I wanna be a SAMURAI

[JT]

From the PM sent to me...

The SCA-JML Yahoo!Group is the largest forum for Japanese/SCA discussion:
(The SCA=JML FAQ is quoted later in this thread)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sca-jml

Anthony J Bryant's site is the premier english language site for Japanese armour and includes numerous other topics:
(and some new updates I haven't seen yet!)
http://sengokudaimyo.com

A discussion forum dedicated to Japanese in the SCA:
http://tousando.proboards18.com

A Japanese Arming Guide:
http://rhinohide.cx/tousando/yoriaku/

A discussion of source material here on the AA:
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=41075

A discussion of Bushido and Chivalry here on the AA:
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=43894

It's probably still vague, though... aren't the samurai around for a pretty long span of time? Please tell me when your help and recommendations refers to.

[JaredtheValiant]

These are 2 sets of samurai armor I made for otakon (anime convention)
they are NOT combat legal, cuz its just plastic and very thin duct metal, but its a good costume...

[Ottokar]

A thread on the Armour Archive showing SCA Japanese armours.
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=46131

[Ottokar]

SCA JML FAQ
Last Revision 2005 10 13


1. Why did I receive this file in my mail?
1.1. Welcome! New members to the SCA-JML mailing list often ask questions that have been asked many times before. We send this FAQ file with links to sites that often can answer those initial questions. If after reviewing these sites you still have questions, by all means post the question. We will be happy to help you the best that we can.

1.2. The SCA Japanese Mailing List serves as a focal point for members of the Society of Creative Anachronism and other reenactment groups who seek more information on medieval Japan defined roughly as the Nara through Momoyama eras (roughly 600-1600 AD).

1.3. Suggestions for or comments on the SCA JML FAQ can be sent to the SCA-JML mailing list.


2. Japanese Names
2.1. The book Name Construction in Medieval Japan by Solveig Throndardottir (Dr. Barbara Nostrand) is the standard for SCA reference. It may be available from:
Ted Eisenstein
PO Box 30171
Columbia, MO 65205

Cost: $42.50 (this is with shipping included)

Make Checks payable to:
Potboiler Press
2.2. Japanese Formal Masculine Given Names Lady Solveig's article from the Academy of St. Gabriel http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/solveig/nanori
2.3. The Nihon Zatsuroku: An Online Japanese Miscellany by AJ Bryant has a section on Japanese name construction. You can find it at http://sengokudaimyo.com
2.4. The United States Japanese Historical Reenactment Society site by Ii Saburou Katsumori has a section on Japanese names. You can find it at http://modzer0.cs.uaf.edu/~logan/Japane ... php?var=na
2.5. Can I use an already famous name in the SCA?

No, you cannot use an already famous name as your own within the SCA. Widely known historical names such as Miyamoto Musashi or fictional names such as Ogami Itto cannot be used.


3. Japanese Costuming
3.1. The Costume Museum is located in Kyoto, Japan and has an online presence at http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/index.htm. It includes a large variety of different costumes from the Nara to Meiji eras.
3.2. The Yûsoku Kojitsu Ron: A History of Japanese Clothing and Accessories by AJ Bryant has sections on both men's and women's clothing. You can find it at http://sengokudaimyo.com
3.3. The Reconstructing History by Kass McGann has a section on Japanese costuming. Find it at http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/
3.4. Magariki Katsuichi no Koredono's site Simple basic Japanese garb has instructions geared for reenactors. It is located at http://www.dementia.org/~djl/sca/japanese/patterns.html
3.5. The United States Japanese Historical Reenactment Society site by Ii Saburou Katsumori has a section on Japanese clothing. You can find it at http://modzer0.cs.uaf.edu/~logan/Japane ... hp?var=clt
3.6. Anna Liese's Fibers and Stuff site has some construction instruction. http://fibers.destinyslobster.com/Japanese/japindex.htm
3.7. Makiwara-hime's Kosode Made Simple at http://www.geocities.com/wodeford/KosodeMadeSimple.htm
3.8. Sir Kitakaze Tatsu Raito's Japanese Garb Page is at http://www.raito.com/clothing.htm

4. Japanese Armour
4.1. The Nihon Katchuu Seisakuban: An Online Japanese Armour Manual by AJ Bryant has detailed information on the construction of Japanese armour. You can find it at http://sengokudaimyo.com
4.2. The Yama Kaminari site has some information by Sir Ogami Akira on making SCA legal Japanese armour. You can find it at http://www.yamakaminari.com/
4.3. The Tanki Yoriaku is an annotated eighteenth century arming guide. You can find it at http://rhinohide.cx/tousando/yoriaku

