Original 19th Century Japanese Late Edo Period Lacquered Flat Samurai Jingasa Helmet with Maru ni Narabi Takanoha Family Crest

Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. A KASA (笠) is any one of several sorts of traditional Japanese hats. Some types are amigasa, jingasa, sandogasa, sugegasa, and takuhatsugasa. Note that rendaku ("sequential voicing") causes kasa to change to gasa when it is preceded by another word specifying the type of hat: thus, JINGASA (陣笠 - "camp hat"; helmet). These were issued to the lowliest soldiers of the Japanese War Lords (The Samurai). They were used by simple Infantry who acted as Musketeers using the then prevalent Matchlock ignition system.

This example dates from the end of the Edo period (江戸時代, Edo jidai) or Tokugawa period (徳川時代, Tokugawa jidai) of Japanese history. This is the period between 1603 and 1867, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional daimyo. By the end of the Edo period, known as the Bakumatsu Period of 1853-1868, the use of the Jingasa became more widespread to include being used by clan armies. It was used frequently by the Aizu Rifle corps during the Boshin War of 1868-1869.

In the effort to bring Japan into the modern World of the Victorian age there was dreadful push back from the SAMURAI Class of Feudal system Warriors. There was a great rebellion in 1868-1869 known as the Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, "War of the Year of the Yang Earth Dragon") in which the Samurai class was finally eliminated.

This is an original Japanese Lacquered Jingasa constructed from pressed fabric & paper, and in fact provided exceptional protection from attack with a blade from a horseman. This example is black to the exterior with a really lovely hand-painted family crest for Maru ni Narabi Takanoha, known as the Hawk Feather crest. There is more research to be done on its use but we did find that it saw heavy samurai use.

The lacquered finish has worn heavily along the brim as happens often with these. The jingasa measures roughly 15 1/4” in diameter and roughly 2” tall. 

This example is missing the pillow liner and head straps, but there are four suspension rings for its attachment. There is a newer strap attached.

A scarce bit of original Edo period Japanese military headgear of lightweight construction. Ready for display.