The Sode (Japanese: 袖, meaning "sleeve") are a component of Japanese Samurai armor (Yoroi).
The Sode usually consist of elongated metal strips that are flexibly attached to each other with silk cords. The top element is made of solid metal, to which silk cords are attached for fastening to the breastplate (Dō). The Sode are mostly square-rectangular and have a side length of about 16 cm to about 36 cm. Generally, the larger they are, the older their date of manufacture. Three main classes are distinguished:
- Ō-Sode (大袖): Large
- Chū-Sode (中袖): Medium
- Ko-Sode (小袖): Small
The Oki-Sode class is a version of the Ko-Sode.
The names of the class versions are:
- Gaku-Sode or Namban-Sode, Gaku-Sode: These look like framed signs found in front of Chinese monasteries. The central plate piece is made of metal and is usually painted with a dragon ornament or other representations. The frame is made of a shiny, ornamented metal.
- Kohire: A kind of smaller shoulder flaps. They are only found on the Tōsei-gusoku type of armor.
- Tōsei-Sode or Mōgami-Sode: The Sode armor is applied to a base of solid fabric to prevent the plates from rattling.
- Tsubo-Sode: It is approximately the same as the Tōsei-Sode, with the difference that they are more curved.
- Ha-Sode or Taka-no-Ha-Sode: These are designed in the shape of a bird's wing.
- Hiyotan-Sode: Shaped like the outline of a gourd bottle.
- Kawa-Sode: The connections of the plates consist of leather straps.
- Kawara-Sode: Consists of large, elongated plates, equipped with two movable plates at the end and connected with leather straps.
- Ki-no-Ha-Sode: These are shaped like a leaf.
- Kusari-Sode: Consists of an elongated piece of leather or quilted fabric, covered with chain armor. On the top side, there is a narrow plate (Kamuri-Ita) to stiffen the entire Sode.
- Maru-Sode: It is made of a single, oval metal plate and usually decorated with a crest or patterns.