Auxiliary armour (Japan)

The six main parts

A Japanese armour set was built around six parts. In Japanese they are the dō, the chest piece; the kabuto, or helmet; the mengu, which covered the face; the kote, or armoured sleeves; the sune-ate, guards for the shins; and the hai-date, guards for the thighs. The set of six is known as hei-no-rokugu, roku gu or roku gusoku. Anything beyond these six counted as auxiliary armour. Extra guards existed for the neck, the armpits, the chest, the waist and the feet, areas the standard pieces either exposed or covered only lightly.

Wakibiki, guards for the armpit

Wakibiki were rectangles of cloth with armour fixed to them. The armour could be kusari, chain links; karuta, small plates shaped as squares or rectangles; or kikko, plates cut as hexagons. Iron, leather, or a mix of the two was sewn onto the cloth. Some were cut as one whole piece, either of iron or of leather that had been stiffened. Cords attached to a wakibiki let it hang from the shoulder, and it sat over the open armpit. Depending on the type, it went inside the dō or was worn on the outside of it.

Manju no wa and manchira

Manju no wa, also written manjunowa or manju nowa, joined three things in one piece: shoulder pads, a collar and guards for the armpits. It protected the upper chest and sat like a small, close-fitting vest. Small wings passed under the armpits from the back and fastened at the front with a button, a toggle or ties. Its surface used the same kinds of armour as the wakibiki. Manchira was an armoured vest, usually bigger than a manju no wa. It covered the chest and sometimes the neck and armpit, and certain manchira went over the chest armour.

Collars, feet and neck

Tate-eri were small padded pieces shaped like pillows, with a standing armoured collar. They rested on the shoulder and took some of the weight of the breastplate. Kikko lined the collar to guard the neck. Kōgake were armoured socks or coverings for the foot. Some covered only the top of the foot; others were worn as a shoe or a slipper. They might be faced with chainmail or with little plates of iron. Nodowa and guruwa both protected the neck. A nodowa was tied at the back of the neck. A guruwa was wrapped the whole way round.

How the pieces were made

The same three constructions appear again and again. Kusari is chain armour. Karuta are small plates, square or rectangular. Kikko are hexagonal plates. Iron or leather armours, or a mixture, were sewn to a cloth backing. On some pieces the armour stayed visible; on others it lay hidden between two layers of cloth. A wakibiki could also be cut as one whole piece, with no cloth behind it. Pieces were joined to the body in different ways: by cords at the shoulder, by wings that buttoned at the front, by ties, or simply by being put on as a vest.

How Auxiliary armour (Japan) is kept

Auxiliary pieces were worn by samurai along with the six standard parts of a set. A wakibiki hung by cords from the shoulder and sat over the armpit, either beneath the chest armour or above it. A manju no wa went on like a narrow vest, its wings passing under the arms and fastening at the front. A manchira, larger, covered the chest and occasionally the neck; some went over the dō. A tate-eri rested on the shoulders under the weight of the breastplate. Kōgake went on the feet. A nodowa was tied behind the neck; a guruwa wrapped right around it.

When and where

The sources place these pieces in Japan's feudal period, when the samurai fought and wore full armour. No closer date is given for any single item, and the article sets no season or day for them. They belonged to armour as it was made and used at that time.

Japan. The sources tie the pieces to armour worn by the samurai and name no province, castle town or workshop. The article lists no place where a particular kind of auxiliary armour was made or worn, so the pieces are best described as part of Japanese armour generally, during the feudal period.

What Auxiliary armour (Japan) means

The article treats these pieces as protection, not as emblems. Their job was to close the places the six main parts left open, at the neck, the armpits, the chest, the waist and the feet, or to add cover where a warrior wanted it. Some were hidden inside the chest armour or between layers of cloth, which suggests they were never meant to be seen. The sources record no meaning or belief attached to them.

Questions people ask about Auxiliary armour (Japan)

See also

Traditional tattooingThe ancient custom of marking the skin for protection, healing, status and sacred ritesKimonoJapan's national dress: a wrapped robe with square sleeves, tied with a wide sashKasayaThe traditional patchwork robes worn by ordained Buddhist monasticsHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritage

Good reading and sources

• Auxiliary armour (Japan) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-09.