Japanese-language links

Armour Links

Katchû Kyôshitsu (Armour Classroom) — A site for the construction of Usagi-Tei's ersatz Japanese armour using cardboard and plaster. While I can't recommend their patterns or methods, they are interesting. It also takes forever to load, but has some nice photographs of the armours made according to their directions.

Usagi-Tei Gallery — This slow-to-load page shows many armours and helmets made by Usagi-Tei students. It's a good source for ideas on how to decorate your own work.

National Treasures — A site listing locations of National Treasure-designated armours in Japan.

Yoroi no Kôzan-dô — This is the website of the shop in Tokyo where I first got to learn the ins-and-outs of Japanese armour. It's a commercial site, and you can order modern replicas from them. The site has an English mirror. The Japanese site has more pages showing armours, including special pages such as replicas of armours worn by commanders at Sekigahara, other Sengoku daimyo, etc.

 

Japanese Garb, etc., Links

Yusoku — Yusoku is the home site of a bunch of Japanese folks with a great interest in studying and recreating Heian clothing.

Japanese Costume Museum — This is the main site of the Fûzoku Hakubutsukan (Costume Museum) in Kyoto. There is a lot of material available here that isn't mirrored in the English translation of the site below; notably a slew of essays on early costume and custom, and a full series of color illustrations of the costumes in the museum.

Matsuri Supplies — A Japanese company that supplies festival clothing, accessories, musical instruments, masks, and other related cultural chochkies. More often than not, the graphic links won't be working. Very annoying, but when it works it's interesting.

Sokutai Knowlege and Wearing — The homepage of some folks in Japan who enjoy studying and recreating Heian clothing and styles.

 

English-language Links

Armour Links

Usagi-Tei — An Enligh version of the main Japanese Usagi-Tei site for the construction of ersatz Japanese armour using cardboard and plaster. While I can't recommend their patterns or methods, they are interesting. The English here is non-native, so be warned of grammatical eccentricities. It takes a long time to load.

Usagi-Tei Gallery — This slow-to-load page shows many armours and helmets made by Usagi-Tei students. It's a good source for ideas on how to decorate your own work.

Armour Archive — An online discussion group of armourers and armour enthusiasts. Includes a pattern and essay archive.

Arador Armour Library — Another online discussion group on arms and armour.

Oriental Armour Library — This site has many photographs of various bits and pieces of Japanese armour.

Sengoku Armour — Photographs of various suits of armour from a variety of sources. Some is original, most is reproduction. Page takes a while to load, but the graphic material is potentially quite useful.

Yoroi no Kôzan-dô — This is the website of the shop in Tokyo where I first got to learn the ins-and-outs of Japanese armour. Click on their “English” link. It's a commercial site, and you can order modern replicas from them. One page has many photographs of different armours they make, and is an excellent study of Sengoku (and earlier) armours.

 

Japanese Garb Links

Japanese Costume Museum — This is the English mirror site of the Fûzoku Hakubutsukan (Costume Museum) in Kyoto. There isn't as much material here as in the original Japanese site above. They do have detailed information on the history of women's clothing, but nothing on men's.

SCA-Japanese Medieval List — The e-groups SCA Japanese Medieval List (SCA-JML) homepage. If you're interested in the SCA and recreating Japanese history, garb, and armour, join the list and join the discussions!

Reconstructing History — The homesite for Fujiwara no Aoi-hime (m.k.a. Kass McGann), who has done considerable research and reconstruction of Heian Japanese fashions. Follow the link to the Japanese material.

Japanese Costume Links — Takahashi Otoshi-dono's links to some sites with information on aspects of Japanese garb. Not all of it is period, so the reader will have to use some discretion.

Armour and Helmets — This site has no text; just a lot of pictures of Japanese armour. Nice for getting ideas.

 

Other Japanese-related Links

Clan Yamakaminari — The homepage of the household of Ogami Akira-dono, KSCA.

Nobumitsu's Toshokan — The beginning of a clearing house of Japanese reenactment information and FAQs.

Sengoku: Roleplaying in Feudal Japan — Gold Rush Game's award-winning RPG, set in the sengoku period, co-authored by Mark Arsenault (GRG head honcho) and Anthony J. Bryant (author of this manual). The core rule book includes a great deal of cultural and historical material that people re-enacting historical Japanese should know.

Bugei Trading Company — Source for armour replicas, weapons, books, and other materials related to Japanese military arts and sciences.

Samurai Archives — A wonderful site with lots of useful information on samurai history and culture.

Asahi Archery — Kyûdô equipment and supplies from Japan, orderable online.

Matsuyama-dô — The Clan Matsuyama site.

 

Other Links

Society for Creative Anachronism — The home page for the SCA, a medieval re-creation group.

Midrealm — The homepage of the Middle Kingdom, an SCA region.

Shire of Mynedd Seren — The local SCA group for the Bloomington, Indiana area.

Chronique — Okay, it has nothing to do with Japan; Chronique is a journal of medieval recreation and a wonderful site for those with an interest in chivalry and knightly culture. It's here because I respect them and their goals, and because Brian's a good friend whom I love dearly.

Amazon.com — Order the author's other books now! This link will take you directly to the Amazon page with my titles.

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