Martin J. Dougherty is a former defence consultant, he has written numerous books on history and military history, including Vikings: A History of the Norse People, Medieval Warrior, Weapons and Fighting Techniques of the Medieval Warrior 1000–1500AD and books on personal self-defence. He lives in northern England.

• Introduction:The Samurai1: Historical Context Samurai armour changed over time: in the Heian Period (794–1185), armour was designed to be light and flexible because samurai fought on horseback. In the later Edo Period (1603–1867), armour was worn more as an expression of culture and status.2: The Evolution of Armour-making in Japan The development of armour design is shaped by factors such as economics and availability of materials as well as expediency and efficiency.3: Armour Construction Japanese armour contained leather, iron, steel, wool, cotton, and sometimes silk in its construction. • Dou or dō, a chest armour made up of iron and or leather plates of various sizes and shapes with pendants • Kusazuri made from iron or leather plates hanging from the front and back of the dou (dō) to protect the lower body and upper leg. • Sode, large rectangular shoulder protection made from iron and or leather plates. • Kote, armoured glove like sleeves which extended to the shoulder or han kote (kote gauntlets) which covered the forearms. • Kabuto, a helmet made from iron or leather plates (from three to over 100 plates) riveted together. • Mengu, various types of lacquered metal and or leather facial armour. • Haidate, thigh guards which tied around the waist and covered the thighs. • Suneate, shin guards made from iron splints connected together by chain armour (kusari) and sewn to cloth and tied around the calf. • Guruwa, throat protector. • Nodowa, a type of throat and neck guard. • Tate-eri, the tate-eri is a small padded pillow like piece • Manchira, the manchira is a type of armoured-vest • Wakibiki, the wakibiki is a simple rectangle of cloth covered with kusari (chain armour), karuta (small iron plates), or kikko (brigandine) • Yoroi zukin, cloth hoods with various types of armour sewn to the cloth.4: Ancient Samurai Armour (4th –9th centuries) • Tanko – The first iron armour appeared in the 4th century and was called tanko. • Keiko – the introduction of the keiko (or kake-yoroi), was connected with the importation of horses from continental Asia around the end of the 4th century. • Do-maru – retainers and servants usually wore simpler armour (do-maru), which appeared approximately with the o-yoroi or earlier.5: Classical Samurai Armour (10th –15th centuries) • O-yoroi – The o-yoroi (or ‘great armour’) appeared in the beginning of the 10th century. • Haraate and Haramaki – Beginning in the 15th century, the light infantry (ashigaru) was equipped with a new type of armour called haraate (‘protection of the abdomen’). • Kusari – Japanese mail, appeared in the 14th century.**6: Modern Samurai Armour (16th –19th centuries) ** • Mogami-do gusoku – The earlier variants of the mogami-do gusoku, which appeared in the late 15th/early 16th centuries were considered to be transitional types of armour. • Maru-do gusoku – The maru-do was a modern variant of the do-maru and usually was the armour of high-ranking warriors. • Ni-mai-do gusoku – Strictly speaking, the ni-mai-do was not a particular type of armour but was a term for a group of armours of different construction. • Okegawa-do gusoku – Around 1550 a new type of armour appeared, the okegawa- do or the armour of riveted lamellae. • tosei-gusoku – in the beginning of the 16th century the Classical armours were replaced by tosei-gusoku (‘Modern armours’) of lamellar construction. • Namban-do gusoku – The namban-do gusoku or ‘armour of the south barbarians’ was one of the results of contact with Europeans.7: Famous Samurai of the Sengoku Period Takeda Shingen (1521–73) – Oda Nobunaga (1534–82) – Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616)8: Heraldry Samurai in battle would wear a banner with their lord’s crest on it, attached to the back of their armour.

Select Guide Rating