Nanban Do Gashira Class

Nanban Yoroi is a hybrid of European and Samurai style armor, introduced to Japan in 1647 by Daimyo Matsudaira Sadayuki of Shikoku.  He was gifted a European cuirass by the Portuguese embassy, which arrived in Nagasaki of that year.  Sadayuki quickly dispatched the cuirass to his katchû-shi (armorers), ordering them to refurbish it by fusing the European cuirass with traditional samurai armor design, creating the first nanban dō gusoku.  Nanban (Southern Barbarian) is a general term used to refer to anything “foreign”, thus was used for both Chinese and Westerners.  The nanban-dō (南蛮胴) features a bow or high center ridge line along the center of the chest, which was often crafted with nanban tetsu (foreign steel), which could be imported steel but more often was scraps of metal from the ballast of Dutch trading ships. There are also references of the Japanese importing steel from China, Thailand, and even wootz steel from India.  Nanban armor with the superior nanban tetsu, created what was known as “bulletproof” samurai armor, of their time. It was the most effective and maybe the most expensive samurai armor of the late Sengoku era (waring state).

The katchû-shi (armorers) of the Iron Mountain Armory have created this traditional nanban do utilizing nanban tetsu, fusing both Japanese and Naban armor crafting methods.  Just like the ancient samurai armorers, Iron Mountain Armory offers many different options, so you can design your own personal traditional nanban do.  Forge your own future with your own samurai armor by the Iron Mountain Armory.  Traditional Armor for the Modern Warrior

Features:

• Traditional Design
• Customization Available
• Custom Sizing Available
• Full Sized and Wearable
• Not meant to be used against real bullets!

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CHEST MONS: This Samurai Do can be ordered with a Mon painted onto the front plate. For an extra fee, you can select one from our list of Standard Mon’s, or have your own Crest applied for an additional fee.

To have your own Mon painted: #1:  Select the “Custom Mon” option. #2: Complete the purchase through our Shopping Cart. #3: Send a high-quality image of the Mon / Logo to the confirmation email you receive from us.

Note: We hand paint these Mon’s, and they can only be simple “Clip-Art” style designs in a single color. If you would like a Mon but select a “Suna” type paint color, your Mon image may turn out blurry due to the paint texture.

Ordering Tips: We recommend that you order one size larger AND one size shorter than the size required, if you are between height options. The armor is close fitting.  It can close into itself if too big, or be a little uncomfortable if fitted too tall. If you’re planning on wearing a yoroi hitatare or a kikko gane do under the armor, we suggest adding 6 cm to your chest size when ordering.  This is an okegawa style do, which features a pin hinge under the left armpit. This pin can be removed and a cord attached to make it a traditional Ni-Mai style Do (making it a more even and comfortable fit it is too tight).

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References:  “Samurai Armour: Volume I: The Japanese Cuirass” by Trevor Absolon  /  “Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868″ by Kazutoshi Harada, Metropolitan Museum of Art