Indigo Domaru (helmet with Large Sleeves)

Hanada-ito Odoshi Dōmaru: A Muromachi-Era Samurai Armor of the Legendary Nasu Family

Among the many treasures held by the Kyoto National Museum, few embody the refinement and martial spirit of medieval Japan quite like the Hanada-ito Odoshi Dōmaru, a complete set of samurai armor including its helmet and large shoulder guards. Crafted in the mid-Muromachi period (circa the fifteenth century), this Important Cultural Property is one of the rare surviving examples of Japanese body armor laced with distinctive pale-blue cords and accompanied by every component needed for the battlefield and ceremonial appearance of a high-ranking warrior. For visitors traveling to Kyoto, seeing this armor in person offers a direct window into the aesthetics, craftsmanship, and heritage of one of Japan's most famous samurai lineages — the Nasu family, remembered for centuries as the clan of the legendary archer Nasu no Yoichi.

Historical Background

By the Muromachi period (1336–1573), Japanese armor had undergone a long and fascinating evolution. The older ōyoroi style, designed primarily for mounted archers of the Heian and early Kamakura periods, had gradually given way to the more practical dōmaru, a body armor that wrapped around the torso and fastened on the right side. Originally worn by foot soldiers for its lightness and mobility, the dōmaru came to be adopted by senior warriors as well. When high-ranking samurai took up the style, it was increasingly fitted with the prestigious helmet and large shoulder guards that had traditionally accompanied the older ōyoroi — and this is the form seen in the Hanada-ito Odoshi Dōmaru.

This armor is documented in the Shūko-jisshu, a monumental illustrated catalogue of antiquities compiled by Matsudaira Sadanobu in the late Edo period around 1800. Its inclusion in that work tells us that the piece was already celebrated as an important heirloom more than two centuries ago, and it was known to have been handed down within the Nasu family until relatively recent times.

Why This Armor Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

On June 6, 1979, the Japanese government designated the Hanada-ito Odoshi Dōmaru as an Important Cultural Property. Its value rests on several interconnected reasons.

First, complete sets of dōmaru armor that still retain their original helmet and large shoulder guards from the Muromachi period are genuinely rare. Second, the metalwork on the armor uses shakudō — a refined copper-gold alloy — decorated with openwork chrysanthemum-branch motifs, fine nanako granulation, and relief work finished with color gilding. This combination of techniques is considered an early and exceptional example in the history of Japanese arms. Third, the armor carries the "single chrysanthemum" crest of the Nasu family, and this is recognized as the oldest surviving example of the Nasu clan's family crest anywhere. For these reasons — rarity, craftsmanship, and historical lineage — the piece is treasured as a standout work of Muromachi-period arms and armor.

Highlights and What to Look For

When standing before the armor in the museum, several features reward careful observation.

Visitor Information

The Hanada-ito Odoshi Dōmaru is part of the Kyoto National Museum's collection. Because museum displays rotate regularly to protect fragile objects such as textile lacings, the armor is not on permanent view. Visitors hoping to see it are encouraged to check the museum's official website before their visit to confirm current exhibits. Even when this specific piece is not on display, the museum's Heisei Chishinkan galleries showcase a remarkable range of Japanese paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, archaeology, and crafts — including other pieces of historic arms and armor — that make any visit worthwhile.

The Kyoto National Museum is located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, within walking distance of many of the city's most beloved temples and shrines. The museum campus itself includes the striking red-brick Meiji Kotokan, which is itself designated an Important Cultural Property, alongside the modern Heisei Chishinkan exhibition building that opened in 2014.

Surrounding Attractions

The museum's location makes it an ideal starting point for exploring some of Kyoto's most celebrated cultural sites. Just across the street stands Sanjūsangendō, the thirteenth-century hall famous for its thousand and one gilded statues of the bodhisattva Kannon. A short walk or bus ride away are Kiyomizudera, one of Kyoto's most iconic temples with sweeping views over the city; Kenninji, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto; and the geisha district of Gion, full of traditional wooden machiya townhouses and teahouses. For those interested in more armor and samurai heritage, the ancient Kamo shrines and the broader Higashiyama district offer a rich day of exploration without needing to travel far from the museum.