Glossary of terms

A
abumi a stirrup
aogai small pieces of blue-green inlaid shell
aori saddle flaps. Strips of leather hung over horses' backs to protect the flanks from mud.
asa flax , hemp
B  
bitsu armor chest
C  
choban hinge
chokin metal curving
D  
daimyo warlord
denrai it is believed to be worn by
do copper
Dou cuirass
E  
e-gawa printed deer hide
F  
fukigaeshi The edge of a neck guard which has been bent backward.
It was originally designed to create downforce to make a helmet sit lower.
fumikomi-no-ita the footrest part of a stirrup
G  
gattari an attachment for a flag folder at the back of a cuirass.
gin-paku silver gilded
gusoku a complete armor
gyoyo a small plate which protects the shoulder area
H  
hachi helmet bowl
haidate thigh guards
himo cords or strap
hira-Makie flat lacquer
hon-kozane true scales which overlap each other by half of their width
hoshi a rivet
I  
ika-bitsu matching set of armor chest, armor box
iyo-zane a type of scales which overlap only at their ends when they are laced
J  
jyushi resin
jyuyo-bunkazai important cultural assets
K  
kabutobachi helmet bowl
kamon family crest
kanamono small metal plates that decorate and hold the armor together , rivets and ornaments.
kanshitsu The Kanshitsu technique uses layers of Japanese paper glued together with Urushi.
Kawari Kabuto a spectacular helmet.
(The shape of the helmets themselves took the form of plants, animals and mythical creatures.)
kiji fabric
kiku chrysanthemum
kin-paku gold gilded
kirigane a technique in which metal is cut into decorative shapes and attached to armor
kiritsuke-kozane false scales often built up with lacquer or other material to imitate scale construction
kote armored sleeves
kura a saddle
kuro black
kurourushi black lacquer
kusazuri a skirt-like plates attached to the bottom of a cuirass. 7-plates kusazuri is commonly known. ( minimum of 4-plates, more than 10-plates kusazuri are made. )
kyubi a plate which protects the left chest area of O-yoroi
L   No Word
M  
mabisashi peak of a helmet
maedate a decoration or crest attached to the front of a helmet
makie lacquered design or pictures
mei signature
men-dare throat guard
menpo face armor
momen cotton cloth
mongara-odoshi lacing method which creates a design of a crest. one of the most complicated lacing techniques. (the color of Kozane was often changed to match the color of a crest).
N  
nashiji black lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver dust
nerikawa rawhide
ningen-kokuho a living national treasure
nuri lacquering
nuri-naoshi re-lacquering
O  
odoshi lacing , lace one together
P   No Word
Q   No Word
R  
raden a type of mosaic work using shells
S  
sabiji-nuri a lacquered surface imitating rusty iron
sangu kote , Haidate , suneate
sendan a plate which protects the right chest area of O-yoroi
shikagawa deer leather
shikoro neck guard of a helmet
shikoro-no-dan lame
shinchu brass
shinobi-no-o helmet chin strap
shinodare one to five ornamental metal strips taking form from Hachimanza extending down the front and back or sides of a helmet. Originally Shinodare was added to provide reinforcement of helmets. Later this gold and silver metal strips remained as ornamentation.
shita-kura a blanket made of leather, which is placed under a saddle.
shitate finishing
shobu-gawa dark blue leather decorated with irises and leaves
shoyo to be worn by
shu deep-red
shu-urushi deep-red lacque
shuri restoration
sode shoulder protectors.
suneate shin guards
T  
taka-Makie raised lacquer
tehen the hole in the crown of a helmet bowl
tetsu iron
tonosama feudal lord
U  
uchidashi embossing
ukebari helmet lining
ukezutsu a flag holder.
V   No Word
W   No Word
X   No Word
Y   No Word
Z  
zogan inlay