Byo-Toji Yoko-Hagi Okegawa Do Taisho Class

This Taisho Class Byo-Toji Yoko-Hagi Okegawa Do is the most common style of cuirass (chest armor) worn by high ranking Samurai, Taisho (General / Commander) and even the Daimyo, toward the end of the Japanese Sengoku Era (warring states period) and through the Edo Era (peaceful unification period).  Our artisan taisho katchû-shi  (Japanese armor smith) at the Iron Mountain Armory take great pride in crafting the Byo-Toji Yoko-Hagi Okegawa Do with traditional design and crafting techniques, replicated from original sets from the late Sengoku Era.  This Dō features a horizontal plate design with rivets, used for holding the overlapping ito-mono plating in place and partly for decoration.  Because the armor was designed with a single hinge under the left arm it allowed the wearer to slide into the Dō and tie it closed from the other side, also known as a “clam shell” Dō .  Byo-Toji (rivets) are often raised to be more decorative, so Iron Mountain Armory offers this Dō with the option of Raised or Smoothed Rivets, either can be chosen via order options.

This combination of design creates a very strong, shock absorbing, layered Dō which is more economical, comfortable, less maintenance and more reliable in battle than previous chest armors. This Taisho Class Dō features a traditional pin hinge under the left armpit, which can be removed, after with an attached cord can be adjusted, to make a simple ni-mai-Dō , to better accommodate those with a larger or smaller chest.  The ita-mono mainly utilizes rivets in crafting to keep the Taisho class armor as traditional and as historically accurate as possible. Features a removable Tate-Eri (shoulder padding with kikko plating) for added comfort and protection.

The traditional name for this style of Dō (samurai chest armor) is: “Byo-Toji Yoko-Hagi Okegawa Gendai Ni-mai-Dō ”.  

Features:  Traditional Taisho Class Gendai Yokohagi Okegawa design.

• Full sized and fully functional
• Various paint, mon, cotton odoshi, accessory, customization and sizing options available
• Optional kawa koshi tsuke (removable gasen / kusazuri). Removable Tate-Eri

CHEST MONS: This Samurai Do can be ordered with a Mon painted onto the front plate. For an extra fee, you can select one from our list of Standard Mon’s, or have your own Crest applied for an additional fee.

To have your own Mon painted: #1:  Select the “Custom Mon” option. #2: Complete the purchase through our Shopping Cart. #3: Send a high quality image of the Mon / Logo to the confirmation email you receive from us.

Note: We hand paint these Mon’s, and they can only be simple “Clip-Art” style designs in a single color. If you would like a Mon but select a “Suna” type paint color, your Mon image may turn out blurry due to the paint texture.

Ordering Tips: We recommend that you order one size larger AND one size shorter than the size required, if you are between height options. The armor is close fitting.  It can close into itself if too big, or be a little uncomfortable if fitted too tall. If you’re planning on wearing a yoroi hitatare or a kikko gane do under the armor, we suggest adding 10 cm to your chest size when ordering.  The Okegawa-Do features a pin hinge under the left armpit, which can be removed and a cord attached to make it a traditional Ni-Mai style Do.

To see the class differences, please view Kachi Vs. Gashira.

References:  “Samurai Armour: Volume I: The Japanese Cuirass” by Trevor Absolon  /  “Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868″ by Kazutoshi Harada, Metropolitan Museum of Art