Men (面)

*Men* is the helmet worn during Kendo, *Naginata*, *Jūkendō*, and *Tankendo* to protect the face, neck, throat, and shoulders of a *kendōka*. Only the top portion of the *menbuton* and the *tsukidare* are used as target areas.

## Construction

Each *Men* is constructed out of the following:

* *Mengane* (面金), which is a metal grill designed to protect the face. *Mengane* may be made of either duralumin, titanium, or a hybrid of both (such as IBB). Often, the top two bars of the hybrids are made of titanium, which offers resilience against strikes, while the rest of it is made of duralumin, which offers lightness (and thus better balance).
* *Menbuton,* which is the long rectangular cloth pad that covers the head and the shoulders. The wings of this protective pad cover the shoulders and are known as *mendare. Mendare* lengths vary slightly and can be customized for specific styles of kendo such as *jodan* and *nito.*
* *Tsukidare*, which is the rigid pad attached to the bottom of the *mengane* protecting the throat.
* *Uchiwa*, or the cloth padding that cushions the edge of the face. The part that contacts the forehead is known as the *ten,* while the portion that contacts the chin is known as the *chi.*
* *Yōjindare*, which is the softer pad right behind the *tsukidare.*

   *Men* are fastened on the head with leather *mengawa* and two *himo.*  *Himo* are usually 7 *shaku* long, but can also range to 8 or even 9 *shaku* for those who tie in the Kansai style or those with big heads. When tied, length of the *himo* should not be too short and not exceed 40 centimeters. Thus, individual length adjustments may be necessary.

## Wear

The *men* is worn by placing the men over the *tenugui* and then wrapping the *himo* around the *men* and tying them together in the back. There are two styles of tying the men: Kanto and Kansai.

*Kanto* Style: This is the most common style of tying men. It is simpler than the *Kansai* style, making it it easier to tie quickly (and important factor in *keiko*). It requires two *mengawa* be attached to the 4th *mengane* from the bottom, each fastening one of the 7 *shaku himo.*

*Kansai* Style: This is the less common style. It is more complicated, requiring longer himo to wrap around the head. It is impractical to pre-tie the *men,* as is possible with the Kanto style, which means it requires more time to tie. It requires a special long *mengawa* that loops through the top, and 8 shaku himo to attach to it.

## Fitting

When *bōgu* is being ordered or purchased, measurements must be taken in order to ensure correct fit.

1. Hachimaki (around the forehead)
2. Chin-crown circumference
3. *Monomi* height (needed only for customized *bōgu*)

## Care and Cleaning

   One important part of caring for *men* is drying it after *keiko.* This prevents the growth of bacteria and foul odors they cause.

It is possible to wash the *men*. However, one must be careful not to ruin the rawhide leather under the lacquer of the *menbuchi*. This kind of water damage can ruin a men.

The *tsukidare*, which protects the throat, is of vital for safe practice. As such, it is important to avoid storing or carrying the *men* in ways that put weight or undue stress on the *tsukidare.* A loose tsukidare offers significantly less protection and is very dangerous.

## See Also

* *Bōgu*
* *Dō*
* *Kote*
* *Tare*