All Hands on Deck! Captain Jessica Rackam Brings Pt. 3 of Otakon Secret Photoshoots

Ahoy, and Happy Saturday, everyone! Today is September 19th, which means it's "International Talk Like A Pirate Day", a day in which everyone talks like a pirate. With that, I will...err....ahem....Yarrrr! I'm gonna spin ye a yarn of an authentic pirate, whom me and my crew met in Baltimore.

Jovina, Kiki, Athena, & I were taking photos along the harbor, when we came across a daredevil pirate, calling to us from atop the Chesapeake ship. We looks up and saw a red-headed pirate, swing down from a rope attached to the mast of the ship. She landed right in front of us, which took us (especially me) by surprise.

She introduced herself as Captain Jessica Rackam, though she told us she was known as "The Rose of the Ocean". She was incredibly beautiful...and incredibly dangerous, as she noticed Inuyasha's giant sword, she pointed her cutlass sword at his chest and asked if he would like to fight.

After explaining to her we were kigurumi performers, she laughed and asked if she could join us in our photoshoot. So, we invited her back to Jovina's house and she did her own photoshoot (and when I say invited, I mean she threatened Jovina and invited herself to the house. What can I say, she's a pirate with a sharp sword).

In honesty, this was an incredibly fun photoshoot to do, and I had wanted to be a pirate for a while now. I just wish I had a handsome male pirate to escort me and handle my precious booty. So I hope you enjoy this treasure trove of photos of her. You can view them by clicking the Female Mask page of my gallery, or by clicking here.

Until next time, me mates,

~Captain Cody Nakamura

P.S. Yarrrrr! Yaharrrr! Raise the Flag! Yo ho ho and a bottle of run, and all that!

Secret Photoshoot pt. 2: Introducing...Miss Haru Midoronishi

Well here is part two of the Secret Photoshoots. On the way to Jovina's House, we stopped at a small japanese bar where had some tea, and we noticed there was this very beautiful hostess.

Her name was Haru Midoronishi, which means "flower of the midwest", who was incredibly polite to us. She also played the most beautiful music on her sashin, a three stringed banjo. Her voice was like an angel singing in a heavenly chorus. Me and Jovina talked and we asked if maybe she would like to come back and do a small photoshoot for us, and she was flattered.

She was very camera shy when we first began, but she eventually came around. We didn't ask her to do any extreme poses, just a few poses of what a normal day at the japanese bar might be like. This included pouring a drink, posing gracefully, and playing the shamisen. We want to thank Miss Midoronishi for allowing us to photograph her for our website.

Now I know a lot of you are thinking, "Cody, where did you ever find someone that beautiful to pose for your website?". I would answer...."Well....we didn't." That is of course me. I just thought a little back story would be nice. Gives the costume a little bit more essence and a small touch of a persona. You can check out Miss Haru Midoronishi in the gallery right now.


Until next time,

~Cody Nakamura

New Gallery Post: Neko Red Riding Hood pt. 1

Happy Monday, everyone. Well, it's about time I get the Secret Photoshoots I mentioned last month. So, without further delay, we begin the Secret Photoshoots, with a simple and cute one. This one is called "Neko Red Riding Hood", which tells the story of a young girl named Red, who was born with cat ears. Thus getting the title of "Neko Red Riding Hood".

Much like the story of Red Riding Hood, Neko Red Riding Hood is traveling through a strange land in order to deliver a special basket of goodies to her grandmother. However much like the story, she also gets lost in this strange land (err, Jovina's house) she is in. Will she find her way to Grandma's house? Who else will she encounter along her journey? You'll have to wait for the second part of the shoot to find out, but for now, check out part one by clicking Neko Red Riding Hood shoot pt. 1 .

Before I go, I want to thank Kiki Feegata for letting me use her Red Ridding Hood outfit for this special shoot. Speaking of Kiki, she's also made her first kigurumi mask, and it looks awesome, so be sure to check out the debut photos of Karen.


Until next time nyo,

~Cody Nakamura




Eight Years Later: 9-11 Anniversary Post

First off, this is NOT a Kigurumi post, so if you were expecting one, then I'm sorry. I do feel though that this is important enough to talk about since it has had an affect on my life, and I'm sure a good number of the reader's lives as well. I get a little patriotic in this post, and if you don't like that, then you might not want to read this. I promise, next post will be about Kigurumi.

At 8:46 a.m. eight years ago today, American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower, followed by United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93, whose ultimate target was thought to be either the United States Capitol or White House, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m, after the passengers on board engaged in a fight with the hijackers.

9-11, was one of the most tragic events in American history. Over 3,000 were killed and 6,000 were injured. In that day, our definitions of peace, of safety, and even our security were redefined. People today still grapple with the events that took place that terrible morning. In response to the attacks, President George W. Bush, would then declare war on terror and a long battle would begin.

Now that I've talked about it a little, I want to know for those who read it, where were you when you heard about the attacks? As for me, I was only in the eigth grade, but I remember it clear as day. It was the only thing everyone talked about all day, and even after leaving school, it was all over the television. Certain channels stopped programming for the day in honor of what had happened. Even WWE Smackdown did a tribute show on September 13, 2001.

