Samurai Armor Guides & History

Table of Content What is Tosei Gusoku 当世具足 History of Tosei Gusoku Features of Tosei Gusoku Major Parts of Tosei Gusoku What is Tosei Gusoku 当世具足 Tosei Gusoku, the Japanese name 当世具足 means “modern armor” in English, is a type of Japanese armor developed during the Sengoku period. Tosei Gusoku is the culmination of Japanese armor development, inheriting the characteristics of other armor types like Oyoroi,...

Table of Content What is Domaru History of Domaru Features of Domaru What is Domaru Domaru (胴丸), also write as Dō-maru or Doumaru in English, is a type of Japanese armor designed for on foot battles, usually wear by lower-ranking samurai and ashigaru (foot soldiers). The name Domaru literally means “Torso wrapping” in English. History of Domaru Domaru was first appeared in late Heian...

Table of Content What is Haraate History of Haraate Features of Haraate What is Haraate Haraate is a type of Japanese armor mainly made for foot soldiers, As the lightest type of samurai armor, it provides the greatest mobility. Haraate (腹当) in Japanese literally means "belly protector”as the name suggested, it offers limited protection on the chest and abdomen only. History of Haraate Haraate...

Table of Content What is Haramaki (腹巻) History of Haramaki (腹巻) Features of Haramaki (腹巻) Major Parts of Haramaki What is Haramaki (腹巻) Haramaki is a type of Samurai armor that originated in the late Kamakura period, it’s a simplified and more mobile compare with other types. The name Haramaki 腹巻 literally means “Wrapping Belly”, because the wraps around the torso. History of Haramaki (腹巻) Haramaki is...

Table of Content What is Oyoroi?  History of Oyoroi Major parts of Oyoroi What is Oyoroi?  Image source:bunka.nii.ac.jp O-yoroi is the most iconic type of traditional Japanese armor used mainly during the Heian period (794-1185) and the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is characterized by its box-like structure body, designed to protect Samurai on horseback. The word Oyoroi literally means "Great Armor" in Japanese. O usually means "Big" or "Great", and...

Table of Content What is Suneate (臑当) in Samurai armor?  The history and evolution of Suneate Major types of Suneate What is Suneate (臑当) in Samurai armor?  Suneate (臑当) are shin guards or greaves, they are the traditional Japanese armor parts that protect the lower legs. In battles, if your shin get hurts, you will lose mobility, without mobility you become easy target and difficult to survival....

Table of Content What is Haidate 佩楯? History of Haidate The use of Haidate Major Types of Haidate What is Haidate 佩楯?
 Haidate is a piece of samurai armor that protects the thighs, which make up a large part of the lower body. The thighs, which play an important role in walking and contain arteries and nerves, are areas that could lead to death if...

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...

Table of Content What is Kote Kote History Major Types of Kote Major Components of Kote What is Kote
 “Kote” (籠手) is the gauntlet in Samurai Armor that protects hands and arms from enemy attacks. As long as human fight with weapons in their hands, there is a need to protect their hands. The Kote used in Japanese armor basically sews a hard plate such as iron or...

Table of Content What is Do in Samurai armor? Structure of the Samurai Armor Chest Plate History of Samurai Armor Chest plate (Do) Major Types of Chest plate (Do) used in Tosei Gusoku What is Do in Samurai armor? 胴 “Do”, is the chest plate, or breastplate of the samurai armor. Do acts as cuirass to protect the body from the chest to the waist. Do is...