A samurai warrior must not only be strong mentally and physically, but also look beautiful. That's why his clothes are a special outfit that was chosen carefully.
Samurai casual wear
The appearance of the samurai was different, based on the situation. For example, for daily wear, clothes were used, consisting of 3 main elements:
kimono: shoulder robe;
hakama: belt element;
haori: a cape that had the same straight cut as a kimono.
All these parts of clothing were made in dark or black.
Khakami were worn over the kimono. These are trousers of a special cut, which were very similar to wide trousers. At the same time, these pants were sewn in different lengths. The length of the product depended on the status of the samurai. For example, ordinary samurai wore short khakami pants, but upper-class warriors wore elongated khakami. The pants were so long that they dragged across the floor.
In military campaigns, so that long clothes do not interfere, they were tucked into the belt or greaves.
And the final touch - haori: put on a kimono and khakami on top. Haori were sewn from dark fabrics, and were decorated with a white bow in front. A distinctive feature of such clothes was a special cut: a small cut at the bottom of the back.
Thus, khaki, complete with haori, created the composition of the solemn attire of a samurai warrior.
Formal samurai costume
When a samurai attended an important event, his outfit had a different look. So over the “haori-hakama” a tight cape without sleeves was put on. An important feature of such a cape was well-starched shoulders of large sizes. Such a cape was referred to as a "kataginu". The hakama and katagina formed the samurai's formal dress for a special occasion.
Samurai headdress
In many drawings, samurai are depicted without headdresses. However, when visiting the palace of the feudal lord, the samurai without fail put on a hat. In everyday life, many samurai wore cone-shaped straw hats. Such a hat completely covered the face of the samurai, and thus the warrior remained unrecognizable in public places.
The samurai also used the amigaso straw hat, which had the appearance of a low wide cone and a small window in front. It was through this window that the samurai could see others.
The original form was the headdress of the members of the so-called Komuso brotherhood. It was a closed fraternity of itinerant monks, where samurai were also accepted. The headdress of the members of this brotherhood resembled a beehive.
The straw hat is not the only accessory that the samurai used in their daily lives. For example, an important accessory was a wide umbrella made of bamboo and oiled paper. The umbrella was used during bad weather or active sun.
Samurai shoes
What did the samurai wear? Classic shoes are straw sandals with leather soles. They were called - setta.
In heavy rains, other shoes were used - geta: wooden sandals.
Such shoes differed in the height of the socle supports. In addition to these shoes, shields with cords were attached, which served as protection for the toes from dirt.
A very important point: all types of shoes were equipped with special straps and combined with special cut-out socks.
Family crest on samurai clothes
Particular attention was paid to the family coat of arms - kamon. For every samurai, the family coat of arms was a very expensive and significant symbol. He emphasized the lineage of a warrior and was passed down from generation to generation along with the name. Many coats of arms had ancient origins: some of them went back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC.
Such a symbol was applied to the upper kimono, which was worn on the lower white. This element was applied in five places: on the chest and back (front and back), between the shoulders, and also on the sleeves. However, it is not uncommon for outerwear to be completely decorated with family coats of arms. For this decor, a special paint was used. In the future, the family coat of arms was applied to other accessories of the samurai.
Regarding the appearance of the coat of arms, it was based on different life stories. It could be celestial bodies or stars, representatives of flora and fauna, various geometric shapes, elements of culture. Each element was endowed with a special magical power. After all, the coat of arms was supposed not only to emphasize the status of the samurai, but also to be his kind of talisman.
See also
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Iga Ueno castle
Many tourists flock to Iga Ueno in search of ninja experiences, often overlooking the city's centerpiece: Iga Ueno Castle, a prime example of Warring States period fortresses. Surprisingly, the Ninja Museum and Iga Ueno Castle share the same grounds, nestled within modern-day Ueno Park!
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Himeji Castle
Perched atop the 45.6-meter-high Mt. Hime, Himeji Castle dominates the landscape of Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture, offering a commanding view of the Harima Plain. Adorned in white plaster, the main tower group is often likened to a graceful egret in flight, earning the castle its alternative moniker of "White Egret Castle." Among Japan's dwindling original castles, Himeji boasts the most intact structures. Notably, its main tenshu keep and ko-tenshu sub-keeps were bestowed the prestigious title of National Treasures in 1931, while an additional 74 edifices hold the esteemed designation of National Important Cultural Properties. Alongside Horyu-ji Temple, Himeji Castle proudly holds the distinction of being Japan's inaugural World Heritage site, a recognition bestowed upon it in 1993.
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Hikone Castle
Hikone Castle, nestled in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, is categorized as a hirayama-jiro, a castle strategically built on a low hill with the surrounding flatlands integrated into its design. Remarkably, it stands as one of Japan's twelve castles with its original tower keep intact, proudly holding the distinction of being one of only five designated as National Treasures. The castle's inception dates back to 1603, commissioned by Ii Naomasa.
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Hamamatsu Castle
Hamamatsu Castle, situated in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, originally bore the name Hikuma Castle or Shusse-jo ("Castle of Success"). Constructed around 1532 by Imagawa Sadatsuke on a modest hill, its fate changed with the fall of the Imagawa clan following their defeat by Oda Nobunaga at Okehazama in 1560. In the aftermath, Tokugawa Ieyasu, then 29 years old, claimed control of the stronghold, shifting his base from Okazaki to Hamamatsu in 1570. Over the next 17 years, Ieyasu fortified and expanded the castle, shaping it into a Teikakushi-styled layout spanning 600 meters east to west and 650 meters north to south. The south-facing main gate stood sentinel over the vital Tokaido Route.
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Gifu Castle
Gifu Castle, once known as Inabayama Castle, has stood as a symbol of Gifu City and a hallmark of the tumultuous Sengoku period for over eight centuries. Initially constructed by the Nikaido clan around 1201, it underwent expansions and fortifications by influential daimyo such as the Saito clan of Mino and the Oda clan of Owari.
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Fukui Castle
Fukui Castle, erected in 1606 by Yuki Hideyasu, Tokugawa Ieyasu's clandestine son, stands as a testament to a complex family history. Born to Oman, a servant of Ieyasu's wife Tsukiyama Dono, Yuki Hideyasu was concealed by his father out of fear of marital discord. Raised in the shadows until his emergence as a samurai, Yuki proved his mettle in numerous battles, earning accolades from Ieyasu himself.
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Azuchi Castle
Azuchi Castle, inspired by the design of Komakiyama Oda Nobunaga’s initial fortress, boasted a distinctive feature that defied conventional defensive tactics: a grand, wide stone-lined Otemichi stairway leading directly to the base of the central Honmaru enclosure. This seemingly inviting approach, devoid of the usual winding paths meant to impede attackers, hinted at Nobunaga’s confidence, almost daring any potential adversary to challenge him.
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Asuke Castle
Asuke Castle, situated in Aichi Prefecture, may have been modest in size, but it played a pivotal role in numerous battles. It stands as one of Japan’s earliest and finest examples of a meticulously reconstructed Yamashiro-type castle from the Sengoku period.
