Perhaps one of the most spectacular pieces of the samurai armor, the kabuto or helmet served both a defensive and theatrical purpose. Their designs included complex shapes and ornamental elements that were meant to impress the enemy as well as identify who was wearing them.
The kabuto is made up of a center piece or cup called hachi, a front visor, or maezachi, and protruding side pieces, or fukigaeshi, similar to ears, which provided protection against arrows. The adornment on the front of the kabuto is called maedate, which was an insignia or emblem, representing the samurai’s clan. With the coming of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), the authorities dismissed the warrior class. Some of them were absorbed into the modern public administration, compensating those from greater lineages and marginalizing those from lower classes.