Today I am figuring out how to make Sesshy’s Heko-Obi. And trying to figure out how he wears it, the loops and knots and drapes, don’t seem to be in a logical order. Of course, I need to figure out which heko-obi I’m planning to make as well. I want to make the pink and red manga one, to wear with the pink flower kosode I’m making, because I just like pink and thenk the pink heko-obi would look better with the pink kosode, but in the movie he wore the dark blue heko-obi with the pink flower kosode. Can I cheat and mix and match his cloths?
Over his Kimono, Sesshomaru wears a very formal Hakama, a black obi, battle armor, and an obi-sash called a Heko-obi. We shall know take a look at the Heko-Obi and it’s multiple variations.
Heko-Obi
The Heko-Obi is a thin, highly decorative, brightly colored silk sash, a type of Obi worn by men. It generally serves no purpose other than formal decoration of ceremonial wear. Sesshomaru’s is distinctively longer and fancier than that normally worn by men and it tied at the waist to form a flower-like bow. Long fancy Obis of this type, were generally worn by women, not men, as a man’s Obi is generally much short and has no long drape to it. Sesshomaru’s Heko-obi is therefor highly unusual, and more resembles the belted sashes worn by Chinese noblemen, rather than those worn by Japanese noblemen. Though highly decorative, Sesshomaru’s heko-obi does serve a purpose, as he uses it to sheath his swords to his side.
Samurai:
An Illustrated History
More than one Heko-obi has been seen to be worn by Sesshomaru. The Heko-obi is the item with see with the most variations, to date I have counted 8 different versions of it. As with the alternate kimono styles, the alternate heko-obi styles could be taken as a mistake on the part of the anime artists or manga inkers or as the fact that Sesshomaru owns multiple heko-obis. For my own costume I am going to assume the later and make all of the alternate styles and colors. Here is a list of the different versions he has been seen wearing:
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- Heko-Obi: Anime Version:
The anime version of Sesshy’s Heko-Obi is by far and without a doubt the most popular version of it. This is the one most people quickly identify as being his “standard” Heko-obi, and the one used by most costumers, when making a Lord Sesshomaru costume.
Sesshomaru’s anime Heko-Obi is a brilliant eye-popping shade of yellow, embellished with purple trim. See the many pictures of him on the page, to see a detail of this ocean wave pattern. It is uncertain if the purple designs are painted on, dyed, or embroidered onto the heko-obi.
If you wish to make one of the alternate heko-obis, here are the details:
- Alternate Heko-Obi #1: Original Manga Version
Alternate Heko-Obi #1 is the same as the one he usually wears, except for the color. This one is a pale pastel petal pink or a shade commonly called “bubble gum pink”, and the designs on it are red instead of purple. (Sesshomaru’s debut picture shows him in hammered bronze armor and a pink Heko-Obi.)
Sesshomaru was originally introduced as InuYasha’s older sister, not older brother. The color of his Heko-obi changed from pink to yellow after the story was rewritten and republished with him as a boy instead of a girl.
Alternate Heko-Obi #2: Anime Version; Not Common
Alternate Heko-Obi #2 is the same as the one he usually wears, except for the color. This one is the same brilliant shade of yellow, but the designs on it are royal blue instead of purple.
Alternate Heko-Obi #3: Anime Version; Not Common
Alternate Heko-Obi #3 is also the same as his usual one, except for the color, which is a dark gold-yellow, possibly metallic, and has navy blue designs on it.
Alternate Heko-Obi #4: Movie Version
Alternate Heko-Obi #4 is completely different from his usual wear. We only see this one once, in the movie flashback, when Sesshomaru was a young teenager, about 14 or 15 years old (human equivalent). He wears it with his pink flower kosode. This one is made of a dark blueish-purplish cloth, which resembles a velvety material. The lower edges of it have a gold banner-like pattern which appears to be embroidered in. The ends of this Heko-obi are trimmed with a band of long gold tassels. This Heko-obi is shorter than the one he normally wears.
Alternate Heko-Obi #5: Manga Version (Japan Only)
Alternate Heko-Obi #5 is the same as the one he usually wears, except for the color. Though not seen in the United States, this one is fairly common in Japanese editions, and has been seen used a few times used in Japanese costumes, as well as being used quite often in Japanese fan-art. Instead of being yellow, this one is a pale whispery shade of sky blue, and the designs on it are royal blue instead of purple.
Alternate Heko-Obi #6: VIZ Promotional Product “Chibi” Version (Japan Only)
I have only seen this one in VIZ’s promotional “Chibi-art” These picture show Sesshomaru as a Chibi, or a small child, about 7 or 8 years old. In this picture he was shown wearing a much more traditional Heko-obi, without both side drapes and the long flowing drapes at the front. Alternate Heko-Obi #6 was made of a plain bright yellow cloth.
Alternate Heko-Obi #7: VIZ Promotional Product Version (Japan Only – very rare)
I have only seen this one once, on a rare promotional art picture, which shows Sesshomaru “at home” and out of his normal nobleman’s outfit and wearing a drabber set of “house cloths”. In this picture he was shown wearing a much more traditional Heko-obi, without both side drapes and the long flowing drapes at the front. Alternate Heko-Obi #7 was made of a stiffer (possibly brocade) fabric, and bright red.
- Obi
Once we see Sesshomaru not wearing his usual battle armor. He is seen wearing neither his Haramaki nor his spiked plates. From this episode we know that underneath his battle armor and over his kimono and hakama, Sesshomaru wears a very wide, plain black obi, most likely to have been made of silk brocade.
What’s your take on this? I’d love to hear what you have to say about this post. Leave a comment and share your views!
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If you liked reading this blog and want to read more stuff written by me, I have lots of websites, where you can read other things I write, here are a few of the ones I like the best:
- All about Lord Sesshomaru’s garb & Making a Lord Sesshomaru Costume. Plus, Sesshomaru & Rin and making Rin’s Costume; and this is for anyone who needs help Creating Character Profiles for their stories or for their SCA persona.
