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Our next exhibit is a suit of traditional Samurai armour from the 18th century.
The officer caste of Japanese society, the Samurai, held up order in the Island nation for centuries until their abolition in 1876.
The Japanese armour was in use from as early as the 7th century, donning a unique aesthetic that has become entwined with Japanese heritage.
The Samurai would utilise a Katana, which you can see on your right – a curved, single-bladed sword – in combination with a smaller wakizashi or tanto blade.
This set were referred to as a daisho, meaning “big and small”.