【Discover the Feature Exhibition】The Kawari-Kabuto (“Exotic Helmets”) Exhibition 5

- Armor and weapons from the New Collection

March 14th (Tue.) ~ May 28th (Sun.), 2023

Feature Exhibition Room 1

Hoshi-Kabuto helmet with seventy-four riveted plates with cirrus / tornado ornamentation (17th century)

This exhibition displays armor, weapons, helmets with unusual decorations (Kawari-Kabuto) and related items collected by the Fukuoka City Museum over a 10-year period until 2021, and explores the changes in the history and culture of the samurai families.

First, we introduce old Kawari-Kabuto with traditional bowls, such as Hoshi-kabuto (helmets with standing rivets) and Suji-kabuto (helmets with ridged bowls) among the ones owned by vassals of the Fukuoka domain. Some helmets have the fantastic shapes of Maedachi (front crests), while others, such as the gorgeous Hoshi-kabuto helmet are decorated with the shape of a gold-lacquered bottle on the top and crab claws on both sides. This helmet was owned by Kiriyama Nobuyuki, also known as Kiriyama Tanba, one of the Twenty four major samurai warriors supporting the Kuroda clan, feudal lord of the Fukuoka domain.

Some Kawari-Kabuto have bowls made in a simple and sturdy way. Among these, Momonari- kabuto (helmets with peach-shaped bowls) were especially favored by the warriors of the Fukuoka clan. They also devised front and side ornaments to give them individuality.

Samurai warriors active during the period of upheaval from the closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji Restoration (c.1850s - early 1870s) fought with new armor or repaired ancestors' armor for a heroic appearance. They also wore Jingasa (soldier’s helmet) or Jinbaori (surcoat). In addition, this exhibition displays guns, spears with handles and other practical weapons, as well as artillery and secrets of the art of gunnery, such as the Japanese hand culverins.

Exhibition view