Japanese Swordsmithing

Kikkō

Kikkō (Japanese: 亀甲, translated as "Turtle Shell") refers to plates made of iron or hard leather that were used as part of the armors of Samurai and Ashigaru in feudal...

Kikkō

Kikkō (Japanese: 亀甲, translated as "Turtle Shell") refers to plates made of iron or hard leather that were used as part of the armors of Samurai and Ashigaru in feudal...

Haramaki

The Haramaki (Japanese: 腹巻, "belly wrap") is a type of Japanese armor. The Haramaki developed from the simple chest and body protection (腹当 haraate) of the Kamakura period. It was...

Haramaki

The Haramaki (Japanese: 腹巻, "belly wrap") is a type of Japanese armor. The Haramaki developed from the simple chest and body protection (腹当 haraate) of the Kamakura period. It was...

Dō-maru

Dō-maru (胴 丸 "body wrap") was a type of cuirass characteristic of Samurai armors (dō) used by the warrior class of feudal Japan. It began to appear in the 11th...

Dō-maru

Dō-maru (胴 丸 "body wrap") was a type of cuirass characteristic of Samurai armors (dō) used by the warrior class of feudal Japan. It began to appear in the 11th...

Shinken

Shinken (真剣, しんけん) refers to a sharp, "genuine" Japanese sword, katana, of which there are many types such as tachi, wakizashi, tantō, ōdachi, nagamaki, and naginata. The term is used...

Shinken

Shinken (真剣, しんけん) refers to a sharp, "genuine" Japanese sword, katana, of which there are many types such as tachi, wakizashi, tantō, ōdachi, nagamaki, and naginata. The term is used...

Shinai

The Shinai (Japanese: 竹刀, lit. "bamboo sword") is a sports device and the weapon used in Kendō combat. In Korean Kumdo, it is called "bamboo sword" or jukdo (Korean: 죽도)....

Shinai

The Shinai (Japanese: 竹刀, lit. "bamboo sword") is a sports device and the weapon used in Kendō combat. In Korean Kumdo, it is called "bamboo sword" or jukdo (Korean: 죽도)....

The dō (胴) is the typical torso armor of Japanese armor. It is composed of a combination of leather, lacquered metal, and fabric (usually silk) in varying quantities. It can...

The dō (胴) is the typical torso armor of Japanese armor. It is composed of a combination of leather, lacquered metal, and fabric (usually silk) in varying quantities. It can...