Samurai Armor Exhibit

During the fall of 2014 through the weekend of February 1st 2015 the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosted an exhibition of rare Samurai Armor to the thrill of throngs of visitors. Much of the armor was set in dramatic displays evoking the imagery of Kurosawa Samurai Classic Films yet in truth most of the armor displayed never saw any great battles at all. In fact, most of the armor displayed was made during the Edo Period after the last Siege at Osaka Castle meaning the closest any of these armor got to a battle was likely a parade or re-enactment.

All particulars aside, one could still appreciate the elaborate displays of uniquely crafted armor and helmet crests worn by prominent Samurai or Daimyo giving you a sense of what earlier armor might have looked like at events such as the great Battle at Sekigahara or the epic clashes between the Uesugi and Takeda Clans or that of the Oda Clan.

Behold this finely crafted helmet bearing the Mon of the Tokugawa Clan. This would be not unlike something worn by Ieyasu Tokugawa himself during battle.

While there were few weapons on display, what we could see displayed portrayed a high respect for it's owner. If these swords could talk, what would they tell us?

Note the Matchlock Arquebus on display which the Oda Clan made the most effective use of. With 3000 of these primitive rifles, the Oda Clan destroyed the greatest Cavalry ever seen by firing in cyclical fashion.

Not to be excluded were the presence of archers and their lethal quivers which the Samurai were Masters.

Such elaborate tools of the Samuri's Archery would make any modern day Kyudo master dream.

Note the detail of these helmets. Unfortunately, we were rushed as we took these photos so we could not provide you with details as to their origins. That being said we can tell you these were largely exclusively from the Edo Period of Peace.

 

 

 Note to the right face masks. There were more of them but we couldn't get good photos of them.

In this photo we see the Naginata which was more commonly used by foot soldiers or farmers conscripted to serve their lords in times of battle. To the right is a set of boy armor similar to what might have been worn by Katsuyori Takeda or Hidetsugu Toyotomi.

 This one made me think of Takeda Shingen. Kagamusha Anyone?

 Peacetime or not, you would not would have wanted to cross swords with these Samurai.

Who is to say what attachment the wearer and the armor may have had. 

You could not help but feel the presence of these Samurai still at their posts waiting to fight and if necessary die for their Lord.

 I could see one the faces of visiting Nihonjin and Nisei a sense of pride as they looked on and explained this period of their history to their children. Even for a Hakujin, we were awed by the might of the Samurai Display.

We at American Mishima are thankful to both LACMA and the Government of Japan for allowing us to enjoy this awesome display into a window of Japan's Medieval past.

ども ありがとう ございます!

侍冑 Samurai Yoroi – Up Close & Personal

Every August in Little Tokyo Los Angeles brings about another fun filled Nisei Week of festivities that have been going on since the late 1930’s. The streets become alive with traditional dances, Tanabata streamers, parades, martial arts demonstrations (including Shinkendo), Taiko drum performances, and many cultural displays. And regretably I missed this year’s Grand Nisei Week Parade (due to scheduling conflicts), I did manage to catch the some of the always popular Taiko groups and displays at the JACCC center that featured beautiful bonsai trees, Kabuki showcases, and my personal favorite from The Samurai Store, Samurai Yoroi Armor. 

Back in 2007, I had the privilege of meeting some of the exceptional craftsmen of the Samurai Store at the Japan Expo held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. They were kind enough to even let me try on Ichimonji Retainer styled Yoroi made for the Akira Kurosawa film RAN. Now I have worked in the film business before and have worn everything from elaborate costumes to alien armor but nothing I have ever worked with compares to this. These authentic looking Yoroi is so well constructed you could probably fight in them and survive and that's because they take their work seriously just as the craftsmen did generations ago in Japan.

Well fast forward three years later, these guys still remembered who I was and were kind enough to let me inspect their latest display for this years Nisei Week as well as try out their one Iaito sword. And as student of Shinkendo I can say I was impressed with their well crafted Iaito. I would certainly would like to get one for my own use before moving up to a real shinken for tameshigiri (test cutting). As certainly as I can attest, the Samurai Store produces some of the finest Yoroi you can find without raiding a musuem or an actual castle!

Based in Tokyo, the Samurai Store has been providing quality craftsmanship Samurai Yoroi for Samurai Films, Martial Artists, and Private Collectors. They do make custom armor and nobori to match any Clan replica or display. Of course, owning armor is quite an investment. For those looking swords for display or actual martial arts training, the Samurai Store also makes quality Iaito Swords which are excellent for Shinkendo Tarengata & Iaido demonstrations. So if you are looking for some quality work from Japan or just looking to live out your Samurai dreams, talk to the Samurai Store. Enjoy!