Original Item: Only One Available. A KASA (笠) is any one of several sorts of traditional Japanese hats. Some types are amigasa, jingasa, sandogasa, sugegasa, and takuhatsugasa. Note that rendaku ("sequential voicing") causes kasa to change to gasa when it is preceded by another word specifying the type of hat: thus, JINGASA ("camp hat"; helmet). These were issued to the lowliest soldiers of the Japanese War Lords (The Samurai). They were used by simple Infantry who acted as Musketeers using the then prevalent Matchlock ignition system.
This example dates from during the Edo period (江戸時代, Edo jidai) or Tokugawa period (徳川時代, Tokugawa jidai) of Japanese history. This is the period between 1603 and 1867, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional daimyo. By the end of the Edo period, known as the Bakumatsu Period of 1853-1868, the use of the Jingasa became more widespread to include being used by clan armies. It was used frequently by the Aizu Rifle corps during the Boshin War of 1868-1869.
Examination of this helmet leads us to believe it was probably made in the late 18th - early 19th century, towards the end of the Edo Period. In the effort to bring Japan into the modern World of the Victorian age there was dreadful push back from the SAMURAI Class of Feudal system Warriors. There was a great rebellion in 1868-1869 known as the Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, "War of the Year of the Yang Earth Dragon") in which the Samurai class was finally eliminated.
This is an original Japanese Foot Soldier's Lacquer based head covering or helmet. These in fact provided exceptional protection from attack with a blade from a horseman. Known as a Jingasa, the styles varied according to family or clan.
These were used with a minimal padded cushion liner, with a squarish pad on the crown, and padded loops to go on either side of the head. These would then be connected by straps or ribbons. This example still has the complete liner, with a square pad on the top filled with soft padding, and side straps made of thick rope inside fabric. They show real staining and period wear through from period use, giving the helmet a lovely look. This is definitely not a helmet that was restored recently or one of the many modern made helmets flooding the market. There are even Japanese Kanji Markings on the inside of the shell, which could be a good translation project.
The jingasa has black lacquer on the exterior with a simple red MON family crest on the front, which we have not been able to identify. There is definitely chipping, flaking, and other degradation to the lacquer, giving it a lovely aged patina. The helmet shell looks to be made possibly of pressed leather, or maybe pressed wood veneers, and is not a type we have seen before. It is lightweight and thin, but still quite stiff. It does look to have deformed slightly over the years.
The helmet measures 11" across side to side, and 13 1/2" front to back, with a height of about 5".
A very interesting Original Japanese Foot Soldier's JINGASA Helmet of circa 1800. Ready to display!
