The Suji Bashi Kabuto is a helmet from Japan that was worn by samurai as part of their armor (yoroi).
The Suji Bashi Kabuto is typically made of iron. It belongs to the category of multi-plate helmets and comes in three slightly different versions: Suji Bashi Kabuto, Koboshi Bashi Kabuto, and Hari Bashi Kabuto.
It consists of up to 120 individual metal plates. These metal plates are shaped like slices of a pie and are arranged side by side to form the helmet bowl. The bowl is higher in this helmet style compared to other types of multi-plate helmets. A distinctive feature of this helmet shape is the ribs or ridges that border the individual helmet plates.
Unlike other multi-plate helmets, the attachment rivets of the plates on the Suji Bashi Kabuto are flat and not prominently visible. On the top of the kabuto, there is a head-like structure (called Tehen-No-Kanamono in Japanese) that serves as a fastening 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 band (Shinobi-O-Noh) to secure the helmet to the head. Face masks (Menpo) were often worn with this type of helmet.
The helmets were often painted in different colors in Japan, serving both decorative purposes and protecting the metal from weathering effects.