Gusoku - Full armour sets

It is often said that the samurai's sword was his soul. If so, his armour was his personality.

More than just an essential assembly of protective equipment, reason enough to have ensured a significant investment in its production, it was also seen as the physical embodiment of a warriors personality and social status. As such an armour set, or gusoku, generally represented a greater financial investment for a warrior than the building of his home.

Once commissioned, an armour set generally took more than two years to complete, the fabrication of which represented literally thousands of man hours, by dozens of varied and specialized artisans, who like their patrons were masters of their craft, representing only the most talented in their various trades, producing items renowned for their precision workmanship, exceptional beauty and purity of function.

Japanese armour is truly the all encompassing canvas of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, combining stunning examples of percisely forged and embossed metalwork and fine lacquer finishes, gorgeous silk and damask cloth fabrics with panels of ornately stencilled leathers. In short, samurai armour is art.