Weapons and armour Ashigaru
a plain undecorated tanegashima, type used ashigaru. ashigaru commonly armed naginata, yari, yumi , swords. ashigaru armour varied depending on period, no armour heavily armored , consist of conical hats called jingasa made of lacquered hardened leather or iron, cuirasses (dō), helmets (kabuto), armoured hoods (tatami zukin), armored sleeves (kote), greaves (suneate), , cuisses (haidate). the warfare of sengoku period (15th , 16th centuries) required large quantities of armour produced ever-growing armies of ashigaru. simple munition quality cuirasses , helmets mass-produced including tatami armour folded or collapsible.tatami armour made small rectangular or hexagonal iron plates connected each other chainmail , sewn cloth backing. in 16th century ashigaru armed matchlocks of type known tanegashima. small banners called sashimono worn on backs during battle identification.