Tenchi Masaki

As seen on

Tenchi Muyo!

Costume Stats:

Character: Tenchi Masaki
Series: Tenchi Muyo!
Where is this Costume From?: OVA, Episode 1
Conventions worn at: Otakon 99, Katsucon 6(2000)
Awards: None
Chances of meeting Kawaii girls: Fair

Background:

Since I started cosplay, I've had this thing of doing the leading male character of whatever series I decide to cosplay from. First Makoto Mizuhara and now Tenchi Masaki. Maybe it has to do with the fact that this guy has so many women living with him, it's like having a personal harem(and if he had the sex drive, it could very easily be a hentai series...and if I ever meet a girl who cosplays as "Bondage Queen Aeka," I'll definately volunteer to co-star with her...)

The Costume

This costume was made with the help of my Grandmother who is an excellent seamstress. The yukata was made by taking a light-blue men's bathrobe I bought at wal-mart (you would not believe how much of a bitch it was to find the right color and type of fabric...) That was the foundation for the costume.

I then needed to purchase additional fabric for the alterations. The stripe on the left arm and shoulder and the belt are both midnight blue. The sleeve rolls an extremely light blue.

The robe was altered by cutting the sleeves short, and by trimming the bottom half of the robe so that it looked like a light jacket. Then the light blue sleeves were attached to the ends of the original sleeves and then rolled to achieve the same effect. The Belt was a yard long, inch thick folded and sewn piece of fabric. As durable and good as any robe belt bought in a store. The same technique was used for the stripe. It was a folded strip of fabric thatw as sewn onto the jacket.

Then I simply added standard blue jeans, the red t-shirt, and the sandals to finish off the outfit. Viola! Tenchi Masaki!

Now, anyone who knows me however, knows that since i tend to cosplay as "average guys", I tend to do something special to make the costume stand out. In the case of Tenchi Masaki, I made the Master Key or the Tenchi-ken, which is the magical sword he uses in the series. So...What better way to complete teh outfit than by making my OWn Tenchi-ken...

Tenchi-ken

The Tenchi-ken is one of my better props I've built. Though, the second one is far superior in design and look. Both were made with a piece of lumber that is used for making bookshelves etc.(This stuff cuts nicely and is highly durable) then took PVC piping and cut a section for the blade. I took a "screw end piece" and attached it to the hilt with a 3 inch wood screw.(Drill a hole first, otherwise you risk cracking the hilt when drilling in the screw.) Now, the prop breaks into two pieces - The hilt and the Blade. So it it can be without the blade all the time just like the series.

Then I sanded and painted the hilt almond, adding 2-3 coats, then let dry. The piping, I sanded thoroughly and painted it turquoise blue. I sand the piping because then the paint will not run and dry horribly) Always paint props with 2-3 coats for best effect. Then after the paint had dried, I sketched in the designs on teh hilt on both sides and affixed the three gems on both sides. After the glue has dried, I took the time to spray on 2-3 coats of clearcoat. This is extremely important! It does several things. 1. it keeps the paint from wearing off and 2. it protects the prop from moisture and staining. It makes the prop take another day of work, but it's worth it cause now it will last a lifetime.

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