If you were a samurai… ⚔️✨
At STUDIO KOKORO ARASHIYAMA, the Shinsengumi Plan offers a samurai-inspired transformation and photoshoot with seven styles inspired by historical figures. In this post, makeup artist Ono introduces a customer who chose the Hijikata Toshizo style, along with the makeup, costume options, and Shinsengumi-inspired details featured in her photoshoot.
Hello everyone! I’m Ono, a makeup artist 💄
Before we knew it, August flew by and September began.
In Japan, September is supposed to mark the beginning of autumn, but perhaps because of rising temperatures in recent years, the summer-like heat is still lingering 🥵
I don’t handle the heat very well, so I really hope it cools down soon.
So, how did you all spend your summer this year?
Many of you probably went to the beach, visited amusement parks, or went on trips and had a great time with family and friends.
This time, I’d like to introduce a wonderful customer who came to STUDIO KOKORO ARASHIYAMA to create some summer memories ✨✨
The photos turned out incredibly handsome, so please be sure to take a look all the way to the end!
A Cool Hijikata Toshizo-Style Shinsengumi Makeover
So, without further ado, please take a look at this photograph.
Isn’t this customer super cool? 😍💕
The bangs partially covering her face and the shadows across her features create such a cool and stylish look.
And yes—this incredibly handsome customer is actually a woman!!
She was already cool enough to rival any man, but she transformed into an even cooler version of herself ✨
The plan she chose this time is the Shinsengumi Plan.
This plan lets women enjoy a masculine, samurai-inspired makeover and photoshoot!
The Shinsengumi Plan also offers seven different styles inspired by real historical figures, and this time she chose the Hijikata Toshizo style.
Kimono, Hakama, and Haori Styling for the Shinsengumi Plan
This photo is also really cool! ✨
The lighting gives it a beautiful atmosphere reminiscent of twilight.
She mentioned that she likes dark colors, so for this look I chose a kimono in deep tones such as black and navy blue.
For the Shinsengumi Plan, we also offer kimonos and hakama in a variety of colors, including gray and red, so you can choose a look that suits your vision!
Of course, you can also choose to wear just the kimono without a hakama, so please feel free to let your makeup artist know. 😊
The Shinsengumi Plan also offers two colors of haori jackets: light blue and navy blue.
The Shinsengumi Haori and the “Makoto” Flag
Among Japanese people, the Shinsengumi are strongly associated with a light blue haori jacket. However, it is said that this style of jacket was actually used for only about a year after the organization was formed.
The bright color made it easy to recognize fellow members, but it is also said to have been discontinued because it stood out too much during nighttime operations or covert missions.
After that, darker haori jackets are said to have become more common, as they were less noticeable at night and bloodstains were less visible.
The flag featuring the character “誠” that appears as a backdrop in the photoshoot is another well-known symbol of the Shinsengumi.
The character is read as makoto, a word associated with sincerity and integrity. The flag is said to reflect values such as keeping one’s word, remaining true to one’s convictions, and upholding promises to comrades and one’s sense of samurai justice.
Natural Makeup with a Masculine Edge
And finally, here is this photo 📸
She wanted a more natural look, so I focused on brown and black tones in the makeup.
For this look, I also used lift-up tape to create a sharper, more masculine impression.
For plans featuring masculine styling, such as the Shinsengumi Plan, lift-up tape can also be used as part of the transformation, so please give it a try! 💕
Hijikata Toshizo and the Strict Shinsengumi Code
By the way, did you know that the Shinsengumi had an extremely strict set of rules known as the “Kyokuchu Hatto”?
It is said that Hijikata himself established these rules in order to unify the Shinsengumi, an organization made up of people from a wide range of social backgrounds and origins.
According to accounts surrounding the code, violating its rules could result in an order to commit seppuku, a form of ritual suicide. Because of the severity associated with these rules, Hijikata became a figure feared by many people outside the organization as well.
However, Hijikata himself was born into a farming family, and in his youth he is said to have traveled around selling medicine produced by his family.
At that time, it was extremely difficult for someone who had not been born into a samurai family to become a samurai.
Considering that he nevertheless distinguished himself so remarkably as a samurai, I can’t help but imagine that he must have possessed very strong convictions and put in an extraordinary amount of effort.
Perhaps this is one reason he is still remembered in Japan by the nickname Oni no Fukucho (“Demon Vice-Commander”), a name that conveys both fear and respect.
Members of the Shinsengumi, including Hijikata, appear in various anime and other works, so if you’re interested, please be sure to check them out! 💕
Enjoy a Shinsengumi-Inspired Samurai Makeover
So, did you enjoy this blog post?
There is still so much more I would like to say about the Shinsengumi, but since this post would become very long, I think I’ll leave it at that for now.
STUDIO KOKORO ARASHIYAMA has many more cool Shinsengumi-inspired looks to enjoy, so we hope you’ll try transforming into a cool samurai yourself!
All of us on the staff are sincerely looking forward to the day we can meet you! 😁❤️
Shinsengumi Plan Details
- Includes: Hair and makeup, kimono dressing, and a photoshoot by our studio photographer (approximately 30 shots)
- Deliverables: 3 retouched JPEG images
- Time Required: Approximately 3–3.5 hours
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