Introduce the samurai armor Kusazuri History and types

Table of Content

• What is Kusazuri?
• History of Kusazuri
• Kusazuri on Oyoroi (大鎧)
• Kusazuri on Doumaru (胴丸)
• Kusazuri on Haramaki ( 腹巻)
• Kusazuri on Tosei Gusoku ( 当世具足)

What is Kusazuri?

Kusazuri (草摺) refers to the part of the samurai armor that is hung from the Do (cuirass), looks like a skirt, it covers the lower body from the waist to the thighs for protection. It is usually made of the same material as the do, such as leather or iron plate.

Kusazuri are usually in trapezoidal shape and consist of multiple overlapping plates. These plates are assembled in a descending order, each lower than the one above it, allowing for flexibility and movement. The lacing style and color could be customized depending on the aesthetic preferences of the wearer / owner .

The Kusazuri were attached to the cuirass using cords or toggles, which allowed for easy removal and reattachment. This feature was practical for maintenance and adjustments.

The number of Kusazuri plates (枚数) varies depending on the type and era of the armor, and it is generally divided into about 4 to 8 pieces. The name Kusazuri is derived from the fact that the hem rubs against the grass, and it was also called “Gesan” or “Koshiyoroi”.

History of Kusazuri

The development of kusazuri is closely connected with the overall evolution of samurai armor. Early hip armor in tankou armor was rigid, less flexible, didn't provide much protection to the thigh. Then we have the Kusazuri Oyoroi, provides more protection but still not flexible.

Over time, the design of kusazuri evolved to improve mobility and comfort. Early Kusazuri are larger, fewer plates, they were eventually divided into smaller, more plates to allow for greater flexibility. This evolution reflects the ongoing efforts to refine armor design to meet the changing needs of samurai warriors.

Kusazuri on Oyoroi (大鎧):


In Oyoroi, usually pairs with Kusazuri with 4 plates that attached to the front, back, left, and right, called “Yonken Kusazuri” 四間草摺 (literally means 4 plates kusazuri)

For Oyoroi used from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, mainstream battle style was on horseback shooting arrows, so Kusazuri with thick armor and a wide hem was the most reasonable choice as armor. The kusazuri of O-yoroi had limited mobility and was not suitable for walking, but this was not an issue for samurai who fought on horseback. For protecting the lower body (mainly the thighs) while riding, this practical design was the best choice.

The Kusazuri of the Oyoroi made in this era is composed of Itazane (札板) that made by connecting many kozane (小札). Other than iron, the kozanes could also be made of leather to achieve lightness and maintain defensive performance.

*For each plate of the Oyoroi Kusazuri, there is a special name. The rear kusazuri is called "hisshiki no kusazuri" (引敷の草摺), the left kusazuri is called "yunde no kusazuri" (弓手の草摺, also known as "tachikake no kusazuri" [太刀懸の草摺] or "imuke no kusazuri" [射向の草摺]), the right kusazuri is called "waidate no kusazuri" (脇楯の草摺), and the front is simply called "mae no kusazuri" (前の草摺).

Kusazuri on Doumaru (胴丸):

Domaru appeared when infantry battles become popular and replace cavalry. Oyoroi is a fairly heavy armor, and it was not designed to walk on foot at all. On the other hand, Domaru is armor made for infantry battles on the ground. The large and heavy Kusazuri of the Oyoroi was not longer suitable for Doumaru.

Therefore, the Kusazuri of Domaru greatly changes its shape. First, what was a four-plate Kusazuri became an “eight-plate Kusazuri”. This greatly improve the armor mobility.

Kusazuri on Haramaki ( 腹巻):

Haramaki, which was made almost at the same time as Doumaru, was also armor made for infantry battles. The number of plates on Kusazuri varies from 5 to 7, compare with Oyoroi, it was much easier to move with the armor on.  Furthermore, Haramaki was shorter than Domaru, It can be considered that Domaru increased mobility by increasing the number of cuts, and Haramaki increased mobility by shortening the hem itself.

Kusazuri on Tosei Gusoku ( 当世具足):

In the Sengoku period, infantry battles became even more intense, a more robust, yet still light enough for agility type of armor is required. At this time, the armor that was based on Doumaru and Haramaki evolved, this is Tosei Gusoku.

Kusazuri on Tosei gusoku could have more plates than other armors, as many as 13 plates. This increase the mobility of the armor a lot. In addition, a thread called Yurugi-no-ito (揺絲), which connects the body and Kusazuri, has become common. This is thought to be a device to allow the Kusazuri to move freely even when the upper belt, where the Katana is inserted, is wrapped