Japanese Samurai Helmet and Half Mask

Text by Davison Packard Koenig, former Senior Exhibit Coordinator, August 2011

This Japanese helmet (kabuto) and accompanying half-mask (mempo) form part of the elaborate suits of armor worn by the samurai (military nobility akin to the knights of Europe) of feudal Japan.

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The kabuto has laced, lacquered scales, or kozane, to protect the nape of the neck. The accompanying armor was also constructed of kozane, which were originally made of leather and later replaced by steel. The laced design coupled with thin high-grade steel made the armor light and allowed samurai to be agile, unlike their European counterparts.

This kabuto is made of 120 individual riveted steel plates, rather than the standard 62 or fewer. This construction, when combined with the signature of the artisan, Hisatada, on the interior, tells us that this is an extremely fine example worn by an important samurai.

Note that the fukigaeshi, or “blow-back,” on either side of the visor display the bronze family crest, or kamon, of the wild goose (karigane). Riveted to the visor is the crest-holder (oharaaidate,) which would have held a larger version of the kamon. Together these would identify the samurai on the battlefield.

I chose this kabuto and mempo because I think it is pretty cool that this type of armor was the inspiration for Darth Vader’s helmet in the epic film saga Star Wars. George Lucas, director of Star Wars, was a big fan of the Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, who depicted feudal Japan in inimitable style in his most famous film, The Seven Samurai (1954). Lucas told his concept illustrator Ralph McQuarrie that he wanted Darth Vader to look like “a dark lord riding on the wind,” with black flowing robes, a large helmet like that of the Japanese samurai, and a mask covering his face.

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The accompanying Hakata samurai figurine illustrates the elaborate dress and armor of the samurai. Samurai dress was worn not only for protection in battle but also for identification and display of social status.

While the “Hakata” clay figurines originated in the 16th century, they became extremely popular with Americans during the Korean War. Hakata, where these figurines have been made for over 500 years, lies at the northern end of the island of Kyushu, just off the Korean coast, and served as a U.S. military logistics base from 1950 to 1953. This figurine was collected in 1952.

Thanks to Mariko Karatsu, assistant professor of Japanese language and linguistics and director of the Japanese language program, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Arizona for assistance with translation.