Armor
Karuhazumi ni koto o okosanai koto
Don't be Impetuous
Japanese armor originated from a solid plate construction known as Tanko which was first introduced by the Yamato people around 4 AD. Two or three hundred years later the Japanese armor developed into two main styles. Of these two styles one was a light armor used by foot soldiers and general infantry and is called do-maru (literally meaning cuirass round the body) and was fastened at the side but was then called haramaki (literally meaning stomach wrap). Later during the Muromachi period an armor form that fitted at the back was developed which was also called haramaki. The second style of armor at the time was the o-yoroi which was a very ornate style, much heavier and more substantial and was worn by those of higher rank and were mounted. Both styles were comprised of horizontal plates made from leather or iron lamellae that formed the Do and were closely laced together in a style known as kebaki-odoshi. The o-yoroi had large shoulder guards called o-sode which protected the wearer and a four piece box like skirt called a kuzazuri which was similarly constructed providing protection below the waist. The kuzazori of the do-maru and haramaki were usually comprised of seven section. The o-yoroi helmet was a relatively simple but heavy and solid construction often having large standing rivets on the bowl or hachi. A large neck guard called a shikoro was attached to the bowl and brought forward to form two large projections called fukigaeshi. Both the shikoro and fukigaeshi would be laced in the manner of the sode and other armor pieces. The helmet was often embellished with two horn like projections called kuwagata. During the 15th and 16th centuries the the Do and Kabuto remained of simple construction and some were even made collapsible called tatami-do. But with the wars of the Sengoku Jidai and with so many in battle it became necessary to identify individual units so flags known as sashimono were worn on the backs of the armor. To accommodate these sashimono the shikoro or neck guard was fitted closer to the back with a simple five plate helmet called a Hineno-zunari kabuto. A large number of helmets made at this time for the common foot soldier were known as hiyaku-hane-mono or helmets "for a hundred heads" meaning that they were mass produced. The better quality armor of the higher ranks now had armored arms (mostly of chain mail) and facemasks were introduced. These facemasks, called Mempo or Mengu, often had ferocious expressions sometimes including teeth and moustaches as well as detachable nose pieces. They were also usually lacquered in a bright red which would reflect on the wearers face producing an even more war-like image. Attached to the bottom of the mempo would be several laced and flexible armored plates providing protection for the throat. This section was called the yodarekake which replaced the earlier nodowa. Variations of the mempo included one with no nose piece with only the chin and cheeks covered and were called hanbo while the full face masks were called somen.