Samurai Undressed

Japanese Armor Presentation

Get up close and personal with samurai! Learn how yoroi (Japanese armor) was worn, and see items a typical foot soldier might carry into battle. Also discover places to visit in Japan to learn more!

Get up close and personal with the samurai!  The influence of these almost mythic Japanese warriors can still be seen in pop culture, anime and gaming. Learn about what was beneath their armor literally! This program will explain how yoroi or Japanese armor was worn, as well as show types of items that a typical foot soldier may have carried into battle. The presenter will also share information about places to visit in Japan if you’re a fan of these ancient warriors!

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.

Presenter 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.  
 
Lynn taught English in Japan with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program before joining the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle. As the Senior Specialist for Cultural Affairs, she enjoys introducing and sharing Japanese culture, especially through hands-on activities and presentations that allow people to get up close and literally “touch” a bit of Japanese history. 

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