Ō-yoroi
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The ō-yoroi is a prominent example of early Japanese armor worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The term ō-yoroi means "great armor".
A samurai wearing an ō-yoroi; two of the large skirt-like kusazuri can be seen—Ō-Yoroi had four kusazuri, unlike other armour of the era, which usually had seven kusazuri.
Ō-yoroi, Kamakura period, 13th–14th century, National Treasure, Kasuga grand shrine
A man wearing a replica of the dark blue threaded Kon'ito-odoshi Ō-yoroi, 1935
An armourer making a replica of Ō-yoroi, 1935
Dō-maru
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Dō-maru, or "body wrap", is a type of chest armour that was worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Dō-maru first appeared in the 11th century, as an armour for lesser samurai and retainers. Like t
Ō-yoroi
…this armor were designed for cavalry archers. The box shaped ō-yoroi was heavy and did not allow as much movement or flexibility as its counterpart the dō-maru, so the armor fell out of favor in the fifteenth century when samurai shifted to mostly infantry tactics. For the most part the ō-yoroi was a rich man's…
Dōmaru with Black and White Lacing. Muromachi period, 15th century, Tokyo National Museum, Important Cultural Property
Dōmaru with “Eurasian Jay” Lacing, Red at the Top. Muromachi period, 15th century, Tokyo National Museum, Important Cultural Property