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Dakimakura Zippers Explained: Covers vs Inner Pillows
A dakimakura zipper can mean two very different things. On a standard body pillow cover, the zipper is the opening used to fit the cover over an inner pillow. On certain specialized products, “double sides zipper” is part of the construction itself: the store carries both printed zipper pillowcases and an inner pillow with filling-access zippers. Confusing those jobs can lead to buying a cover when you expected an insert, or choosing an insert feature you do not need.
This guide separates the layers, shows what to check on a listing, and explains how to handle each zipper without forcing the fabric or filling. The key is simple: identify the product as a cover or an inner pillow first, then match its full dimensions and intended construction.
The short answer: three zipper jobs
| Where the zipper is | What it does | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Standard printed cover | Opens the cover so it can go over a matching insert | That an inner pillow is included |
| Specialized zipper pillowcase | Forms part of the product’s listed double-sided zipper construction | That it is interchangeable with every cover or accessory |
| Double-zipper inner pillow | Provides access to the insert’s filling area | That a printed character cover is included |
These products may appear in the same complete setup, but they are not substitutes. The basic system has two layers: a printed outer cover and a supportive inner pillow. Here, the focus is specifically on their openings and how to compare them.
1. The zipper on a regular dakimakura cover
A regular cover is the printed outer layer. Its opening lets you insert or remove the inner pillow. That closure should not be treated as a handle: pulling the cover by the zipper or trying to drag a full insert through a partly opened gap concentrates stress in one small area.
Instead, open the closure fully, compress and guide the insert, and work the corners into place before closing it. Keep fabric clear of the slider and stop if the zipper meets resistance. The detailed step-by-step cover fitting method shows how to align the insert without straining the opening.
The presence of this opening does not mean the listing includes an insert. Printed covers and inner pillows are separate store products. If you are assembling a complete pillow, check both layers and match the entire length × width pair.
2. What a specialized zipper pillowcase means
The store also has a dedicated Zipper Pillow Case category. These are not simply ordinary covers being described by their hidden closure. Their product names and descriptions identify a double-sided zipper construction, and the live listings must be read as specialized products.
For example, the custom apart-legs or zipper pillow cover currently presents a Type selection that includes “Zipper.” Its listed choices differ from the standard custom cover, so shoppers should choose the construction first and then review the live size, material, input fields, and displayed price.
A character-specific example, the Sailor Moon double-sided zipper pillow cover, is explicitly described as a pillowcase only. That wording is important: it tells you not to assume that an inner pillow accompanies the printed cover.
Questions to ask before choosing one
- Does the title explicitly say “with double sides zipper” or offer Zipper as a selectable type?
- Is the product identified as a pillow cover, pillowcase, or inner pillow?
- Which complete dimensions are shown on the live page?
- Which materials and construction options are actually selectable?
- Does the listing say the inner pillow is separate?
Do not infer compatibility from a similar character image or from the word “zipper” alone. Use the exact listing and its selected configuration as the source of truth.
3. The double-zipper inner pillow
An inner pillow is the supportive insert beneath the printed cover. DakimakuraStore carries a double-sided zipper inner pillow whose title lists 150 × 50 cm and 160 × 50 cm sizes. Its zipper feature belongs to the insert, not to the artwork layer.
Filling access can be useful when the insert needs redistribution, but it does not replace normal loft care. Begin by supporting and gently redistributing the existing filling through the outer fabric. The store’s inner-pillow fluffing guide gives a careful sequence for corners, the center, and fit checks.
If you open a filling-access zipper, place the insert on a clean surface, open only as much as needed, and keep loose filling away from the slider. Close the zipper completely before putting on the cover. Never force a packed section through the zipper teeth.
Match the full setup, not the zipper name
A zipper feature cannot correct a size mismatch. A 150 × 50 cm cover needs a 150 × 50 cm insert; sharing the same 50 cm width with a 160 × 50 cm product is not enough. The dakimakura size guide explains why both numbers matter.
Use this order when shopping:
- Choose the outer construction. Decide between a conventional printed cover and a specialized zipper pillowcase.
- Record its exact size. Copy both length and width from the selected option.
- Choose the insert. Browse the inner pillow collection and select the same dimensions.
- Decide whether filling access matters. A double-zipper inner pillow is a separate feature decision, not a requirement for every cover.
- Review the cart line by line. Confirm cover versus insert, size, material, type, and the price displayed for your actual selections.
Handling habits that protect both closures
Keep pressure off the slider
Compress the pillow with your hands rather than using the zipper to pull two strained edges together. If the opening will not meet comfortably, pause and recheck the insert orientation and size.
Clear fabric and filling before closing
On a cover, smooth the printed fabric away from the teeth. On a filling-access insert, push loose filling back inside. Move the slider slowly while watching the path ahead.
Close openings before regular use
An unclosed cover can shift around the insert, while an open inner-pillow access point can release filling. Run a quick fingertip check along each closure after assembly.
Separate the layers for care
Remove the printed cover from the insert before washing or storing the cover. Treat the care directions for the outer fabric separately from the inner pillow; a zipper does not make both layers one washable unit.
Common buying mistakes
- Assuming “pillow cover” includes the pillow. Check whether the page sells only the printed outer layer.
- Matching only the width. Confirm both measurements.
- Buying by a search-result title alone. Open the live product page and read the selected configuration.
- Treating every zipper as the same feature. A cover closure, specialized zipper construction, and filling-access insert serve different jobs.
- Forcing a difficult closure. Resistance is a reason to stop, realign, and check for trapped fabric or filling.
Frequently asked questions
Does every dakimakura cover have a zipper?
Use the exact product page to confirm its construction. A standard cover needs an opening for fitting, but a listing marketed as a double-sided zipper pillowcase describes a more specific product type.
Does a double-sided zipper cover include an inner pillow?
Not automatically. The character-specific zipper pillowcase reviewed for this guide states that it is a pillowcase only. Add a matching insert separately when needed.
Why would an inner pillow have zippers?
The store carries an inner-pillow product specifically identified as having double-sided zippers, giving access to the filling area. That is different from the closure on a printed cover.
Can I use a double-zipper inner pillow with a regular cover?
Start with dimensions: the cover and insert must share the exact length and width. Then make sure the closed inner-pillow zippers do not interfere with fitting. Do not assume compatibility from the feature name alone.
What should I do if the cover zipper will not close?
Stop pulling, open it again, check for trapped fabric, redistribute the insert, and verify the full size pair. Forcing the slider can concentrate stress around the opening.
Choose each layer deliberately
The safest way to interpret a dakimakura zipper is to ask where it sits and what product it belongs to. Select the outer cover construction, match a correctly sized inner pillow, and treat filling access as its own optional feature. With those decisions separated, the live listings become much easier to compare—and the finished setup is less likely to be strained by a simple mismatch.