鎧
甲冑の研究

Samurai Armor Archive (Gallery)

A digital reference library for the study of Japanese samurai armor — from the mounted-archer ō-yoroi of the Heian and Kamakura courts to the practical tōsei-gusoku of the Sengoku battlefield and the ceremonial armor of Edo. The full catalogued archive sits below, with filters by period, type, helmet style, and associated figure. Presented as material culture, history, and craft — not as combat instruction.

Browse the Archive Types of YoroiFamous Daimyō Compare Armor Armor Anatomy Evolution Timeline

What am I looking at?

Every armor is broken into its components — dō, kabuto, sode, kote, kusazuri, haidate, suneate — each identified, named in Japanese, and explained.

When, where & by whom?

Each style is placed in its period and connected to the warriors, clans, and battlefields with which it is historically associated.

Why was it built this way?

Functional, military, technological, and aesthetic reasoning — from mounted archery to matchlock warfare to Edo ceremonial display.

時代の変遷

Armor Through History

The evolution of Japanese armor does not follow political-period boundaries neatly — dates overlap by convention.

平安

Heian

794–1185

鎌倉

Kamakura

1185–1333

南北朝

Nanbokuchō

1336–1392

室町

Muromachi

1336–1573

戦国

Sengoku

c. 15th–late 16th c.

安土桃山

Azuchi-Momoyama

1568–1615

江戸

Edo

1603–1868

明治以降

Meiji / Modern

1868–present

Full historical timeline
鎧の種類

Types of Yoroi

"Yoroi" is used here as a general term — but each classification below has a distinct historical meaning. Select one to filter the archive above.

Nanban-dō

Nanban-dō

大鎧

Ō-yoroi

Great armor

Box-like construction optimized for the mounted archer. Large sode, substantial kusazuri, waidate, tsurubashiri, kozane construction. Asymmetrical features relate to mounted archery.

胴丸

Dō-maru

Body-wrap armor

Close-fitting cuirass closing on the right side; increased mobility. Originally infantry-associated, later adopted by high-ranking warriors.

腹巻

Haramaki

Belly-wrap armor

Close-fitting cuirass closing at the rear; developed for fighting on foot. Later adopted by higher-ranking samurai, often with rear defenses.

腹当

Hara-ate

Abdomen guard

Lighter defense covering the front of the torso; partial coverage for lower-ranking warriors or rapid use.

当世具足

Tōsei-gusoku

Modern equipment

Late Muromachi/Sengoku/Momoyama "modern armor": larger iron plates, simplified assembly, multi-panel cuirasses, distinctive kabuto. Response to yari warfare and matchlock firearms.

畳具足

Tatami-gusoku

Folding armor

Folding armor of articulated plates and mail; portable, often issued to retainers and ashigaru for rapid deployment.

名将の甲冑

Famous Daimyō & Samurai

Armor associated with named historical figures. Select one to filter the archive above. A vendor attribution is never automatically treated as verified historical fact.

織田信長

Oda Nobunaga

Daimyō

One of the unifiers of Japan; pioneer of matchlock warfare and large-scale infantry tactics. Associated with Nanban-style (European-influenced) armor.

豊臣秀吉

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Daimyō

Successor to Nobunaga; completed unification. Momoyama aesthetics favor gold and elaborate kabuto crests.

徳川家康

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Shōgun

Founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Associated with multiple distinct armor builds, including the Daikoku-zukin (Daikoku hood) style.

伊達政宗

Date Masamune

Daimyō

Daimyō of Sendai; known for a distinctive crescent-maedate kabuto and black-lacquer aesthetic. Associated with five-plate (go-mai-dō) armor.

武田信玄

Takeda Shingen

Daimyō

Daimyō of Kai; famed cavalry commander. Iconography includes distinctive headgear; historical armor vs. later image traditions must be distinguished.

上杉謙信

Uesugi Kenshin

Daimyō

Daimyō of Echigo and rival of Takeda Shingen. Multiple armor variants exist in reproduction, including Nanban interpretations.

真田幸村

Sanada Yukimura

Samurai Commander

Also Sanada Nobushige; defender of Osaka Castle. Associated with red armor tradition and distinctive antler-style crests in popular imagery.

源義経

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Warrior

Pre-Sengoku warrior of the Genji; a legendary figure rather than a Sengoku Daimyō. Historically associated with ō-yoroi-era mounted combat.

Explore Further

Interactive tools for the closer study of Japanese samurai armor.

Compare Armor

Place up to three armor records side by side for study.

Armor Anatomy

A real suit of armor with numbered parts explained.

Evolution Timeline

Trace armor development across historical periods.

Historical Periods

A timeline connecting armor to Japanese history.

Yoroi & Kabuto

Samurai armor & helmets overview.

Glossary

Japanese armor terminology with romanization and kanji.

Educational Disclaimer

This section is a historical and educational reference, not an e-commerce site or martial-instruction guide. Armor is studied as material culture. Historical attribution is separated from manufacturer marketing; images are published only when permission is recorded.
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