One half of the cosplay duo @rodyaandyozo, Yozo has been cosplaying since 2023 and building her own costumes since 2024 — and ever since, the stage has become her favourite part of the whole process.

Her best-known characters: Dazai, Mao Mao and Kagura. Her biggest achievement so far, though, is on film: together with her team she won the “Cosplay, Camera, Action” competition at Anifest Varna two years running.

At AsiaFest 2026 she joins a judging panel for the first time — and she’s clear about what she’s looking for: “My favourite part of cosplay is stage performance, so I’ll be paying the most attention to your stage presence. That’s the moment when everything you’ve worked on comes together. Of course, your costumes and the craftsmanship behind them will also play an important role.”

So: sew well — but rehearse the entrance too.