Samurai Thigh Guard

Armored thigh guard (karuta haidate) of square plates in mail. The two joined panels hang below the cuirass to protect the thighs. The exterior fabric is brown with alternating panels of geometric patterns and gentian flowers, possibly indicative of a family crest. The interior fabric is dark blue. The upper sections have strips of reinforcing patterned leather (chikara-gawa) from the upper edges to the mid-point, then a horizontal strip from one side to the other. The entire thigh guard is edged with the same patterned leather as the chikara-gawa. The vertical strip of chikara-gawa is edged with a trim (fusegumi) of decorative tan thread sewn in a herringbone pattern. Two flaps on the sides of each panel secure the thigh guard around the wearer's thighs with a button and loop. The upper edge is closed with blue fabric that extends to form straps that tie around the wearer's waist. A short, tan cord is attached at the center, between the two panels, to attach the thigh guard to the rest of the armor. On the lower section of each panel, the armored portion is made up of four rows of five square plates (karuta) with mail (kusari) between. Each karuta is finished with a rippled texture (tataki nuri), lacquered black, then covered with a layer of gold leaf. Individual karuta are sewn to twisted links of mail woven together in a four-in-one pattern.