Tatami gusoku is a type of Japanese armor developed in the Sengoku Period when the need to rapidly arm an increasing number of warriors (both samurai and ashigaru militiamen) led to the development of less complex armors compared to the traditional Dō.
These armors were made up of interlinked iron/leather lamellae over a layer of fabric. This was in response to the need to outfit large numbers of soldiers quickly.
They were divided into three main types:
- Karuta-tatami-gusoku - armor with iron mesh and iron/leather lamellae, Karuta refers to a type of square/rectangular-shaped lamella made of lacquered iron/leather, connected to an iron mesh and worn over a cloth undergarment.
- Kikko-tatami-gusoku - armor with iron mesh and hexagonal type iron/leather lamellae (kikko), Kikko is a type of hexagon-shaped lamella made of lacquered iron/leather, connected to an iron mesh, and worn over a cloth undergarment.
- Kusari-tatami-gusoku - armor with iron mesh, Kusari-tatami-gusoku is a Japanese armor entirely made of iron mesh, worn over a cloth/leather undergarment.