Description

Medium: Iron, Lacquer, silk, copper, gold

School: Possibly Owari

Provenance: Private collection Japan / Private collection UK

At first glance, one might mistake this suit of armour for a standard tatami-dō, typically associated with lower-ranking samurai. However, it is quite the opposite, this is a rare, high-status emergency armour, specifically designed for portability and functionality in critical situations. It belonged to a samurai of considerable rank, as evidenced by several exceptional features:

• Bespoke Construction: Every component of the armour is custom-made to order, tailored for its original owner.
• Tameshi (Bullet-Tested): The armour has undergone ballistic testing, indicating it was intended for real combat use. Possibly Owari school.
• Custom Kabuto: The helmet features hinged fukigaeshi, a rare design that allows the wearer to shoot a bow without obstruction.
• Luxurious Materials: The ire-ji cloth is made of high-grade silk interwoven with gold-leaf paper. Sangu, haidate, kote and suneate are fully matched.
• Dutch Leather Detailing: The suneate includes fine Dutch leather, a prized imported material at the time.
• Bespoke Manjuwa: A custom manjuwa (padded vest) is worn over the dō, providing additional protection and comfort. Most are worn underneath to dō. As you can see from the photos taken on the Ningyo the front of the manjuwa tucks in behind the mune-ita when worn.
• Wakibiki Protection: Underarm guards (wakibiki) offer vital defence in close combat situations.

The armour remains ompletely original and intact, including the sashimono-dai (flag holder). It also retains its original storage box, complete with asa (hemp) packing bags for each individual component, a detail rarely preserved.

The most remarkable feature, however, is the bullet damage to the mae-dō (front cuirass). This level of authenticity is almost unheard of in tatami-dō, and to date, this is the only example I have encountered that bears such historic battle evidence.

This armour has been photographed in detail and will feature in my future book Samurai Way of the Gun. This should be in a samurai museum.