Japanese Armor

The evolution of what we now know as Samurai armor can be traced back to the fourth century A.D, when some of the first distinctly Japanese armor appeared. Though far more simple in appearance and function, the tanko (short armor), were little more than a lacquered cuirass, roughly triangular in shape, and composed of several sections of simple plate, and laced together on the sides or sometimes down the center of the wearer. The tanko soon gave way to the kieko (hanging armor) which saw the first usages of the more recognized multi-scaled armors.

Yet it was not until the decades of endless warfare during the Sengoku period that Samurai armor began to evolve at an exponential rate. As is often the case during long period of warfare, those five decades saw more development and innovation the previous five centuries, soon becoming the fearsome scaled, multi-piece armor that we all recognize today as being that of the Samurai.

The introduction of the gun onto the Japanese battlefield prompted yet another revolution in development, particularly in the chest piece, which was now being relied upon to stop early bullets as well as conventional weapons. Coming full-circle, the chest piece of those who could afford the appropriate materials now highly resembled European armor; a solid plate of tempered steel, and believe it or not they could actually stop bullets. Soon, the age of the mighty Samurai would come to an end, yet their spirit remains!

Please join Historic Replicas in celebrating the Samurai with our premier line of authentic and wearable Japanese armor sets.