Japanese “Uchidashi Do Tosei Gusoku” type armour

“Uchidashi Do Tosei Gusoku” type armour. The breastplate was made in 1662 by Kunimichi, 21st Master of the famous Myôchin dynasty of armorers.

Featuring the arms of the Aki clan, the helmet – completed by a half-mask protecting the lower part of the face – bears the signature of Imetada, a leading figure of the Saotome School, who was working circa 1600.

Les parties en métal lacées bleues du couvre-nuque et des jupes sont en lames horizontales lacées espacées. Les épaulières sont en fausse kozane. Le masque est un menpô laqué en deux parties de type Nara qui porte une moustache de laque rouge.

The cuirass is composed of two large iron plates (ni mai dô), the construction of which imitates large scales.

The breastplate’s decoration features three warrior-like entities surrounded by stylised clouds: a Buddhist Shingon sect deity, the Fudô-Myô, accompanied by his two disciples Kongora doji on the left, and Seitaka doji on the right.

The cuisses are made of blue laced lacquered iron itazane.

An entirely gilded winged dragon with a fish’s tail stands out on the frontlet (maedate) above the helmet’s visor.

The wings are decorated with gilded floral motifs, as well as kamon.

The arm guards – consisting of chain mail and plates – feature a kamon within a circle, the emblem of the Shimazu family in Statsuma, unlike the rest of the armour which, in various places, (wings, muna ita and visor) features a kamon in the form of a hollyhock within a circle, which is associated with the Tokugawa clan.

Therefore, the shoulder guards, mask and arm guards do not match the rest.