Hachi-ken Kabuto – Ballistic Type

During a time of significant transformation, Japan began to recognise the influence and power of foreign nations. The Tokugawa Shogunate weakened, and the samurai class grew increasingly apprehensive of potential invasions. Just four years after this kabuto was crafted, Commodore Perry arrived in Japan, marking the end of the country’s isolationist era. Within 14 years, the samurai class was formally abolished, and the emperor was reinstated as Japan’s central ruler. Created for combat, this kabuto is crafted from russet iron and is designed to be bulletproof. It was made by the skilled armorer Myōchin Munemoto in 1849 (signed).

This kabuto includes two specialised tatemono (ornamental device) holders: the haraidate and the ni-hon-no-tsunomoto. The lower plate, or kata zuri-no-ita, of the shikoro (neck guard), is adorned with fine shibou urushi-nuri lacquer work, showcasing an intricate technique. While the shikoro’s odoshi lacing has been replaced, this modification allows for easier future integration of a menpo (face mask), enhancing the kabuto’s versatility.

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Tetsu Sabiji Hachi-ken bachi. Tetsu kuro urushi-nuri ko-manju Shikoro. Yondan Sugake odoshi.
This is a russet iron helmet bowl made from eight sections. The shikoro is also of iron and lacquered in black urushi. The lower kata Zuri-no-ita lame is decorated in a fine Shibo-urushi-nuri. Laced in silk odoshi in the sugake style. The lower lame also includes decorative cross-knots hishinui and uname. Complete with internal ukebare liner.

This Kabuto is featured in Samurai: Way of the Gun

“Samurai – The Way of the Gun” is  a groundbreaking book currently in production. It’s the first of its kind. When firearms were introduced to Japan in the mid-sixteenth century, their integration into battlefield warfare was slow at first. The first significant use of firearms occurred at the Battle of Nagashino, where Oda forces decimated the Takeda army. This book focuses on the evolution of Japanese armour from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, illustrating the dynamic changes in armour manufacturing as firearms became more powerful. As weapons advanced, armour had to provide greater protection for its wearers. “Samurai – The Way of the Gun” delves into this fascinating period of transformation, offering a comprehensive exploration of how the rise of firearms reshaped the samurai’s iconic armour and battlefield tactics.