The Japanese defenses for the lower part of the legs (called are mostly curved plates formed to the calf and fastened by clasps or strings, like the Greek and Roman greaves. Varieties are buhamon-sune-ate made of three continuous metal plates reaching above the knee; made of plates and strips of chain mail alternating; ate, etc. The feet were clad with shoes (kutsu) having pointed curved toes for riding or cere monies, but straw sandals were preferred for marching and fighting. Soles were of stiff leather, uppers of bear's skin. The was a kind of tabard or surcoat worn over the armor for display.
The sword was the Samurai's most valued possession; he called it his °soul? But the longbow and the arrow were always a chief weapon. The long sword (katana) was pre served with religious care wrapped in the finest silks and enclosed, often, in the costliest of lacquered and inlaid caskets. Allowing a view of its sheath and blade (Japanese blades are of great perfection and superior to the Western) to a foreigner is a mark of intimate friendship. The short sword (wakizashi) and the katassa were so closely associated as to be considered a (pair)" and termed daisho, and both had simi lar mountings and were stuck in the same sheath. A dagger-sword (canto) was also car ried. Great artistic talent was expended on the Japanese warrior's sword sword guards (tsuba), ferrule-like pommels (kashiri), ring-bands (fuchi), decorative peg-heads (menuki), to attach blade to the grip. . So lovely is the workmanship of the tsuba, depict ing life and scenery in marvelous metallic deli cacy, that these miniatures in metal (the wealthy carried actual for frequent changes of display) are greatly prized by museums and Western connoisseurs, who have numerous large collections. A peculiar instrument was
the small knife (kozuka) with its flat orna mented handle; it was used with remarkable precision for throwing. Skewers (kogai) were in the same sheath with the kozuka, used for hairpins, also to the dead victim with the victor's identity. Pole spear was a favorite weapon with the Japanese, who were very skilful in its use, the higher classes having many racks full. One old form was the Koko, a guard's spear with six-foot pole and eight inch blade either leaf-shape or waved (like the Malay kris) ; a sickle-shaped horn projected on one or both sides at the joint of blade. A lance (yari) was used by the 14th century with thog.
backed* blade five inches tong. The tiegi-nata had a three-foot long scimiter blade fixed on a slightly longer haft. It was a weapon favored by female warriors. They had halberds (see Pots Aims) also. Spear heads were of beau tiful construction. While the Japanese in their feudal warfare did not make much use of fire arms they had guns, pistols and cannon, mostly imported by 16th century Portuguese traders. Little development occurred in these arms, and from 1853, when Commodore Perry opened up their ports, they copied European types (re volvers, etc.).