Hara-ate: Samurai Armour

A Small, Yet Giant Leap In Samurai Armour Development

Hara-ate (腹当, literally, stomach protector) is a type of short, light, simple protective samurai body armour developed in the late Kamakura period (1185–1333). The hara-ate protects the front and sides of the body, but not the back, and resembles the do and tare used in modern day kendo armor. It was a lightweight and inexpensive piece of armour initially used by lower-ranking samurai and foot soldiers in battle from the late Kamakura period to the Muromachi period. Hara-ate were commonly made from kozane, small plates of urushi lacquered steel or rawhide, often alternating both steel and rawhide plates, and laced together with colourful braiding forming rows that conformed to the warrior’s body shape. These hara-ate were easy to put on, easy to wear and take off, but offered low defensive capabilities.