Japanese Fencing: Equipment, 1890s
The kabuto, or helmet, is in many respects superior to the mask worn by the sabre-players of Europe
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From “Kenjutsu, or Japanese Fencing” in The Fighting Man of Japan by F. J. Norman, 1905.
However, to revert to the kenjutsu.
The kabuto, or helmet, is in many respects superior to the mask worn by the sabre-players of Europe, but while it gives ample protection to the face, neck, and throat, it does not sufficiently protect the sides of the head, nor yet its top or crown. It sits much firmer, however, than do any of our fencing helmets or masks, being tied, or rather lashed, on to the head. Under it is invariably worn a tenugui, or small native towel, wrapped round the head in turban-like fashion, as shown in the photograph, in which I am seen standing by the side of Umezawa-san. The reason for this is of a purely cleanly or sanitary nature, and the result is that no Japanese helmets ever have an unpleasant odour.
The do, or corselet, is a lighter, cooler, and in every way a far superior chest and body protector to the leather jerkins of European sabre-players. It is made of slips of the very best and soundest of bamboos, strung perpendicularly together in the required shape, and trimmed and strengthened with fastenings of leather, silk, or hemp. The best do are lacquered with the mon or crest of the owner, and remarkably handsome some of them are. They are worn hanging somewhat loosely, being suspended from the shoulders by soft cords of cotton or silk, but never so loosely as to prove a nuisance to the swordsman.
The kusadzuri, or taces, is a light and efficient enough protector for the lower part of the body, but hardly as good as those in use in British gymnasiums. These are generally made of a tough cotton or hempen canvas, cut in five strips of about nine inches in length and four in width, two strips lying under, and three outside. Each of the strips is quilted, and bound round the edges with a leather. Though hanging loose the strips are fastened to a band that encircles the waist of the fencer, but in a way that does not impede his movements in the slightest degree.
The kote, or gauntlet, is a hand, wrist, and forearm guard, much superior, in many respects, to anything of the sort to be seen in our gymnasiums. A kote is made of strong cotton or hempen canvas, lined with bamboo shavings or horse-hair, and trimmed and strengthened with a soft, kid-like leather. One great advantage the Japanese kote possesses over our gauntlets is that its size can be regulated up to quite an appreciable degree by the loosening or tightening of the lacing running along and inside its forearm portion.
The shinai, or practice sword, is made from four strips of bamboo, and though it undoubtedly looks clumsy enough at first, it is not so by any means. The length and weight of shinai vary according to the taste of fencers, there being no rule laid down about this—surely a fairer method than ours, which forces all men to use the same-sized practice sword, irrespective of their stature and strength. The four strips of bamboo being cut to fit each other are then brought together, and over the grip or handle end of the shinai is drawn a strong leather covering. The grip may be of any length, say from eight to sixteen inches, or more. From the guard end of this covering runs a leather or gut sti-and to the point of the shinai, and is there fastened to a leather cup-like covering that keeps together the ends of the four bamboos, and forms a button over their points. The line along which the gut runs is considered the back of the sword, and as the shinai is strengthened and kept together by a fastening of leather at its cutting point, advantage is taken of this to run the gut through it, and so help to keep it all the tauter in its place.
The tsuba, or guard, is a circular piece of stout leather, with a hole in its centre to permit of its being passed up and over the grip until it reaches the hilt, where it forms a circular guard, standing out from the shinai an inch, or a little more. Sometimes, but not often, a fencer will use a secondary tsuba, made of thin leather and padded like a cushion. This will lie between his hand and the ordinary tsuha. The measurements of my favourite shinai are: blade, twenty-six inches, and grip fourteen inches. But it must be pointed out here that I stand but a trifle over five feet six inches, and have somewhat small hands.
The hakama, or divided skirt of the samurai, is a most comfortable article of clothing, which, while it affords a certain amount of protection to the legs and lower parts of the body, does not in the least impede a fencer's movements. It is light, airy, and cool, and might, with very great advantage, be introduced into England, in a modified form, for the use of young girls.
Japanese fencing-rooms are all built on more or less the same plan, and the Takanawa fencing-room was no exception to this. It was about thirty feet in length and about half that in width. Two of its sides were opened to the air, and along its other two sides ran a raised platform, a couple of feet or so above the floor of the fencing arena. The platform was furnished with mats, and on cold days with fire-boxes, and was used indiscriminately as galleries for spectators or dressing and resting-rooms for the fencers. Such men as liked to keep their fencing gear there could do so, hanging-the same up on pegs along the side of the gallery. Here it must be pointed out that all Japanese fencers have their own special kit, the fencing-room supplying nothing.
Norman, F. J. The Fighting Man of Japan. Archibald Constable & Co., 1905.
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