The bōgu (防具, bōgu) refers to the set of protective gear used in the practice of kendo, jukendo, naginatajutsu, and tankendo. Although the official term used in Japan today to refer to kendo armor is kendo-gu, the term bōgu is still the most commonly used.
Overview
There are no clear records indicating that the term bōgu was used during the Edo period (1600-1867). Other expressions like dogu, bugu, and take-gusoku were used to refer to protective armor used in military training. The first occurrence of the term bōgu appeared in the Meiji era (1868-1912) when the Japanese army was restructured based on the French model. It was then adopted by the military.
The bōgu consists of the following components:
- Men (面): Protection for the face, skull, throat, and shoulders.
- Kote (甲手): Protection for the hands, wrists, and forearms.
- Do (胴): Protection for the torso and abdomen.
- Tare (垂れ): Faulds, protecting the waist and thighs.
These elements are attached to the body using himo (cords, strings), and the men is secured with a knot behind the head. The practitioner wears the tenugui on their head to prevent sweat from dripping into their eyes. The do is attached at three points: two at the shoulders and one at the lower back. The himo of the kote should be neither too tight nor too loose to allow freedom of movement and absorb impacts. The tare is tied under the first panel (oodare) with an invisible knot. The process of wearing and securing the bōgu is an essential part of kendo etiquette.
In addition to providing protection, except for the tare, these pieces serve as targets (datotsu-bui) to be struck by the shinai. They allow practitioners to deliver full strikes without the risk of injuring their partner and protect against errant strikes.
Most bōgu, particularly standard models and custom-made ones, are produced outside of Japan (Korea, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, etc.). Some custom-made bōgu are still produced in Japan by individual craftsmen or in the remaining large workshops such as Nihon Kendogu Seizo in Kuji, Iwate, and Nihon Kendogu Seisakusho in Saito, Miyazaki.
History
The bōgu was invented along with modern kendo in the 18th century. Its form is inspired by the yoroi, the armor of the samurai. It has undergone minimal changes since its inception.
Materials Used
For the Men:
- Menbuton: Padded cotton, quilted and indigo-dyed.
- Mengane: A metal grille, typically made of duralumin or titanium.
- Herikawa: Synthetic leather or suede leather reinforcements for the seams.
- Menbuchi: Attaches the menbuton and mengane together, usually made of buffalo leather.
For the Kote:
- Kotebuton: Quilted cotton, indigo-dyed, on the forearm.
- Kotagashira: Leather or synthetic leather, often padded with deer hair and/or cotton on the hands.
- Hokyō: Leather or synthetic leather reinforcements on the wrists and the part in contact with the tsuba.
- Herikawa: Synthetic leather or suede leather reinforcements for the seams.
For the Do:
- Dodai: Traditionally, bamboo slats covered in lacquered leather (kijido), but nowadays often imitated with plastic.
- Domune: Leather or synthetic leather, lined and quilted for the upper part.
For the Tare:
- Padded cotton, quilted and indigo-dyed.
- Herikawa: Synthetic leather or suede leather reinforcements for the seams.
Leather pieces can be added to the cotton. Traditionally, deer or antelope leather was used, but nowadays cow leather or synthetic materials are also used.
The use of orizashi instead of leather is becoming increasingly common.
A standard bōgu weighs between 5 and 6 kilograms.
Types
The quality of a bōgu depends on two factors: the materials used and the craftsmanship of the artisan.
There are two main categories of bōgu:
- Handmade bōgu: Primarily manufactured outside of Japan, with hand-stitched quilting and assembly. These bōgu are known for their high quality, comfort, flexibility, excellent protection, and durability. They are also the most expensive. They can be recognized by the distance between stitches, measured in bu (a Japanese unit of measurement). One bu is approximately 3.03 mm. The stitch distances typically range from 3 to 1 bu.
- Machine-made bōgu: The quilting and sometimes assembly are done by machine. This technique covers a wide range of quality, from excellent to poor. They are differentiated by the quality of the padding used, the quality of reinforcement materials (cotton, leather), and the place of manufacture.