About
Enako is often called Japan’s top cosplayer — a performer who turns comic, game, and anime characters into real‑world eye‑catchers with stunning accuracy. Born on 22 January 1994 in Nagoya, she blends cosplay with careers in singing and voice acting, and her following now stretches far beyond convention halls. Her YouTube channel has topped 600k subscribers and more than 32 million views, giving fans an easy way to enjoy costume reveals, behind‑the‑scenes chats, and occasional song covers.
Financially, she’s a rare success story in hobby culture. TV appearances in 2016 revealed she could earn over one million yen a month, and at Comiket that year, she cleared ten million yen in just two days. Those impressive figures haven’t slowed her creative pace. In April 2025, she thrilled gamers by bringing Street Fighter 6’s fearsome Juri to life, posting photos that left followers “speechless” at the precision of her work. Two months later, she headlined the release event for her radio show’s theme song ENACHORD, staging a mini‑concert and photo session that turned into a fan‑driven celebration.
Before Fame
Growing up in Nagoya, Enako discovered cosplay during middle school after falling in love with The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Inspired by outfits she spotted in Akihabara, she crafted her own versions and began attending local events, quickly realising she enjoyed performing as much as sewing.
The attention she earned led her to form the idol trio Panache! with fellow cosplayers Kuroneko and Akira Itsuki in 2012. The group released singles and an album under Defstar Records before disbanding in 2013, prompting a brief hiatus. By March 2015, she was back in costume, announcing her return on a brand‑new Twitter account and signalling the start of a full‑time, career‑level push into professional cosplay.
Trivia
- Record‑breaking sales: At Comiket 2018, she reportedly sold enough photobooks and merchandise to earn the equivalent of 130k SGD in a single day, cementing her reputation as cosplay’s top earner.
- Seasonal creativity: Each December, she joins Japan’s “Santacos” tradition, unveiling festive outfits through Young Animal Web; her 2024 white‑velvet look sparked a linguistic debate about the term itself.
- Big‑stage energy: During EVO Japan 2025, she appeared on stage just before the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves finals, rallying the crowd alongside fellow cosplayer Aki and DJ Salvatore Ganacci.
- Radio host: She fronts Enako no ○○ Radio, a show where listeners submit topics that range from prop‑making tips to favourite snacks.
- Digital reach: Since launching her YouTube channel in 2021, she has posted costume‑creation logs, karaoke streams, and even short gaming sessions, giving international fans content that doesn’t rely on event attendance.
Family Life
Although Enako openly posts photoshoots and event news, she keeps her sphere somewhat limited to public opinion. In July 2021, she verified that she is dating pro gamer Kenki, requesting support over intrusion. Aside from that announcement, she hardly ever discloses about relatives, stating she wishes to protect them from the limelight’s pressures and maintain the spotlight on her job.
Associated With
Collaboration is a running theme in her career. Early on, she sang and posed with Kuroneko and Akira Itsuki in Panache!, and those friendships still pop up at events. In 2022, her agency created the idol unit PPE41, where she performs alongside other PP Enterprise talents on joint stages.
Game publishers regularly tap her star power. Capcom highlighted her Juri costume for Street Fighter 6 promotions, while SNK brought her to EVO Japan 2025 to hype its Fatal Fury revival. She also collaborates with manga publishers like Young Animal Web for themed photo sets, proving that a striking costume can boost readership as effectively as it does convention buzz.
