Samurai Body Armor

Samurai began to cover their shoulders with sode, or shoulder guards, during the Kamakura Period with the domaru style of armor. This allowed for greater mobility and protection during close combat, which was becoming increasingly prevalent.

Kote, the armored sleeves of domaru, were also implemented to increase mobility and protection. Before kote, armor usually only covered one arm as this is all that mounted archers needed; the need for samurai to protect and move both arms demonstrates a shift away from this fighting style.

Smathers, Michael. "The Evolution & Timeline of Samurai Armor" TheCollector.com,

https://www.thecollector.com/samurai-armor-timeline-evolution-japanese-history/

(accessed April 11, 2024).

Suga, Takaaki. “Perceptions of Armor during the Edo Period.” Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of

Arts 88, no. 1/4 (2014): 34–43. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43493626.