Aka means red in Japanese — the color of the battlefield banner, of the daimyo who wanted to be seen at the head of the charge. This full red samurai armor is built to live up to that name: a complete, wearable suit of yoroi laced in scarlet, white and gold, made entirely by hand by an experienced armorer rather than stamped off a line.
Every plate is hand-laced with high-quality Odoshi cotton cord and finished with traditional dyes and detailing. The red kabuto helmet stands 68.5 cm tall and carries its own hair crest; the matching menpo face mask, complete with moustache, runs 17 cm. The chest piece (the do), shoulder guards (sode) and shin guards (suneate) all share the same red, white and gold scheme, tied together by a 2 m red obi. Underneath sits a cotton-and-fiber jacket as a real protective vest, easily adjusted to the wearer.
A wearable suit, not a display shell
This is a functional reproduction. It fits a person between 160 cm and 185 cm of average build, with an adjustable protective vest so it can be worn, photographed and posed — at a 107 cm chest and a 100 cm size, it suits a wide range of frames. Assembled, the armor measures 180 x 76 x 76 cm and weighs around 20 kg, the real heft of a worn suit rather than a lightweight costume.
Specifications
| Helmet (kabuto) | Red metal, with hair crest, 68.5 cm tall |
|---|---|
| Mask (menpo) | Red metal with moustache, 17 cm long |
| Shoulder guards (sode) | Red metal plates, white cord lacing |
| Chest armor (do) | Red / white / gold metal |
| Shin guards (suneate) | Top 10 cm, center 13 cm, lower 10 cm |
| Belt (obi) | Red, 2 m long |
| Jacket | Cotton and fibers, adjustable vest |
| Construction | 100% handmade, Odoshi cotton dyes, traditional detailing |
| Fit | Person 160–185 cm, average build |
Dimensions
| Chest | 107 cm |
|---|---|
| Size | 100 cm |
| Assembled | 180 x 76 x 76 cm |
| Weight | 20 kg (25 kg packed, in a 63.5 x 76 x 55 cm box) |
Browse the full range of samurai armor, or pair it with a katana to complete the set.