9-11 was a national tragedy, and something that will never be forgotten. It brought a country together in one common ideal. I feel that that America is, and continues to be, the greatest country in the world, and that there is no force on earth, not even Hulkamania (forgive me, I had to make the reference) that can stand up to the power of the American spirit. As our national pledge says, "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, & justice for all". So today, I'm not saying board yourself up in your house, but just remember what happened today, and why we're that much better as people now. This is my opinion, and many might not agree with it, but I feel honored to be able to post my feelings about what happened.

Until next time, and there will be a kigurumi post next time,

~Cody Nakamura

Summer 2009: A Wrap Up Report

Well, summer has almost come to it's end. Is it just me or does summer just happen to go by too quickly? Anywho, I think that this summer was quite the eventful one, and if there is any proof of that statement, you can find it right here at the Kigurumi Dojo.

As you can see by my fancy Summer To-Do bulletin board (which you can click to check it out in full depth), I had quite the doozie of a summer. Here are just a few of the many different things I got to do over Summer 2009.


Everyone's goal of Summer is to do some traveling, and that's one of the first things I did. Inuyasha cruised across the East coast to Baltimore, MD for Otakon 2009, where he hung out with several lovely female kigurumi ladies (check out the Otakon 2009 Gallery by clicking here). Inuyasha didn't just go to Baltimore, but he also got to travel to the Moon, Mt. Rushmore, Russia, and much more. (check it out on my YouTube channel).

Like most teenagers, a summer job is needed for extra spending money, and Inuyasha did that (which you can check out in his special photoshoot). He lasted longer than I had originally thought he would, being one week.

I think one of the most important things that happened over the summer was the launch of the new Kigurumi Dojo. The site can now be followed by Facebook, Twitter & by an RSS feed.

Overall, this summer has been quite the success. As Fall approaches, so does Halloween, Christmas, and a new series of photoshoots.

Until next time,

~Cody Nakamura

Passing of A Dear Friend....Arin Albatross

It is with a heavy heart that I must report on the passing of a kigurumi performer. It is never easy to do this, but I feel that being one of the closest to her, it is my duty to report. On Tuedsay, September 1st, 2009, Arin Albatross (Arin, Molly, & Kooh) died from choking to death as a result of a seizure, which she had been taking medicine for.

Arin had a most wonderful spirit, though she had a hard time expressing it. I met her in 2007 and escorted her to her first animé convention here in Ohio. (There are several videos featuring me and her on my YouTube Channel)

She also had the pleasure of performing with Kiki Feegata at Anime North in 2008. She mainly masked with two characters. Arin Albatross from Pangaya18, and her original character, Molly DeBrun, an irish red headed character. She had planned to get another mask of Kooh, the small pirate captain from Albatross18.

It is never easy to see a loved one leave us, but Arin would not want us to mourn her loss. Rather, she would want us to celebrate her life. She might not have handled herself the best in the forums, but she only wanted to be accepted by the community.

In honor of Arin, I have created a special memorial wallpaper featuring Arin the way she would want to be remembered. You can download it by clicking the photo below



Until next time, and may Arin Rest In Peace,

~Cody Nakamura

Otakon 2009: The Secret Photoshoots III & RSS

Happy Wednesday, everyone. Wow, September already? Still can't believe that summer is already winding down. Well, with the arrival of fall, there are a lot of big things coming to the Kigurumi Dojo. Along with the new look and feel to the site, there is also a series of new photoshoots on the way. If you didn't notice by the gigantic memory card photo next to me. (Big thanks to MrForScreen for allowing me to use the photo for the site)

If you've been with the Kigurumi Dojo at any time for the past two years, you know that at Otakon each year, Jovina, a fellow kigurumi performer, lets me come over to her house to hang out and try on some of her different costumes and masks, and for that I owe a tremendous thank you for. Well I went back once again this year and I got to go several cool photoshoots in several of her costumes. Inuyasha as Bus Boy is only one of the shoots we did at Otakon, and there are several more you will have to check out.

I will be uploading them in the next couple of weeks, so make sure you stay tuned to the Kigurumi Dojo for them. Speaking of staying tuned, now it is easier than ever. There are two new ways in which you can keep up with Kenshin, Inuyasha, & the happenings of the Dojo. First, is through Miharu's KigUp page for the Kigurumi Dojo. The second is through our new RSS feed button underneath the menu bat (Big thanks to both Miharu & Nami for the help). So there is no excuse that you shouldn't be visiting the Dojo more often now, so I'll hold you to check it out. :)

Until next time,

~Cody Nakamura

Shootin' The Moon & Surfin' the Pyramids

Happy Tuesday, everybody. It was a long weekend, but it was well worth it. School is out for three weeks, so that means only one thing...updates, updates, UPDATES. Today, I got two, count em', two videos for the price of one.


In the first of our double feature, Inuyasha takes one small step for man, one giant leap for half demon kind when he steps on the Moon. Inuyasha cruses the big lunar, and sees what it's like being 1/5 his weight on the moon. But wait....what about oxygen? Remember, in space, no one can hear you SIT!




In stop 2, Inuyasha visits Egypt, famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. It's one hot tourist spot, and as Inuyasha will find out "HOT" is just an understatement. I hope he packed a lot of water.

Until next time,

~Cody Nakamura