I’ve been wanting to cosplay Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima for a while now, and I finally decided to take the plunge. I’m not gonna lie, I thought it would be way easier, but it turned out to be a bigger project than I expected. But hey, it was a fun ride, and I learned a ton along the way.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered a bunch of reference images. I spent hours looking at screenshots from the game, concept art, and other cosplayers’ work. I really wanted to get the details right, you know?
Making the Outfit
Next, I started working on the outfit. I decided to make the iconic Sakai Clan armor. Man, that was a challenge. I used EVA foam for the armor pieces, which was a new material for me. It was definitely a learning curve, figuring out how to shape it and get it to look like metal. I ended up watching a lot of YouTube tutorials, to make it look good.
- Cutting the foam. That was the easy part. But getting all the pieces to fit together correctly, that was tricky.
- Shaping the foam with a heat gun. This part was kind of fun, but also kind of scary. I was always worried I’d overheat the foam and mess it up.
- Painting the armor. I went through several different paint jobs before I was happy with it. I used acrylic paints, and I layered them to create a weathered, battle-worn look.
- Adding details. I used things like worbla and craft foam to create the smaller details, like the rivets and the engravings on the armor.
The clothing was a bit easier. I found some patterns online and modified them to match Jin’s outfit. I used mostly linen and cotton fabrics, trying to get that authentic samurai look. Sewing was not the hardest part, it is the dying. I had to dye some of the fabric to get the right colors, and that was a whole process in itself. I had never done that before. Luckily, my wife helped me on this part.
The Sword and Accessories
No samurai is complete without a katana, right? I considered buying a replica, but I decided to make my own. I used wood for the blade and the handle, and I wrapped the handle in faux leather. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It took me two whole weekends to make it, non-stop.
I also made some other accessories, like the Sakai Clan mask and the bow and arrows. I used a lot of the same techniques as I did for the armor, like shaping and painting foam. To be honest, the mask is the easiest to make among all the parts.
Putting It All Together
Finally, the day came to put it all together. I put on the outfit, strapped on the armor, and grabbed my sword. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I couldn’t help but smile. I actually looked like Jin Sakai! I felt like a real samurai!
I wore the cosplay to a local convention, and it was a hit! I got so many compliments, and people even asked to take pictures with me. It was a great feeling to see all my hard work pay off. I felt like I did something amazing!
This whole experience was a real adventure. I learned a lot about crafting, sewing, and problem-solving. And I ended up with an awesome cosplay that I’m really proud of. If you’re thinking about cosplaying, I say go for it! It’s a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it.