5. Japanese Clans in the SCA
Who wants to be a lone samurai?
5.1. Clan Yama Kaminari: http://www.yamakaminari.com/
5.2. Clan Genji: http://members.aol.com/arashisan
5.3. Clan Yamamizu: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clan_yamamizu
5.4 Clan Kitemitsu: http://kitemitsu.org
5.5 You can find the locations of some SCA Japanese members here: http://rhinohide.cx/tousando/clanmap/html/clanmap.html


6. Other Links
I found this FAQ to be pretty useless. Do you have any other suggestions?
6.1. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sca-jml/links
6.2. http://tousando.proboards18.com/
6.3. Vasha's Guide to Feudal Japan http://scajapan.netfirms.com/

----------------------------------------

If you have any suggestions on additional resources, feel free to mail them to me. I am a maintainer of the FAQ. New sources would be appreciated.

[JT]

Also, please keep in mind that there's more to recreation/reenactment than SCA.

[Ottokar]

Japanese armour could be broadly categorized into 4 types/periods:

O-Yoroi - Heian/Early Kamakura (10-12th Centuries)
Yoroi- Kamakura/Early Muromachi (13th-15th Centuries) (dou-maru and haramaki-dou)
Tosei Gusoku - Muromachi/Momoyama (16th Century) (okegawa and sendai)
Edo - Edo (17th Century +) (a mish-mash of earlier periods and experimental forms)



O-Yoroi



Dou Maru



Haramaki Dou



Tosei Gusoku (okegawa)

Drawings from http://www.japanese-armor.com

Pictures from Kyoto Costume Museum
http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/fukusyoku/wayou/index.htm
http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/fukusyoku/busou/index.htm

[Gerhard von Liebau]

Otagiri, or anyone else...

Could you possibly provide some images showing standard Sengoku Jidai Era ashigaru armor? I'm debating whether to make my first set of SCA "loaner" armor for friends Ashigaru based, or Viking. I need to see just how simple it can get...

Thanks!

By the way, Jared... I really like the look of your armor! How old are you right now? Awesome looking costumes!

-Gregory-

[Ottokar]

Otagiri, or anyone else...

Could you possibly provide some images showing standard Sengoku Jidai Era ashigaru armor?

The Zouhyou Monogatari was written in the early 17th century. It lists items typically carried by ashigaru. Here is a Tousando post with related links:
http://tousando.proboards18.com/index.c ... 1096861936

The typical ashigaru would be wearing a jingasa rather than a helmet.

Basic armour is not that different than other tosei gusoku - just made plainer and cheaper. (This is actually 'slightly' upscale with the addition of kohire (shoulder guards) and five-plate kusazuri).

http://rhinohide.cx/daimyou/daimyoutono ... index.html

Late period ashigaru might also be found in tatami-dou (I am unsure of the earliest appearance of these armours)(The round plate in the middle is unusual)

http://rhinohide.cx/daimyou/daimyou54/d ... index.html

Unfortunately I don't have a nice head-toe (atama-ashi?) pic like the ones above.

[Magnus The Black]

[img]http://www.shogunofsorrow.com/jackbio/jackbio-d.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shogunofsorrow.com/jackbio/jackbio-e.jpg[/img]



Ok for real



[img]http://www.delank.com/pictures/yf_samurai.jpg[/img]

[img]http://eduweb.brandonu.ca/~students/wint-03/BERCIEDD41/samurai15.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.imperial.cc.ca.us/Pioneers/SAMURAI.JPG[/img]

[Ottokar]

]

The map is actually interactive in its own page which can be found at:
http://rhinohide.cx/tousando/clanmap/html/clanmap.html

You can click on the member icons and find registration information on the above link. The members listed are by no means all the SCA Japanese membership, just those that self-registered in the last three or so months.

This is still a work in progress and I plan to add a member search engine soon.

[mitsuhide]

Does anyone know where there is a (a) pattern for or (b) store for the tatami looking shoes that tie around the ankle and I thought there was a like on this page to like the samurai store ?? some Help please

[JanxAngel]

Is this what you're looking for? (click to make bigger)

These are waraji, and can be found in a variety of places online. I haven't bought any from anywhere so I sadly can't be of help when it comes to saying who's got quality product and who doesn't.

As for a pattern, there was one that popped up in google as having been on the rhinohide website, but the link isn't working. However I did find a link to the pattern on another site. Click here for the pattern.

Good luck!

