Dō ( armour ) Dou or dō ( chest armour or cuirass ) are one of the major components of Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and foot soldiers ( ashigaru ) of feudal Japan . History . The predecessor of the samurai " dou ( dō " ) was manufactured in Japan as early as the 4th century . " tankō " , worn by foot soldiers and " keikō " , worn by horsemen were both pre - samurai types of early Japanese " cuirass " constructed from iron plates connected by leather thongs . During the Heian period ( 794 to 1185 ) the Japanese " cuirass " evolved into the more familiar style of armour worn by the samurai known as the . Japanese armour makers started to use hardened leather ( nerigawa ) along with iron in their armour construction and lacquer ( " urushi " ) was used to weather proof the armor parts . By the end of the Heian period the Japanese cuirass had arrived at the shape recognized as being distinctly samurai . Leather and or iron scales were used to construct samurai armours , with leather and eventually silk lace used to connect the individual scales ( kozane ) which these cuirasses were now being made from . In the 16th century Japan began trading with Europe during what would become known as the Nanban trade . Samurai acquired European cuirass es which they modified and combined with domestic armour as it provided better protection from the newly introduced matchlock musket s known as . The introduction of the " tanegashima " by the Portuguese in 1543 along with a change in battle tactics caused the Japanese armour makers to change the design of the " dou ( dō " ) from the centuries old " lamellar armours " to " plate armour " constructed from iron and steel plates , this type of armour was called " tosei gusoku " ( new armours ) . Bullet resistant dou ( dō ) were developed , this type of armour was called ( bullet tested ) allowing samurai to continue wearing their armour despite the use of firearms . The warfare of the Sengoku period ( 15th and 16th centuries ) required large quantities of armour to be produced for the ever growing armies of foot soldiers ( " ashigaru " ) . Simple munition quality ( " okashi " or lent ) " dou or dō " were massed produced including " tatami dou ( dō ) " which could be folded . The era of warfare called the Sengoku period ended around 1600 , Japan was united and entered the peaceful Edo period , samurai continued to use both plate and lamellar " dou ( dō " ) as a symbol of their status but traditional armours were no longer necessary for battles . During the Edo period light weight , portable and secret hidden armours became popular as there was still a need for personal protection . Civil strife , duels , assassinations , peasant revolts required the use of " tatami dou ( dō ) " as well as ( chain armour jackets ) and armoured sleeves as well as other types of armour which could be worn under ordinary clothing . Edo period samurai were in charge of internal security and would wear various types of " kusari gusoku " ( chain armour ) and shin and arm protection as well as forehead protectors ( ) . " Dou ( dō ) " and other armour continued to be worn and used in Japan until the end of the samurai era ( Meiji period ) in the 1860s , with the last use of samurai armour happening in 1877 during the Satsuma Rebellion . Types of dou ( dō ) . The type of dou ( dō ) that originally came with a matched suit of samurai armour defined the name for that particular suit of armour , for example , a suit of armour that came with a hotoke dou ( dō ) would be called a hotoke dou ( dō ) gusoku , a suit of armour that came with a karuta tatami dou ( dō ) would be called a karuta tatami dou ( dō ) gusoku . Kozane dou ( dō ) . True " kozane dou ( dō ) " are of lamellar construction using individual scales known as " kozane " , they were old fashioned armours used before the introduction of firearms in Japanese warfare , ( pre - Sengoku styles ) Kiritsuke kozane dou ( dō ) . False kozane dou ( dō ) in the form of " kiritsuke hon iyozane " or " kiritsuke hon kozane " mimic the construction of lamellar armour but instead of being made from true individual scales " kiritsuke kozane " are actually constructed with long lames ( strips or rows ) of armour lashed together and are a form of laminar armour . Tosei dou ( dō ) . " Tosei dou ( dō ) " ( tosei meaning modern ) , were made from iron plates ( " ita - mono " ) instead of individual scales ( " kozane " ) . " Tosei - gusoku " became prominent starting in the 1500s due to the advent of fire arms , new fighting tactics and the need for additional protection . Tatami dou ( dō ) . " Tatami dou ( dō ) " ( folding or foldable ) were made from small square or rectangular armour plates ( " karuta " ) or hexagon armour plates ( " kikko " ) that were usually connected to each other by chain armour ( " kusari " ) and sewn to a cloth backing , " tatami dou ( dō ) " could also be made entirely from " kusari " . Tatami dou ( dō ) were lightweight , portable , convenient for transportation , and were manufactured inexpensively and in great numbers for the ashigaru light infantry . " Tatami dou ( dō ) " were worn by all samurai classes from the highest class to the lowest class . The higher class samurai wore elaborate " tatami dou ( dō " ) while the lower class samurai and retainers wore plain basic " tatami dou ( dō ) " . See also . Japanese armour