Kote Hijigane with Internal Storage compartment

[cglog254]

Hi all,
This pair of kote have hijigane that have an internal storage space inside. They have a simple latch and hinge construction, and are gilt on the interior. I have not been able to find any mention of hijigane opening or having compartments within. Is this a common feature? What would have been stored inside the hijigane? Is this construction indicative of a special use, manufacturing timeframe, or other unique feature? I have attached photos of the kote below, as well as close ups of the hijigane (sadly, one is missing but the interior container is still there). Please let me know if you have any information regarding the hijigane or the kote as a whole (anything unique or indicative to a particular time or place) . Thank you for your help!
 

[uwe]

Hi Charles,

 

one can find these compartments from time to time on the forearm of some kote. Oda-gote /Fukube-gote for example. In these cases, mostly the hyôtan-gane are designed to be opened. Often used for storing medicines, but also other things are imaginable.
Recently I saw a pair of kote in which writing materials were stored on the left sleeve (ink stone and pen)…

 

However, it remains a rare feature and I’ve to admit that I never encountered one on a hijigane…very cool!

 

[cglog254]

18 hours ago, uwe said:

Hi Charles,

 

one can find these compartments from time to time on the forearm of some kote. Oda-gote /Fukube-gote for example. In these cases, mostly the hyôtan-gane are designed to be opened. Often used for storing medicines, but also other things are imaginable.
Recently I saw a pair of kote in which writing materials were stored on the left sleeve (ink stone and pen)…

 

However, it remains a rare feature and I’ve to admit that I never encountered one on a hijigane…very cool!

 

Hi Uwe,
Thank you for your response! Your information is very helpful and it is cool that this appears to be a rarity. The one compartment had not been opened since it came to us, and I was hoping something would be inside... sadly but unsurprisingly it was empty. They very intriguing to me, especially with the gilded interior. Also, do you know of any way to date kote, or is it not reliabbly possible without makers mark or other information?

[uwe]

Not easy to date, but my gut feeling says mid to, more likely, late Edo period…

A nice add on are also the kirigane (ornamental cut iron plates) bordering the upper edges of the hand guards (tekkō). The construction of the upper part of the sleeves is, however, rather unusual. They are made without the common horizontal top plate (kanmuri no ita).

[cglog254]

On 11/6/2025 at 11:44 AM, uwe said:

Not easy to date, but my gut feeling says mid to, more likely, late Edo period…

A nice add on are also the kirigane (ornamental cut iron plates) bordering the upper edges of the hand guards (tekkō). The construction of the upper part of the sleeves is, however, rather unusual. They are made without the common horizontal top plate (kanmuri no ita).

Thank you! I had noted the lack of the kanmuri no ita when comparing it to other kote examples. I am enjoying the multitude of decorative features on these kote. Along with the kirigane, the silk fabric is also very decorative, but it has worn or faded on the exposed parts under the chainmail. The fabric under the plates still has this decoration, and the motif includes small birds. The haidate of this armor has the same fabric decoration. I attached a picture if you are interested. 

[uwe]

Very nice….yes, I’m interested! 
Maybe you can post some pictures of the whole armor!?

[cglog254]

35 minutes ago, uwe said:

Very nice….yes, I’m interested! 
Maybe you can post some pictures of the whole armor!?

I do not have access to the whole suit at this moment, but I will upload the pictures that were when it first arrived (the helmet and hanbo are the ones I have previously posted about, so I have not re uploaded their pictures here). They are not the best quality as they were not meant for documentation. If you are interested in specific pieces, sections, or require better images of everything all together, I would be glad to take new/better pictures of the whole suit and/or pictures of specific locations or pieces next time I have access to them (Monday). We are working through it piece by piece, so I will likely have more questions on all of it. Your expertise and insight has been invaluable for me and my efforts. The lacquer on the inside of the sode appears to be the same byakudan-nuri as on the plates of the face mask. 

Thank you so much for your help and let me know if you would prefer better or more specific pictures.

[Shogun8]

Lots of very interesting details on this armour that I have not seen before including the aforementioned lack of kanmuri-no-ita, the meidicine box on the point of the elbow and the extra long frontal kusazuri and tsubo sode. Even the haidate are different. Cool armour.

[cglog254]

On 11/9/2025 at 7:46 AM, Shogun8 said:

Lots of very interesting details on this armour that I have not seen before including the aforementioned lack of kanmuri-no-ita, the meidicine box on the point of the elbow and the extra long frontal kusazuri and tsubo sode. Even the haidate are different. Cool armour.

Thank you for your response! Do you think these details represent anything unique, such as use or status, or are they simply unique personal design choices? Would having extra long frontal kusazuri serve any purpose beyond added protection? What is different about the haidate? 

[Shogun8]

What these details do suggest is that the suit of armour was certainly custom and not off-the-shelf, which usually means that the samurai who commissioned it had some means. The length of the frontal kusazuri, the construction of the haidate plates (can you confirm if they are iron?) and the tsutsu suneate point towards an armour meant to be worn on horseback - again suggesting a higher-ranking samurai.

[cglog254]

On 11/11/2025 at 6:18 PM, Shogun8 said:

What these details do suggest is that the suit of armour was certainly custom and not off-the-shelf, which usually means that the samurai who commissioned it had some means. The length of the frontal kusazuri, the construction of the haidate plates (can you confirm if they are iron?) and the tsutsu suneate point towards an armour meant to be worn on horseback - again suggesting a higher-ranking samurai.

That is so cool! I had figured the armor's original owners had above average means from the gilded decoration and the byakudan nuri on the inside of the tare and the inside of the sode. The haidate plates are indeed lacquered iron, but I thought that was standard? Is it something about the layout or construction of the rest of the piece that suggests it was meant to be worn on horseback? I was able to find information on the suneate suggesting horseback riding, but I haven't been able to find any other information on distinguishing armor designed to be worn on horseback and armor designed to be worn on foot. Are there any other distinguishing features that are unique to or indicative of armor designed to be worn on horseback that I should look for?

[Shogun8]

The extra long frontal kusazuri were meant to defend the rider against the typical weapons wielded by foot soldiers such as yari and other polearms. Similarly, the construction of the haidate - namely the iron composition and the curved, overlapping plates designed for strength - were meant for defending against ground-based attacks, as were the solid plate suneate.

[cglog254]

4 hours ago, Shogun8 said:

The extra long frontal kusazuri were meant to defend the rider against the typical weapons wielded by foot soldiers such as yari and other polearms. Similarly, the construction of the haidate - namely the iron composition and the curved, overlapping plates designed for strength - were meant for defending against ground-based attacks, as were the solid plate suneate.

Thank you for the information! I had seen similar haidate but I did not know that is what they were indicative of?

[Shogun8]

Most later haidate incorporated flat plates and were often made in leather. The curved, interlocking ones made of iron like these were likely of Eastern or Kanto origin as used by the Date clan.

[uwe]

Kind of “Kawara haidate” maybe (roof tile). Not associated to a specific time span, I guess.

[cglog254]

On 11/14/2025 at 5:14 PM, uwe said:

Kind of “Kawara haidate” maybe (roof tile). Not associated to a specific time span, I guess.

 

On 11/14/2025 at 2:10 PM, Shogun8 said:

Most later haidate incorporated flat plates and were often made in leather. The curved, interlocking ones made of iron like these were likely of Eastern or Kanto origin as used by the Date clan.

Thank you!