Tobiguchi-nari kawari kabuto

This very rare samurai helmet is made of six russet iron plates joint with visible rivets. Its unique shape recalls the hooked tool used by firemen in antique Japan (tobishi); this simple and severe line is somehow powered by the visible round rivets and by the iron tehen-no-kanamono on top of the tip, which completely covers the plates joint.

This design is probably related to the more common “peach-shaped” (momonari) kabuto, inspired by the European cabasset, very much in fashion during the early Edo period.

The fukigaeshi are fitted with a kamon of yumiya type, representing eight arrows