Campaign vest (jinbaori)

Campaign vests ( jinbaori) were worn by high-ranking samurai over their armor. The large armholes and center slit in the back allowed the wearer maximum movement. The bright colors, bold design, and precious materials were intended to make a striking impression in the battlefield or in ceremonies.

This unlined vest is for use in summer. The weft is of arrowroot (kuzu) fiber, while linen (asa) is used for the warp. The standing collar of silk, which is decorated with a checkered pattern of black and white, has a green lining. The same material is used for the epaulets. The front lapels are turned straight out.

The most striking feature of this vest is its painted decoration. The major portion of the body is brush-painted with a profusion of summer and autumn flowers in black, green, yellow, pink, and purple. In the center of the back is a painted crest of two oak leaves in a circle, which may have been the mark of the Kano family in Ichinomiya in Kozuke province (now Gunma prefecture).