[Norman]

Late period ashigaru might also be found in tatami-dou (I am unsure of the earliest appearance of these armours)

I have it down as mid to late 14th century - but for some reason I keep telling myself that this is wrong and should be 1450 or so.

(The round plate in the middle is unusual)

Evidence that the Japanese armourer went on an armourers' convention with Russians or Turks

[Effingham]

Late period ashigaru might also be found in tatami-dou (I am unsure of the earliest appearance of these armours)

I have it down as mid to late 14th century - but for some reason I keep telling myself that this is wrong and should be 1450 or so.

You're about 125 years too early.


Effingham

[Ottokar]

I have built some shoulder protection for my body armour but Im wondering if it needs somethings. they are made from plasticthe pattern leaves them in almost a perfect 6x6 square but thats the problem should they be square or is it more personal prefferance?

Mitsuhide-dono, what period of armor are you trying to recreate? If you need help answering that, refer to the 4 periods and sample armor mentioned above:

O-Yoroi - Heian/Early Kamakura (10-12th Centuries)
Yoroi- Kamakura/Early Muromachi (13th-15th Centuries) (dou-maru and haramaki-dou)
Tosei Gusoku - Muromachi/Momoyama (16th Century) (okegawa and sendai)
Edo - Edo (17th Century +) (a mish-mash of earlier periods and experimental forms)

You can learn more about sode (spaulders) at Baron Effingham's excellent site:
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/katchu.html
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/katchu.ch12.html

Here are some pictures of early period sode:
http://rhinohide.cx/daimyou/daimyou51jp ... index.html

And late period sode:
http://rhinohide.cx/daimyou/daimyou54/d ... index.html

[mitsuhide]

so after spending the last day or two looking for an example. I can honestly say there is not a single picture that I have found that looks like what I have and thats not helping me at all. My Persona is born in est. 1550 and die during the battle of Nagashima when Oda burns it to the ground I want something that is more for a middle class samurai not too wealthy and not poor. My hard suit is made of miscut plastic barrels easier to get the curve down but it flexs way to much and not a single person in the Barony that I know is of the samurai mind set. Just me and it doesn't help that my ability to work with materials is limited. Lord Effingham has great stuff on his site but the availibilty of metal is somewhat limited. I will try to get a picture of my suit and then the laughing can begin

[Effingham]

I would recommend you to this thread on the Tosando board. It shows what can be done with plastic if one pays attention to the lines and patterning.

Yeah, the plastic is blue -- but he says he's gonna paint it.


Effingham

[Ottokar]

That's a nice job.

Here is a plastic set I worked on with another a couple of years ago:
http://rhinohide.cx/katchuu/30shin/img/

May I suggest, Mitsuhide-dono, that you post your armor in another thread in the Armor or Interpretative forums if you wish to get 'personal' with a review of your armor. This forum is more for help finding resources to get a more accurate historical portrayal.

Edit to add a note that the armor shown is too small for me - it was built for a rail of a teenager. Here is the Tousando thread on the project:
http://tousando.proboards18.com/index.c ... thread=775

[Edward MacTavish]

Does anyone know what the Straw cloak is called and where one could be purchased from or even how one was crafted?

Edward

[Effingham]

It's called a mino.

Basically, the underlay is a sort of net, and bits of straw are hung over the horizontal sections much as a towel hangs on a rack, and it's all sewn together.

For the record, there are some dozen different ways to do them; in a way, it's not unlike Irish fishermen's sweaters, with regional stylistic variations.

There are places in Japan that actually still sell them, but I don't know about shipping them.

[Takeyama]

http://tousando.proboards.com/index.cgi ... 261&page=1

Here is a link to a discussion about them. I plan on making one using this method as soon as the spring sales hit and I can get the stuff.

[worldantiques]

Otagiri, or anyone else...

Could you possibly provide some images showing standard Sengoku Jidai Era ashigaru armor? I'm debating whether to make my first set of SCA "loaner" armor for friends Ashigaru based, or Viking. I need to see just how simple it can get...

Thanks!

By the way, Jared... I really like the look of your armor! How old are you right now? Awesome looking costumes!

-Gregory-

Ashigaru hara-ate dou

[raito]

Japanese armour could be broadly categorized into 4 types/periods:

I'd like to slightly correct Otagiri's statement.

Tanko and keiko are also Japanese armours, but are pre-Samurai armours.
Unfortunately, many people refer to Samurai when they mean Japanese, much as they say Viking when the mean Norse.

