The Hari Bashi Kabuto is a helmet worn by Japanese samurai as part of their armor (Yoroi).
The Hari Bashi Kabuto is made of iron. It belongs to the category of multi-plate helmets, which includes three slightly different versions: Suji Bashi Kabuto, Koboshi Bashi Kabuto, and Hari Bashi Kabuto. The bowl of the Hari Bashi Kabuto is composed of three to eight plates that form the dome.
The difference from the Suji Kabuto is that there are no ridges at the ends of the plates. The shape of the dome is similar to the other two types. On top of the Kabuto, there is a type of headpiece (Tehen-No-Kanamono) that serves as a fastener for the entire set of plates.
The additional decoration of the helmets can vary greatly. Generally, the helmets are equipped with side guards (Fukigaeshi), a neck guard (Shikoro), a helmet crest (Maedate), and a fastening cord (Shinobi-O-Noh) to secure the helmet on the head. Face masks (Menpo) were often worn with this type of helmet.
The helmets were often painted in various colors in Japan. This served both decorative purposes and to protect the metal of the helmet from weathering.