Update: Japan Trend Shop now carries these for order.

With weather changes between distinct seasons and sometimes chilly indoors, pet clothing makes for both utility and clothing in Japan, as seen with these cute kitty scarves. But with samurai armor slowly finding itself as a stylish aesthetic to accessories and handbags, it was only a matter of time before pets started guarding themselves in the armor of early Japanese warriors. Samurai Age, a company that specializes in handmade samurai helmet and armor bottle covers, has released a lineup of samurai armor for pets to show off their warrior spirit!

While Samurai Age has smaller samurai armor ready to use for cats, smaller dogs, and even children, this dashing Shiba Inu wearing the classic lamellar armor of the samurai is an example of a custom made order. Each set of armor is carefully handmade to offer as authentic looking as possible lightweight decorative armor for your pets. Unlike the traditional ō-yoroi and kabuto, or traditional armor helmets of samurai in feudal Japan, straps and custom-fitting allow them to not be cumbersome on pets and not restrict movement. It appears that Samurai Age even offers styles of armor for individual famous samurai throughout Japanese history, with this Shiba Inu's shining red scales modeled after the armor of Sanada Yukimura.

Of course, cats also have a certain feudal warrior charm to them as well.

Depending on the size of the dog, you might not even need armor. A kabuto helmet may suffice!

As for the custom order Shiba Inu samurai armor, as you can see on the original Twitter and blog images, they seem to link back to Chinese shopping website taobao, where perhaps a bulk order was made for re-sale. If you want that particular set, you could try and navigate and order from there. Otherwise, a contact form can be used to perhaps discuss a custom order at Samurai Age, while pre-existing small samurai armor sets for pets are available for order as well. Be sure to click on each picture to see some awesome samurai cats! The site has Fiji translate for purchasing linked. Depending on size and make, they range from 14,040 yen ($125 USD) to 16,416 yen ($146).

Gold, silver, and black variations are available as well.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.