying but feels too shy to attend their first convention?

Kiyo: You don’t have to cosplay at your first convention at all. If you’re new, it always helps to have a friend who’s already in the community, but if you don’t then you can always attend as a normie first to kind of get the feel of what a convention is really like. Conventions can tend to get quite overwhelming and overstimulating for some people, especially when you’re cosplaying, it’s going to be (even more) overwhelming since you’re going to be attracting attention from literally everyone. I would say take it slow first, maybe try to make some friends in the community and once you feel confident enough then go ahead and debut your cosplay!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kiyo for taking the time to share their thoughts and experiences with us. We would also like to sincerely thank Cosplay PH for allowing us to be part of Cosplay Matsuri and for continuously creating a space where creativity, passion, and community can truly shine. Events like these remind us that cosplay is more than just costumes—it’s about self-expression, confidence, and connection.