Akira Kurosawa's RAN
The armory, Marutake is Japan’s, and the world’s, premier producer of fine Samurai Yoroi Armor. Located in Satsuma-Sendai city of J
apan’s southwestern Kagoshima prefecture, their reputation for creating products of unparalleled quality has given them over a 90% share of the Japanese armor market. From television dramas, such as “Yoshitsune,” to feature films, including Akira Kurosawa’s classics, “Kagemusha,” and “Ran,” Marutake has shared the spirit of the Samurai with the world. Having produced thousands of suits of armor, their clientele extends from the entertainment industry to temples, museums, and even the Queen of England.Productions using Our products
Akira Kurosawa Films
RAN (June, 1985)
KAGEMUSHA (April, 1980)
Other Films
1992 Oda Nobunaga
1995 Heike Monogatari
TV - NHK Taiga Dramas
1979 Kusa Moyuru - Minamoto Yoritomo
1987 Dokuganryu Masamune
1988 Takeda Shingen
1991 Taiheiki - Ashikaga Takauji
1992 Nobunaga - King of Zipangu
1993 Hono-Tatsu - Fujiwara family
1995 Tokugawa Yoshimune
1996 Hideyoshi
1997 Mouri Motonari
1999 Genryoku Ryoran - Oishi Kuranosuke
2000 AOI Tokugawa 3 generations
2002 Maeda Toshiie
2005 Minamoto Yoshitsune
2006 Koumyo Ga Tsuji
2007 Furin Kazan
2008 Atsuhime
2009 Tenchijin - Naoe Kanetsugu
Overseas Movie
2004 JAPAN Memoirs of a Secret Empire
2009 Old Dogs
2010 Inception
A Closer Look at the Quality
Samurai Store knows that true Samurai fans could never be satisfied with the inferior, mass-produced armor that comes out of many parts of the world. That is why we only offer authentic, life-size, wearable Samurai Armors and helmets that are 100% handcrafted in Japan by skilled craftsmen. Each suit of armor is researched and modeled after examples found in museums, private collections, temples, shrines, hidden storehouses of Samurai clans and other historical sources. All pieces are painstakingly handcrafted by experienced artisans, using authentic methods and materials. For instance, one of our helmets can consist of up to 42 hand-spliced iron plates, as opposed to the cheap machine-pressed bowls you may find elsewhere. Even a small header board, splint, or helmet lining will be completed by a skilled, veteran artisan. In fact, a single suit of armor may require the specialized skills of over 20 craftsmen. Furthermore, all of our body armors and helmets are made solely of iron or genuine leather. We use no plastic, whatsoever. The results of this commitment to quality are finely finished, superbly detailed suits of Samurai Armor that look just as incredible on as they do on display.
The Armory Worksite
Samurai Store was given an all access pass to the worksite of our armory, Marutake. Entering their factory in Satsuma-Sendai city, Kagoshima, Japan, we took this opportunity to chronicle the birth of one of our quality armors. We hope you enjoy this small glimpse into the process behind each of our products. Note how all of the iron pieces for both the body armor and helmets are being fashioned by hand. Our parts are never machine-pressed, as with other manufacturers. Also note the absence of any blueprints or patterns. Our skilled artisans store the precise designs, details and measurements in their heads and in the muscle memory of their hands, as it takes 5-10 years to become an accomplished craftsman in this team.
We greatly appreciate the hospitality extended to us by Marutake Armory’s factory director and would like to thank him for the privilege of exhibiting these pictures here. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and were overwhelmed by both the skill of the craftsmen’s hands, and by the passion in their eyes. It is truly an honor to share with the world these suits of armor, carefully crafted through the dedication and inspiration of the artisans’ souls.
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