Japanese karuta armor

Japanese karuta armor is form of portable folding armor known as "tatami". Karuta are small square or rectangle plates of iron ( sometimes leather ) usually connected to each other by chain armor ( kusari ) with the plates being sewn to a cloth backing. Chest armors were commonly made from karuta "karuta tatami dou or dō ".

Gallery

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  Edo period Japanese suit of armor with a folding type chest armor "Karuta tatami dou" the Karuta tatami dou is made from small lacquered iron plates "karura" connected by mail "kusari" which are sewn to cloth.
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  Edo period Japanese Karuta tatami hood "karuta tatami zukin" small lacquered iron plates "karuta" connected by mail "kusari" and sewn to cloth.
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  Samurai karuta katabira or jacket made with iron plates "karuta".
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  Karuta Tatami-dō.
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  Edo period samurai karuta tatami dou in the hara-ate style.
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  Edo period samurai karuta tatami dou.
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  Edo period samurai karuta tatami dou ( from the back).
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  Edo period samurai karuta tatami zukin.
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  Edo period samurai hara-ate style karuta tatami dou (inside view).
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  Edo period samurai karuta tatami dou (shown folded up).
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  Edo period samurai sashinuki style kote.
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  Close up picture of karuta armor plates and the connecting kusari ( chain ).
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  Edo period Japanese ( samurai ) karuta tatami dou. A folding portable chest armor made from small rectangles of armor ( karuta ). This is a rare armor as the karuta armor plates are connedted to each other by leather lace instead of kusari (chain).