Inspired by eboshi, a type of headdress worn by the Shinto priests and, on special occasions, by the higher class, the kabuto (helmet) photographed here is called simply eboshi kabuto.

The height of the eboshi was expressing the status of the wearer, the tallest versions, naga eboshi, being reserved for the top ranking samurai and aristocrats. Similar to eboshi, the tall kabuto in the photo belonged to a powerful and well known daimyo, Kato Kiyomasa.

Kato Kiyomasa kabuto, Kumamoto castle, Kumamoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Visiting Tokyo, Nakano Broadway ultra-short history