Visit Japan House London to see a newly handmade suit of Sanada Yukimura’s samurai armour, on display for a limited time.
Sanada Nobushige (Sanada Yukimura)
Sanada Nobushige (1567–1615), more commonly known as Sanada Yukimura, was born in Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture). He is the tragic legendary hero of the Siege of Osaka Castle (1614–1615) famed for his courage and loyalty to the Toyotomi clan, opponents of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. He died defending the castle, the fall of which signified the beginning of stable governance for the next 250 years under the Tokugawa shogunate.
‘The Greatest Warrior in Japan’
During the Edo period (1603–1868), Sanada was the subject of much myth-making as a figure of integrity and resistance, enjoying widespread popularity in literature and kabuki theatre. He became known as ‘The Greatest Warrior in Japan’.
Sanada’s signature red suit of armour, with its helmet adorned with stag antlers, is highly distinctive. His feared, yet outnumbered, ‘Red Guard’ wore similarly coloured battledress during their defence of Osaka Castle.
Even today, this valiant warrior who fought for his cause – despite ultimate defeat – is frequently portrayed in video games, anime and manga and was the subject of NHK’s 2016 Taiga drama.
About Marutake
Marutake is a manufacturer of historical warrior armour based in Satsuma Sendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Founded in 1958 as a fishing rod company, it is now devoted to producing individually hand-crafted suits of armour for film and television, as well as restoring pieces held in shrine, temple and museum collections. Creating a full suit of armour requires around 30 specialized craftspeople, including metalworkers, braiders, leatherworkers, lacquerers and seamsters.
Marutake is a designated ‘Traditional Craft Manufacturer of Kagoshima Prefecture’ and has a public display gallery at its workshop in Satsuma Sendai. (yoroi.co.jp).
Acquired with support from JTI UK.