End of the Samurai

[The Dragon Master]

They were once Japan's highest social caste, remembered for their fearsome fighting skills and immortalized in popular culture since their demise at the end of the 19th century.

But a collection of fascinating portraits of real Samurai warriors taken in the decades before reforms saw the warrior class abolished and a western-style conscripted military drafted in, give an authentic insight into military life in pre-modern Japan.

Some are clad in their distinctive tosei-gusoku, or plated armour, while some look slightly less ready for combat in kimono style robes.

Link and the rest of the portraits: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2310033/End-Samurai-Stunning-portraits-Japan-s-warrior-class-captures-men-height-power-19th-century-demise.html

 

[Evil Eye]

Interesting pictures. And a very interesting mentality.

 

[Sinon]

I love the images, but as usual the Daily Mail are terrible with fact-checking and information. The only image there that features tosei-gusoku is the third, and he's not dressed for true combat. His sword is wooden, and the helm he holds is a piece of kendo headgear. The picture of the group shows them wearing hon kozane dou gusoku. Either that or dangae dou gusoku, which share elements from both before and after the Edo period.

Also they use the term harakiri, whereas it's almost viewed as an insult to say that in Japan. Seppuku is the correct term. Rawr.