The Japanese Horse Forehead (Japanese: 馬面, Bamen, lit. "Horse Mask") is a part of the Japanese horse armor.
The Japanese Horse Forehead is made of various materials. There are different versions, which are either used for combat or for use in parades. The combat versions are usually made of iron.
They are simply designed and protect the entire front and part of the side of the horse's head. The other versions are usually made from wood, leather, and papier-mâché.
They serve to decorate the horse and armor and are more intended to deter the enemy than to protect the horse.
The masks are often in the form of a stylized dragon head, which is decorated with lacquers, carvings, or through metal overlays (gold-plated or silvered). The versions differ through the selected object of representation and through the decoration.