Cosplayer with 190K X Followers Dreams of Taiyaki in Ukraine—Speaks on War and the Future

The True Feelings of the Ukrainian People

“In Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, air raid sirens still blare, and even in cafés, there are soldiers present—but people continue living their daily lives. It’s a strange mix of war and normalcy.”

So, says Netochka, a Ukrainian cosplayer who recently made her gravure debut on FRIDAY. She has been living in Japan since the summer of 2022, but this past March, she was finally able to return to Ukraine for the first time in a while. We spoke with this much-talked-about cosplayer about her present and future.

“During this trip, I visited Lviv and the hot spring regions near the Carpathian Mountains, which allowed me to discover new charms of Ukraine. I stayed for about three weeks, taking photos for my followers and buying ingredients for kvass, a traditional Ukrainian beverage.”

The FRIDAY photoshoot actually took place around autumn 2024. However, due to global political developments, its publication was postponed. In particular, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions have had a significant impact on the people of Ukraine.

“We’ve been watching the negotiations between President Trump and the Ukrainian government with mixed feelings. Whether a ceasefire will be realized or not Japan was likely just as confused by Trump as we were, and even American citizens probably didn’t know what to expect next. For the people of Ukraine, no matter the situation, the honest feeling is that we don’t want to accept a disadvantageous ceasefire.”

Having lived in Japan for nearly three years now, she’s fully adapted to life here—borscht and pirozhki now feel heavy to her, and she’s even grown to enjoy natto. Her hairstyle, makeup, and clothing have become more subdued compared to when she lived in Ukraine.

When the war is over

But even so, she still wants to return to Odesa. This temporary return to Ukraine only deepened her longing for home.

“Even if it’s dangerous, even if just for a short time, I want to go back to Odesa before the end of the year. It’s the city where I was born and raised.”

Until the day she can return for good, Netechka says she will continue to focus on sharing the charms of Ukraine through her cosplay work.

“First, I want to turn kvass into a full-scale business. Kvass is a traditional Ukrainian drink made by fermenting rye bread. When I held a tasting event, many people came, and the feedback in the surveys was very positive. I’m making test batches every week so that more Japanese people can enjoy kvass. All the ingredients are sourced from Ukraine, so it also supports reconstruction efforts.

I also have a dream of creating an onsen photo book. During my recent return, I discovered the appeal of Ukrainian hot springs. They’re not as culturally established as they are in Japan, but I’d love to take photos at a hot spring in my hometown.”

If the war ends and she’s able to return to Ukraine—Netochka has a quietly cherished dream.

“If not for the war, I was actually planning to open a taiyaki shop in Ukraine in 2022 or 2023. Thanks to the influence of anime, taiyaki has become hugely popular among young people in Europe. I even wanted to make original versions filled with salmon or Philadelphia cream cheese.

That dream hasn’t disappeared. After living in Japan for three years, I don’t want to forget its culture even after I return to Ukraine. I hope to do something that connects Japanese and Ukrainian culture.”

Netochka — Hailing from the port city of Odesa, known as the “Pearl of the Black Sea,” she moved to Japan in 2022. Nicknamed “Anya,” she gained attention as a cosplayer and now has over 190,000 followers on X. She also actively promotes kvass, a traditional beverage from her homeland.

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Click here for the first part of the article, “What’s Sobayu? Ukrainian cosplayers who are trying their hand at gravure for the first time talk about their life in Japan “.