Japanese celebration wishing for the health, strength, and wisdom of boys. These ornaments—often miniature helmets, suits of armor, or warrior dolls—symbolize the parents’ hopes for their child’s resilience and success in life.
This finely crafted piece is modeled after the helmet of Masamune Date, the famed warlord who ruled Japan’s Tōhoku region from the late Azuchi-Momoyama to early Edo period. The striking design features a jet-black kabutobachi (helmet bowl), fukikaeshi (flared side guards), and shikoro (neck guard), crowned with Masamune’s signature golden crescent-shaped maedate (front crest).
Produced using traditional armor-making techniques, the shikoro is carefully assembled by piercing lacquered plates and threading them together with black silk cords—a meticulous process that reflects the dedication of skilled artisans.
The helmet can be stored neatly inside its hitsu (wooden storage box), which also doubles as a display stand, offering both elegance and practicality.
This piece is handcrafted by Tatsuhiro, a certified Sekku Ningyō Kōgeishi (traditional festival doll master craftsman), upholding Japan’s time-honored artistry and cultural heritage.
