Alright, so I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and I finally took the plunge and started working on a Jin Sakai cosplay from Ghost of Tsushima. Specifically, I wanted to tackle the “Cooper Clan Cosplayer” look. It’s such a cool, unique take on Jin’s outfit, and I was pumped to try and recreate it.
Getting Started
First things first, I had to gather my materials. The main thing is the helmet, which is totally a makeshift job. I went ahead and ordered a cheap plastic samurai helmet online. It was a starting point, nothing fancy, but it was good to get an idea of what I was dealing with. After that I started to collect some fabrics.
The Helmet
The helmet needed some serious work to make it look like the Cooper Clan version. The original plastic helmet that I bought, had a completely different design and shape than Jin’s. So, I started to modify the plastic helmet. I sculpted new horns and features onto the helmet, it is made from other plastic sheets, just cut and glue it. This took some time and patience, and a couple of failed attempts, but eventually, I got it to a place where I was happy with the shape.
- Modified the helmet with other plastic sheets.
- Painted the helmet in a bronze color to match the in-game model.
- Added some weathering effects to make it look old and worn.
The Outfit
For the clothing, I decided to try and find as many ready-made pieces as possible, just to save some time. I managed to find a decent-looking blue kimono and hakama pants online, which were pretty close to what Jin wears in the game. I did a bit of modifying them though.
- Searched for blue kimono and hakama pants.
- Adjusted the fit and made some alterations to the garments.
- Added some distressing to the fabric to match the worn look of the game.
The Accessories
No cosplay is complete without the right accessories. I already had a katana replica from a previous cosplay, so that was covered. I crafted a makeshift tanto knife out of wood and painted it to match. The headband was another DIY project. I took a strip of fabric and painted the Cooper Clan symbol onto it. Finally, I found some old leather belts and pouches that I could repurpose for the cosplay.
Putting It All Together
Once I had all the individual pieces, it was time to put it all together. I tried on the outfit, made some final adjustments, and added the accessories. The helmet was definitely the centerpiece, and I was really happy with how it turned out. The whole process was a lot of work, but seeing the finished product made it all worthwhile. I still need to add some small details, but so far I’m loving how it’s looking.
All in all, it was a super fun project, and I’m stoked with how my Cooper Clan Cosplayer outfit turned out. It was definitely a challenge, but a good one. I’m excited to wear it to the next convention and see what people think!
