From cosplay to the center stage: Akase Akari’s Exclusive Interview

The art of cosplay has touched thousands worldwide. In the cosplay world, Akase Akari is one of many who has inspired other cosplayers to pursue this craft of portraying characters you love. From humble beginnings to having a chance to sing the hit song “Koi no Yukue” for the TV Anime Adaptation’s ending theme song of Sono Bisque Doll (My Cosplay Darling), Setsu-Ani, along with other PH-based media partners of Cosplay.PH were given a chance to get to know the dedication, passion, artistry, challenges, and the magic behind Akase Akari’s success in the cosplay scene.

Join us in getting to know Japanese cosplay icon Akase Akari, where we are also given a rare chance to ask a question that we felt would give insight to Akase Akari’s future and dream in the industry.

As a singer, performer, and her inspirations

Question: Koi no Yukue became a hit among anime fans. What was the most memorable part of performing the theme song for “My Dress Up Darling”?

Akase Akari: “The anime highlights cosplay as its main theme. I, myself, like anime so that’s one of the great things about it. I was also asked to make a music video for the song. So, since I had my own highlights of what I wanted to specifically highlight for that music video, I asked the team if I could make my wig and makeup. We talked with the team, and with their support, we were able to do music videos that we thought were originally from ourselves.

So I am very happy, as I was also told that the music video and the song were good, and I received such good feedback. So I am very thankful for that, and that’s the most memorable part of making the ending theme for My Dress Up Darling.”

Question: Who would you acknowledge as the person who got you into cosplaying and then into performing?

Akase Akari: “I do not have a particular person to say that this person pushed me into cosplaying or into performing. But since I liked anime since I was young, I would say that is where I started cosplaying and doing these activities. I really like anime, and that’s the reason why I’ve been doing songs and other activities related to anime.”

Question: What was your initial reaction when you were informed that your debut song will be the ending theme of My Dress Up Darling?

Akase Akari: “When I was doing the song, I was initially told it was a tie-up, but I wasn’t told which tie-up it was. So after doing that, they told me it was for My Dress Up Darling, so it’s very exciting and… I didn’t know that it was for Dress Up Darling, I found out about it later on. I had to read through the manga again because I liked it so much.”

Question: Can you share your fondest memory when you were performing live?

Akase Akari: “During my first debut song, this was my first experience to sing live, so at first, I was, of course, very nervous, and I was thinking to myself, how should I perform, or what should I say so that the audience would give a feedback? But when I was doing the live, everyone was having fun, it was different from video streaming. When you’re doing live, you can see the audience’s feedback directly. So that was great to see. I thought it was nice to have a live performance.”

Her career as a cosplayer and… as a voice actress?

Question: If you could cosplay any anime character and perform a song as them, who would it be and why?

Akase Akari: “Since I was small, I really liked the show, Haruhi Suzumiya. So I think I want to make—or sing God knows and make a music video out of it as well.”

On this topic, this is where we had a chance to ask her a unique question that for sure, most of her fans are curious about. Our correspondent Franz, was the one assigned for this particular interview.

F: Konnichiwa!

Akase Akari: Konnichiwa!

F: Philippine e youkoso!

Akase Akari: Ah! Arigato gozaimasu!

F: I’m Franz, from Setsu Ani, and this is our question. Given a chance for an anime role in a seiyuu audition, can you share with us what type of characters you would like to star in?

Akase Akari: “Thank you! I don’t have a specific character in mind, but I do love tsundere characters. So, if I can do a, voice acting for a character, maybe for someone, for a tsundere character would be my, uh. I’d- I’d like to do a tsundere character.”

F: Thank you very much. Arigato gozaimasu!

Akase Akari: Arigato gozaimasu!

From here on out, different members of the media had their chance for their own unique questions.

Question: You cosplayed a lot of different anime characters in your career. Who is your favorite so far and why? Any other characters you wish to cosplay soon?

Akase Akari: “Thank you very much for the questions. Until now, I’ve done a lot of cosplays. But my favorite is, Nakano Nino from Gotoubun No Hanayome. Since I’ve done a lot of cosplays. I’d say I love all of them. But for Nakano Nino… it’s a character that I love most, even my room is filled with her posters. So I’d say that is my number one. And for your latter part of the question, who would I like to cosplay from now on? The first character that I liked was Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail. So I want to do a cosplay of that as well.”

Question: Your cosplay are always stunning and beautiful. How do you decide which characters to bring to life?

Akase Akari: “For me, I like doing cosplay of animes, or titles that I really love. So, for choosing who to cosplay, I cosplay whoever I like- even if it’s a male or female character. Regardless of that, if I like the character I could cosplay them.”

Question: Cosplay requires a lot of effort from costume creation to posing for the perfect shot. What do you think is the most challenging part of cosplaying, and how do you overcome it?

Akase Akari: “Cosplay is something that a lot of people would look at or see. So, for different people, they would have different interpretations of a character. So the most difficult part for me of cosplay is, doing that interpretation and translating it into 3D, like actual. So it would be, for example, different interpretations for the wigs, the costumes, and the makeup. Of course, different cosplayers would have their highlights or what they want to pinpoint or do a highlight of the cosplay itself. So for example, doing a different type of cloth, or, for example, the wig or colored contacts, it would depend on one’s interpretation of the character. I think that’s, the most difficult for me, especially in thinking if my interpretation would also match other people’s interpretation of the character.”

The Philippine experience

Question: This is your first time visiting the Philippines. What are your most exciting experiences while you are here?

Akase Akari: “When I was in elementary school, I had a friend who was Filipino. So whenever I went to that friend’s house, they would always give me Filipino food. So now, after a lot of years since my elementary school life, I’m excited to eat Filipino food again.”

Akase Akari’s debut in the Philippine concert stage was definitely a night to remember. She sang her very own “Koi no Yukue”, and covering other anime songs she loved and performing for her Filipino fans was a very unique experience. Some even said that hearing her sing “Koi no Yukue” live was even more magical and made them want to watch the anime again.