The Haramaki (Japanese: 腹巻, "belly wrap") is a type of Japanese armor.
The Haramaki developed from the simple chest and body protection (腹当 haraate) of the Kamakura period. It was wrapped around the wearer's body and tied together at the back. Similar to the Dōmaru, this armor provided a high degree of mobility and was initially used primarily by warriors (Bushi) of the lower ranks, i.e., the infantry.
With the change in war tactics, the Haramaki was also used more frequently by the mounted warriors of the higher ranks and, like the Dōmaru, had its heyday in the Namboku-chō and Muromachi periods. However, in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, it was displaced by the Tōseigusoku.
The type of armor that is now referred to as Haramaki was originally referred to as Dōmaru; it was not until the end of the Muromachi period to the beginning of the Edo period that the current designation became established.
Miscellaneous A piece of Japanese underwear is also referred to as Haramaki. This corresponds approximately to the European body warmer. However, warming the central body area, or Hara, is not only used against locally located complaints but primarily against circulatory disorders in the extremities.
This is based on the observation that the human body, when cold, first warms the central, vital areas and for this purpose, regulates down the blood circulation in the extremities.