How to dress as one of Aqours (One More Time. Promise)

It’s official. The Aqours era of Love Live is coming to an end. Aqours’ 9th Anniversary will feature “finale” concerts and the Yohane the Parhelion compilation film. It’s sad to see it end, but it’s been a great run.

Aqours 9th Anniversary Project visual

The Aqours era of Love Live is ending and it’s sad to see it go. But before it does, it’s time for one last cosplay. Whether you’re getting ready for a big anime convention or still struggling with “post-SIF syndrome,” here’s a guide to cosplaying some of your favorite Aqours heroes:

As Chika Takami - Chika Takami is the leader of Aqours, and for one last time, you can be her! To start with, you’ll need a medium-length orange wig, and to complete the look, you’ll also need to replicate her hair accessories, including a yellow ribbon and a small green one. If you’re able to get that far, you can pretty much wear whatever outfit you want. Chika’s a second-year student whose family runs an inn. She’s also a big fan of μ’s.

As Riko Sakurauchi - If you want to cosplay as Riko, then you’ll need a crimson-colored long wig with a few specks on the right. That’s the easy part. As for the outfit, I’ll leave that up to you. Here’s a little bit about her, so you can get to know the character. Riko Sakurauchi is a former Tokyo resident who now lives in Uchiura. She is a second-year high school student who loves to draw and likes to stay indoors. She is part of the Aqours group of school idols.

As Kanan Matsuura - If you're looking to cosplay as Kanan Matsuura, you're in luck. You just need a simple long blue wig and a ponytail, although I would also recommend a wetsuit since diving is one of Kanan's favorite pastimes. You can pretty much choose whatever outfit you want as long as you've got the hair and wetsuit. Good luck, and have fun!

As Dia Kurosawa - Dia Kurosawa may have not wanted to be part of the school idol group, but she has grown into a great leader. It's hard to imagine the student council without her. Also, I am always amazed by her confidence on stage. She really came out of her shell! If you're cosplaying as Dia, you really need a long black wig. If you've cut your hair, definitely invest in a wig. But otherwise, you can wear whatever you want as long as you have the right wig.

As You Watanabe - You Watanabe is a second-year student and a very good diver who would be a great addition to any swim club. If any ladies out there don’t want to commit to a full You costume, a sandy wig might do the trick. Just make sure to cut it to the right length. Then, once that’s good to go, feel free to put on whatever outfit you want. Be warned, though, there are worse things in life than running into a You Watanabe cosplayer in a skintight racing swimsuit.

As Yoshiko Tsushima - Yoshiko Tsushima is a first-year student who prefers to be called Yohanne. For those who want to cosplay as Yohanne, the hair can be difficult. Yohanne has somewhat long, royal blue-ish hair, so it can be super tricky to find the right shade of blue for the wig. Even more challenging is the round part on the right of Yohanne's hair. It might take a while to get right, but it will be worth it! Once you have the hair, you can wear whatever outfit you like. Yohanne also dislikes mikan fruits.

As Hanamaru Kunikida - Hanamaru Kunikida is a first-year student and the daughter of a family of shrine keepers. Although she's a member of a local choir, she loves to read and gets dizzy easily. To become Hanamaru, a simple long toffee-colored hairdo should do the trick and the rest is up to you.

As Mari Ohara - Mari Ohara is a half-Japanese senior student with a fun and independent personality. She’s the daughter of an Italian-American father who had his hands full with the hotel businesses, and she likes to do things at her own pace.  Cosplaying Mari is a very challenging task because it’s hard to replicate her hairdo due to the odd-looking style at the top of her head. You definitely need a blonde hairdo, but you can choose your own outfit if you can figure out the hair.

As Ruby Kurosawa - Are you looking for a last-minute Aqours cosplay? Ruby Kurosawa is a great choice! She's a first-year student and a good friend of Hanamaru. She may be prone to crying, but she's good at sewing. You won't have to worry about finding the right outfit either. Just get a red wig and pigtails. That's all you need to become Ruby!

Aqours heroes, once and always, and now forever in our hearts. 

I'm so glad the Aqours era of Love Live is going out with a bang. I know it's the end of an era, but I can't wait to see what the new era brings. I'm a little sad that it's over, but I'm so excited to see what's next. I'll miss Aqours so much, but I know they'll always be in my heart. 

If you could choose to be one of the heroes, who would you be? Sorting out the costumes is the next objective for you all. Once you've done that, it's showtime! With the help of your buddies, you'll be able to show what Aqours is all about.