Samurai Undressed

A Stories and Voices program

Learn how yoroi (Japanese armor) was worn, and see items a typical foot soldier might carry into battle. Discover places to visit in Japan if you want to learn more.

Join us and learn about the histories, contributions, and lived experiences of those around us as we uplift community voices and explore stories that act as mirrors of our own lives and windows into experiences different from our own.

Between the mid-15th century and the beginning of the 17th century, Japan experienced nearly 150 years of brutal civil war. This period in Japan was known as the Sengoku Jidai or the Warring States Era. As multiple clans battled for control over Japan, the Sengoku Jidai was most likely responsible for producing the highest volume of hand-forged armor and weapons in Japan’s history.

Like the ancient knights of Europe, the samurai also lived by a code of ethics and were known for their loyalty to the lords they served. Through rigorous training and self-discipline, they honed their skills and forged their mental armor. The suits they donned were often more than just physical protection but were also extensions of their personalities. Like the Japanese sword, these suits of armor were often works of art in both function and design.  

Echoes of the samurai can still be seen in modern martial arts in Japan and the influence of these ancient warriors are continuously revisited and re-imagined in popular culture through anime, manga and video games. Let’s journey back in time to get a closer look at the samurai through the armor and weapons they used in battle. The armor that will be used in this demonstration is a reproduction of a typical style that would have been worn during the Sengoku Jidai and bears the crest of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, one of the Three Great Unifiers, who eventually brought an end to this infamous era of social unrest and civil war in Japan.

Presented by Lynn Miyuachi on behalf of the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle. Lynn Miyauchi is a third generation Japanese American from Seattle, who has always been intrigued by the samurai. Her interest in these ancient Japanese warriors most likely stems from growing up watching “chambara” or the action-packed swashbuckling genre of Japanese cinema filled with flashing swords and exciting duels. These films inspired her to explore Japanese history, martial arts and a develop a fascination in the artistic aesthetics of Japanese armor and swords.

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