To celebrate the inauguration of the World Cosplay Summit Kyushu Qualifying Round, a special opening event, the “Red Carpet Walk,” featuring a surprise appearance and performance by the 2015 Japan representative team, Mariko and Mahio of Ryu-en, playing characters Hakuryu Ren and Kouen Ren from the manga hit series, “MAGI,” had the crowd buzzing. We spoke to both of them about the event.

Q: Your performance on the red carpet was superb! How was it for you?

Together: So much fun!
Mariko: They let us do what we wanted.
Mahio: Of course it would have been fine just walking the runway, but we had these great characters with a great history, so we mixed performance elements into our runway walk, and when you start getting into character you just want to fight, and that’s what we did.

Q: When did you two start working together as a team? Weren't you originally solo performers?

Mariko: We started working together towards the end of 2014.
Mahio: We both wanted to perform at the “World Cosplay Summit 2015” and so we started working together and preparing. I took up cosplaying when I was 21 and I’m now in my 10th year, but Mariko has been doing it for 27 years. We started hanging out together like this as friends 2 years ago – it suddenly just kind of happened at the end of 2014.
I actually saw Mariko at an event about 10 years ago, she doesn’t seem to remember but I remember it well because she made such a bizarre impact on me. I thought to myself at the time, “Who is this person? She’s so tempestuous.” It was when I had just started cosplaying and I watched on amazed, in more ways than one. After that I would see her once every couple of years but I seem to be the only one who ever remembers, so to develop into something like this with this kind of connection is a real surprise.

Q: Could you tell us about your outfit today and your character names?

Mahio: I’m Hakuryu Ren from “MAGI.” “MAGI” is set in Arabian world, but you also have places that imitate the Roman Empire, Arabia, Japan and China, and from amongst all of those, I am the fourth prince of the China-esque empire. Mariko is Kouen Ren, the first prince of the same empire. One thing I was particular about with my costume was having a dragon pattern on my clothing because of the “ryu” (dragon) Chinese character in Hakuryu’s name. It’s not in the original artwork but I did this embroidery of a dragon on my outfit anyway. I always wanted to try and make this kind of material at least once, so I took this opportunity to discuss the idea of a Hakuryu dragon with Mariko.

Q: So your outfits are handmade?

Together: Both are handmade.

Mahio: When I cosplay, I generally try to be as faithful to the original as possible. When people know the “MAGI” series or know the character Hakuryu Ren, I want them to see my cosplay and right away go, “That’s Hakuryu.” Only, we’re taking something two-dimensional and making it three-dimensional. Just playing a character of the opposite sex already requires you to get pretty creative and try to do your makeup and adjust your facial features in a way that brings you closer to the appearance of the character. And while you’re trying to make your face look more like the character, you’re making adjustments to your outfit, wondering if you put this here it might look a little more like the original, and basically making trial and error adjustments as you go along.

Mariko: That’s right, and exchanging ideas with each other.
Mahio: Mariko is really good with materials and knowing how to look cool or beautiful when you move, so I learn from her most of the time.

Q: I saw your performance on the Red Carpet just moments ago and the way your cloak moved was very cool!

Mariko: This cloak is actually super heavy! As heavy as it is, though, I love the hue and the way it sparkles, and this was the only way we could get it to do that. But I did get told a lot that it was too heavy. There is a limit on the weight of the costumes at the Cosplay Summit, and together, our costumes and large props have to be within 40kg.
Mahio: It’s a wonder that your neck doesn’t tense up, though.
Mariko: It’s fine, surprisingly (lol).

Q: You two were named Japan representatives for “World Cosplay Summit 2015.”

Mariko: I performed with Mahio in 2015 and with different partners in 2013 and 2006. This year was my third time at the event, so I’ve tied first place in the world for the number of representative appearances. Yay me!
Mahio: This was my first time performing at the Cosplay Summit. So in that regard, I’m incredibly lucky. Thank you very much. I use the word “lucky,” but really, I clawed my way to get there. I always thought cosplay was something that you were just meant to enjoy without having to prove that you’re better at it than someone else, but then once I started to get judged, I thought about how I could hone this craft and master it so that I could show off the characters and the works that I love and have people believe it, and at the moment, the only place you can achieve that within Japan is at the Cosplay Summit. And if I’m going to do it, I want to be as thorough as possible. Not just with the costumes, but with the movements and bringing the particular style and mood of the works to life. That’s when I started body sculpting, too.

Q: What was it like participating in the World Cosplay Summit?

Mariko: It gets bigger every year. I look forward to catching up with all my friends. My circle of fellow national representative friends keeps expanding. It’s something that can bring you friends from 26 different countries with just one appearance. In 2013, there just happened to be two other participants who had the same birthday as me and together we all exchanged birthday presents. English is generally the main language of communication, but I’m terrible at English.
Mahio: This was the first time I’ve appeared and performed at the Cosplay Summit. Cosplay photos are one thing, but when you give a performance, you create greater opportunities for all the fans of the original works to see it and you get reactions that you normally wouldn’t otherwise get from just your fellow cosplayers. Reactions like, “I knew straight you were doing that scene,” or, “I’m so happy you focused on the relationship between this character and that character.” And when I hear that I feel like, “What I wanted to do and convey with this character got through to them!” and it’s just a really joyous feeling. This would have to be the happiest and most feel good moment of what we do.
Mariko: The fans should be the biggest critics after all. So it’s really great when they say things like that.
Mahio: It was a reaffirmation for me of just how popular “MAGI” is overseas as well. I received all these messages in English from people in Spain and Germany and Chile and various countries, telling me, “I saw your performance at the Cosplay Summit championship,” and “Your recreation of the “MAGI” world was incredible.”

Q: Had the two of you ever been to Fukuoka before?

Mariko: I’ve been a number of times for work.
Mahio: I went once a few years ago, for a cosplay event that was held in Hakata. Hakata is so close to Fukuoka airport, I thought it was really convenient.
Mariko: Yeah, 5 minutes on the subway and you’re there – it’s the greatest!

Q: What do you think of Kitakyushu?

Mariko: I’ve been a number of times and it’s a really metropolitan and beautiful city.
Mahio: It seems very livable, but also quite a fun city at the same time. Also, I haven’t been here long but I already got straight into the cooked oysters.
Mariko: The oysters were delish! I love Moji’s baked curry as well.
Mahio: I’ve heard of that but I’ve never had it.
Mariko: It’s to die for!

Q: It is one of Kitakyushu’s specialties, so by all means! To finish up, do you have any advice for someone aiming to be the next World Cosplay Summit representative?

Mariko: This is a sport that you can win if you do what you want in your own way. So I think it’s best to stick with what you’re good at; all you really need is courage. It’s not about knowledge. It’s not about technique or skill. It’s just courage.
Mahio: Speaking of courage, one thing I felt after my first appearance at this event was that it doesn’t matter if it’s a hobby or just a bit of fun, people who pluck up the courage to really strive towards something are the ones that grow and develop regardless of their age. Another thing you soon learn with cosplay is that once you decide, ‘okay, this is what I want,’ and you start putting your efforts into making a costume your way, you immediately start acquiring new skills. When you’re down to the wire, you find that suddenly you’re able to make things you couldn’t make before, so in that respect, it’s an experience I would recommend to other cosplayers. Sure the win or lose system is tough, but just give yourself a “Come on!” and stay focused. We do this as a hobby so I want people to feel like ‘this is it, this is the moment.’