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UEM40682: Suit of Japanese armor – Gusoku

The suits of armor with numbers UEM40680, UEM40681, and UEM40682 were donated to the museum by Finn Koren in 1949. Koren was a so-called “envoy” at the Norwegian embassy in Tokyo during the period 1935–1940. In the foreign mission of Norway before 1940, the envoy was in practice Norway's ambassador. Koren stated that the three suits of armor originated from "Akashi, just south of Kobe", and were used by "a Daimyo and his people".

Close up of a samurai helmet

This suit of armor lacks family emblems, mon, and other identifications, but is complete.

Helmet, kabuto

This helmet shape is called zunari, it is made in five parts and lacquered black. The neck guard, shikoro, is in three parts, black lacquered and with dark blue laces in pairs. The upper plate is turned back to form large deflectors, fukigaeshi.

Helmet crest, maedate: In the front a maedate, a black lacquered crescent moon made from leather mounted on a thin metal plate. 

Armor UEM 40682
Complete armor UEM40682. Photo: Alexis Pantos/Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo. Go to the Unimus Portal to view images in full size.

Mask, hanbō

Half mask (hanbō literally means half face) without nose, black on the outside, red on the inside. The throat guard in three parts, black lacquered iron plates with dark blue lacing, laced in pairs.

Cuirass, dō

In two parts, hinged on the left-hand side, both breast- and backplate made up of six black lacquered vertical plates. 

On the backplate there is a loop for a banner pole.

Tassets, kusazuri: Hanging from the cuirass, each of five black plates tied together with dark blue lacing in pair, the outer rims with a multicolored braid.

This is our most glossy armor, albeit with some damages. Here is the lower part of the mask, in urushi lacquer, and the helmet tread.

Shoulder guards, sode

Of medium size, six plates on each shoulder held together with light blue lacing in pair, the outer rims with a multicolored braid.

Arm guards, kote

Black lacquered iron plates mounted with chain mail on blue cloth. Light blue lacing along the rims of the hands.

Skirt, haidate

On each of the two parts there are three rows of seven black lacquered iron plates mounted on blue cloth with a green edge (brown cloth at the lower parts).

Shin guards, suneate

Black lacquered iron plates mounted with chain mail on blue cloth.

By Per Terje Norheim, Lars Risan and Anne Håbu
Published Sep. 19, 2025 1:49 PM - Last modified Dec. 9, 2025 5:23 PM