[wcanne]

A while back someone asked about warajii.
I made some from a pattern you can find here: http://www.shop-japan.co.jp/shop/jikata ... illust.htm . I think I used a 50' roll of sissal rope to make one pair.
There are also some videos on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smCJ5NDcHJY ) ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd14b1pI6vg ) showing the weaving.
Mine can be seen in my FB pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 3a757c40ea

[Katsumoto]

Alright, I have read through some armor sites here and there and I am trying to get more into the japanese timeset. My kit is modern but periodish (it is aesthetically like japanese armor though not actually period as it bounces around the periods with the ways the shoulders sit, the style of the Do, the style of the Kasazuri and the Suneate viewtopic.php?f=18&p=2060796#p2060796 )
The point of this post is: Is there a resource someone could point me to that talks about different points of aesthetic interest (Why different colors of cording on the Do, why a different color of kimono under the body armor than the color of the lacing, why would a machiro be used instead of a wabiki or vice versa)
Or are these the types of questions that would be overlooked or impossible to find the answers to?

Thank you,
Katsumoto

[raito]

Katsumoto,

Those particular things would be hard to find in a single reference, and most of the explanations would be hogwash anyway.

About the only one that makes aesthetic sense from a Japanese point of view is that the edge lacing is multi-colored so that the influence of the main lacing color isn't too stong. Strong, but not overwhelming.

[Effingham]

The point of this post is: Is there a resource someone could point me to that talks about different points of aesthetic interest (Why different colors of cording on the Do, why a different color of kimono under the body armor than the color of the lacing, why would a machiro be used instead of a wabiki or vice versa)
Or are these the types of questions that would be overlooked or impossible to find the answers to?

As to the first couple of questions, it's irrelevant. What you wear in terms of color or pattern is purely a matter of personal preference. If anyone tries to tell you "red means this and blue means that" you have my permission to point at them, laugh, and walk away.

As to the manchira vs wakibiki, part of it is period -- wakibiki were first. This, too, though, is purely personal preference. You don't need either one, but you might like the extra bit of padding the manchira offers; or you might like the extra protection under the armpits if your fighting style is frequently high-guard position.

[Ulrich Halfdan Ulfsson]

Good evening all, I am in need of advice for a samurai persona. My son is wanting to do a samurai for SCA combat and I would like to help but am rather clueless about it. As a 16 year old he has to fight sword and shield for quite a while but I can find no references to the use of shields and would like to start there. Is it a case of pick a shape and try to decorate in an oriental style or were there shields used. I don't think he's narrowed down a time frame yet. Are there links or books I can look at regarding armor? Also, how did one earn the title and the right to carry both swords? Would a samurai be similar to a knight in the SCA? Should he only carry one sword? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Laiodheach the Bear]

Pretty much the same question as Ulrich so imma bump this.

[les yeich]

All those questions & more are answered in the many links above.

Not being facetious here, just saying...

[CT03]

The folks who do the Tampa Japanese sword show Bill Green setting up the same kind of event at the Timonium (Baltimore) Fairgrounds September 19-22, 2013. so for those a bit too far away from Tampa or the West Coast shows... this should be a good event to attend with Japanese swords, armour, etc...

Here is the link to his Website and more information. http://www.southeastshowsauctions.co...more-2013.html

[Kormak]

Only trouble is alot of these linkages are dead/and or broken..

[Yagyu Tametomo]

You have a couple of choices.

A) Just have him use a European Shield. While he is playing a Japanese Persona, the Kingdoms where we are visiting are European and adapting to that situation is completely reasonable.

B) The Japanese did use shield very early on. First off they were used pretty much the same way the Europeans did, like an infantry protection device. Later they were used to protect a Samurai while he was reloading his quiver of arrows. They were basically a center handled narrow piece of wood.



This is VERY early period and as far as I know they had pretty much disappeared after the Gempei War (but I'm not sure of that, someone more knowledgeable than I please correct me if I'm wrong).

I hope that helps.

[Syrfinn]

Gonna have to start delving thru all this info. Have always said, before I was done with this game, I wanted to do a Japanese personna, specially since katana is my favorite weapons form.

Will have to start my research, while letting my torn wrist heal up.

Need to pin down time period, and look thru armor styles, and find what most jumps out at me.

One of the reasons I love exploring new personnas, is all the research I get to do in studying it, and learning things I never knew about, plus also take a little of the romantic aspects from the period away and get down to bare bones of it.

I need a change, and inbetween armors right now, so perfect timing.

[Ottokar]

A pair of 18th Century Japanese Gauntlets from the Met
http://metmuseum.org/Collections/search ... ions/26800
http://metmuseum.org/Collections/search ... ions/26801