This very important authentic samurai armor is complete and original. It is entirely made of hon-kozane plates (individual scales) and bears gilt metal engraved kanamono all over its parts; interiors are lacquered in gold, a sign of a very high level provenance.

The armor comes with a wide series of accessories: it includes two pairs of suneate (one heavier and one very light), as well as a nodowa (throat guard), a pair of bear-fur kutsu (shoes), a saihai (commander’s baton), a jinbaori (surcoat) a hakama (pants) and many other original clothes.

A mon with the character 三 (three) from the Inaba clan is applied all over the armor’s elements.

The kabuto (helmet) is made in the style of a Kamakura period ō-boshi sujibachi kabuto, with a 18 plates rounded bowl showing large protruding rivets. The exquisite parcel giltwood madeate is shaped as a shachihoko, a mythical creature often represented as protection against fire. The shikoro (neck guard) is covered with a rare horsehair red and white decoration.

The dō (cuirass) is richly decorated in maki-e lacquer over a black ground, with a red figure of Raijin – the god of Thunder – creating a storm beating his drums among clouds. The same black lacquer is used to cover all other armor’s parts, except for the helmet’s bowl.

The two large rectangular plates of different shapes which protect the armor’s toggle fasteners, sendan no ita and kyūbi no ita, are again inspired by the great armors of the Kamakura period.

The suit features a rare haidate (thigh guard) of hōdō type, which include pending sections which replicate the style of the kusazuri (tassets).

The Inaba family originated in 16th century Mino Province; during the Edo period, as hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa, the clan was classified fudai and its members were appointed daimyō of large and strategic provinces; they also covered various important administrative, political and military roles.

Myochin Munesada, who signed and dated the kabuto, is reported to be son of the famous Muneakira; his works are very rare.

The Inaba clan, a prominent samurai family during Japan’s feudal period, traces its origins to the Sengoku era (c. 1467-1603). The clan claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji, a branch of the Minamoto clan, which was one of the four great clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period. The Inaba clan’s historical prominence began in the late 15th century and continued through the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868).
The Inaba clan’s rise to prominence can be attributed to Inaba Yoshimichi (1515-1588), also known as Inaba Ittetsu. Yoshimichi served under several daimyo, including Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, two of the most significant unifiers of Japan during the late Sengoku period. Yoshimichi’s loyalty and military prowess were crucial in several key battles, notably the Siege of Inabayama Castle (1567), where his actions contributed to Nobunaga’s victory over the Saitō clan.
Following Nobunaga’s death in 1582, Yoshimichi aligned himself with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, further solidifying the clan’s status. Under Hideyoshi, Yoshimichi was granted extensive lands in Mino Province, which enhanced the clan’s wealth and influence.
With the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Inaba clan continued to hold significant power. They were assigned to various domains (han) throughout Japan, reflecting their ongoing importance in the shogunate’s administration. One notable figure from this period was Inaba Masanari (1571-1628), who served as a roju (senior councilor) to the Tokugawa shogunate. Masanari’s political acumen and administrative skills were instrumental in the early consolidation of Tokugawa rule.
Throughout the Edo period, the Inaba clan governed several domains, including Takata in Echigo Province, Odawara in Sagami Province, and Usuki in Bungo Province. The clan’s ability to adapt to the changing political landscape and maintain favor with the ruling shogunate ensured their continued relevance.