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.

Dating to the 1850s and almost the end of Old Samurai Japan as we know it. 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 Archer'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.

Our example bears a family MON or crest, in triplicate, in gold to the front which identified with ease the wearer's affiliation. Originally used with a minimal hemp padded cushion liner secured by ribbons this is now absent. Black finish on the exterior with the three matte gold Mon, the interior is finished in bright red lacquer.

There is slight damage to the lacquer on the left exterior of the skull which is very minor. A very interesting Original Japanese Foot Soldier's JINGASA helmet, which we are told from its shape was used by an Archer circa 1850.

Ready to display!