A rabbit wearing only the breastplate of the bougu, wielding a shinai. The men, or kendo mask for tagging purposes, is on the ground.
kendo mask
A mask worn for the traditional Japanese sword-fighting sport kendo. Similarly to fencing, the full-head, cage-like mask protects the head of the fighter.
See also:
- Shinai: A lightweight bamboo for sparring. This is different from a bokken which is made of solid wood, not bamboo slats, and tends to be more katana-like in shape. The easiest way to tell the difference is the distinctive wider, cylindrical shape of the shinai, and the white cap on the end of the shinai, which the bokken lacks.
- Bougu (防具): Armor for kendo which consists of four pieces:
- Men (面): The kendo mask and shoulder protectors.
- Kote (小手): Thick gauntlets with attached mitts to protect the arms and fingers.
- Dō (胴): A rounded breastplate and stomach protector tied in the back with straps.
- Tare (垂れ): Faulds to protect the groin and legs.
- Gi: Training shirt worn under the bougu.
- Hakama: Skirt-like training pants worn under the bougu.