At the recent "World Pair Go Festival" (ペア碁ワールドフェスティバル) held during the 2025 Osaka World Expo, a contestant from a certain prefecture in Shikoku became the unexpected star of the show. Not for his Go skills, but for his incredible cosplay of "Fujiwara no Sai" from "Hikaru no Go," which snagged him the "Best Costume Award" presented by world-renowned fashion designer Junko Koshino. This hilarious turn of events quickly caught the internet's attention.
The contestant's wife shared on X that her husband had simply signed up for the tournament. He'd jokingly said, "Since it's at the Expo, I might as well dress up as Sai from 'Hikaru no Go'!" Little did he know, his mother-in-law overheard and was instantly inspired, meticulously hand-sewing an incredibly accurate costume. When he showed up in the elaborate, traditional attire, he caught the eye of none other than the famous designer Junko Koshino, who was attending the event, and she personally presented him with the award.
(Note: Junko Koshino is a national treasure-level Japanese designer. At just 19, she became the youngest recipient of the prestigious Soen Award, often considered a stepping stone for emerging designers. Based in Tokyo, she showcased her collections at Paris Fashion Week from 1978 to 2000 and was awarded the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur) in 2021.)
▼ Junko Koshino
▼ The Sai costume made by the X user's mother-in-law
"I had no idea Junko Koshino would be there, let alone that she had ties to the Go world!" the wife laughed. She added that regardless of how her husband fared in the actual tournament, winning this award made the whole experience absolutely priceless for the entire family.
Photos from the event show "Sai" in his striking white and purple wide-sleeved robes, topped with a tall eboshi hat and holding a folding fan. The sunflower decoration next to him, symbolizing protagonist Hikaru Shindo's signature color, had countless Go enthusiasts and anime fans exclaiming over the "divine recreation."
Netizens flooded the comments after seeing the photos, with remarks like, "I absolutely love this turn of events!" and "That's a whole other kind of victory in the tournament!" Many also praised the mother-in-law's exquisite craftsmanship, calling her the "real MVP."
Who knew a Go tournament at the World Expo could be a stage for cosplay, let alone earn praise from a renowned designer? It just goes to show, cosplay truly finds a way to shine everywhere!
via： togetter