Welcome to Toraba, specialists in fine antique Japanese armour and related regalia.

We were the first homepage on the web that was dedicated strictly to offering these fascinating historical works of art. As the Internet has grown, so have we, keeping pace with the changes and complexities that this ever expanding medium offers our on-line clientele. Presently in on our third evolution in homepages, Toraba has metamorphose once again into the most innovative, user friendly and comprehensive homepage on the Internet catering to discerning collectors of quality items of samurai art.

Our new site now features an even greater number of large, highly detailed images per item, far surpassing anything we have offered to date. The site is full automated and extremely easy to navigate. Dealers rates and preferred clientele viewings will be offered on all new stock, with automated newsletter updates and emailing when items you tell us you are looking for come our way.

Like every month here on Toraba we have numerous additional listings for March, a number of which have already been posted to the site, while a number of other items are still pending. Some of are most recent additions to the homepage include:

April will have the first of three of five jyuyo bunka shiro NKBKHK graded armour items coming up for sale, including two very fine gusoku and one extremely rare kabuto by Norikuni. The helmet is one of only two such known authentic examples in the world of a true double shikoro helmet of the Muromachi period as was worn by samurai of the Iyesugi clan.

We also have another outstanding armour with a wonderful kabuto from the Muromachi period with a kasa jikoro. The dou is an extremely rare hybrid dou-maru dou with detachable waidate flank plate in the style of an o-yoroi. This is the only such example of this form of dou construction I have personally ever seen anywhere. But that is not the best part of the armour, which I'm keeping as a surprise. This superb gusoku is sure to impress all once we get all of the images of it up on the site later this month.

Also we will be listing the Iwai armour I mentioned in a previous news update. this very unique armour has just been featured in three page spread in the renowned Aito magazine as I had promised. This set is one of the few authentic Iwai school full gusoku known to exist with signatures. The armour will shortly be returned to me and will then be rushed into the photo studio and made ready for sale. Some images of the article are posted here.

The jyuyo token tachi, tanto and naginata items I mentioned previously are now scheduled to be released from the Tokyo National Museum by the owner, with the exception of the naginata which is being held over for a scheduled display later this years when it will be withdrawn and sold. The tachi is signed "Tomonari Saku", making it a famous piece from the 1300's. The Tanto is by Norishige, and the Naginata signed "Bizen Osafune ju Motoshige".

There will of course be a number of new sonohoka items included a gorgeous jinbaori, some fine menpo, a number of new kabuto to be listed as well.

But the jewel in the crown for our April offerings and possibly this year, will be the outstanding and famous armour of the 6th Tokugawa's ryojyu, Yanasigawa. This incredibly armour is prominently featured in Dr. Sasama's authoritative three volume set, Famous Helmets of Japan, and features the only authentic example of a Nambokuchou period helmet with battle damage on the helmet from a tachi cut. The armour itself was one of the most famous sets of armour in Japan during the mid-Edo period. The set has featured in a number of renowned exhibitions across Japan over the last 3 decades. Images of the absolutely outstanding armour will be posted as soon as we can have them prepared.

The new homepage, though still under construction has developed well and should be almost completely operational in all areas soon. The forum is now up and running and we invite all armour enthusiasts to participate.

That said there is still a lot to do and a lot of stock that needs to be listed! So check back soon and or register to receive a mailing update, as new times are going to be listed almost daily throughout the later part of April! Our goal is to have Toraba completely operational by the end of April, 2008, though naturally some additional fine tuning and adjustments will continue to occur in the coming months. We ask for your continued patience in waiting for the various other categories and sections of the new homepage to be made fully operational. We look forward to serving all of our many valued customers. Thank you.