Do

The Do has always been the main part of the armor,  it is the main body protector and the center of the armor.   The Do has evolved form a a simple piece of  leather, to a full steel plate.  Lets look at the types:

 

Scale

    Most types of Japanese armor use scales in at least part of the construction of the armor.  Most notably the O-Yoroi and the Do-Maru,  The size of the scales and the number of holes varied from style to style.  The earlist plates where around 1 x 2 1/2 inches compared to the later period scales that where closer to 1/3 x 2 1/2 inches. For the most part the scales have around 13 holes in them to allow a wide range of lacing patterns. See below for a few different styles of plates.

 

 

Plate

Some later styles of armor also included a solid plate or full breast plate style for the armor.   These armors where much cheaper to make due to the lack of labor that was needed to produce them.  Other styles combined the rivets and lacing to make a hybrid Japanese European armor.  Other styles where made to look like a thin monk or hungry ghost.   Below are some examples of these styles. 

 

Mixed styles

There was also a mid style the incorporated a style that used metal strips about 3-4 inches wide that where laced together.  Here are some examples of this style.

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