Admission ticket for the special exhibition "Ultimate National Treasure: O-Yoroi Exhibition - The beautiful world of armor that brings together the best of Japanese craftsmanship" (Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Exhibition)

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The Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall will be holding a special exhibition entitled "The Ultimate National Treasure: O-Yoroi Exhibition - The Beautiful World of Armor Representing the Finest Japanese Craftsmanship" from July 5th (Sat) to September 7th (Sun), 2025.

Japanese armor comes in a variety of styles, including o-yoroi, domaru, haramaki, and tosei-gusoku, but these are a collection of craft works spanning multiple fields such as metalwork, lacquerwork, and dyeing and weaving, and can be said to be a comprehensive art that represents the high level of Japanese craftsmanship and aesthetic sense. In particular, o-yoroi made from the late Heian period to the Nanboku-cho period are the most prestigious, and are also known as "shikisho armor" because they were used by high-ranking military commanders. Kasuga Taisha Shrine houses the National Treasure Akaito-Ido O-yoroi (Plum Bush Warbler Decoration) and National Treasure Akaito-Ido O-yoroi (Bamboo Tiger Sparrow Decoration), which are known as representative armor of Japan, and these two pieces of o-yoroi are decorated with gorgeous and luxurious decorative metal fittings that represent the pinnacle of metalwork technology.

This exhibition focuses on o-yoroi decorated with decorative metal fittings, which are considered the most prestigious of the o-yoroi. The only surviving o-yoroi decorated with decorative metal fittings from before the Nanboku-cho period are the Important Cultural Property Akaito-Ido Armor of Tsurumine Shrine in Kagoshima City, which is the only example from the Heian period, the two Akaito-Ido Armor of Kasuga Taisha Shrine made in the Kamakura period, and the National Treasure Akaito-Ido Armor (Kikuichimonji Armor and Helmet) of Kushibiki Hachiman Shrine in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, and these four will be on display in this exhibition.

The main attraction is the first-ever side-by-side display of the Akaito-Ido Armor (Kikuichimonji Armor) from Kushibiki Hachimangu Shrine and the Akaito-Ido Armor (Taketora-Sparrow Decoration) from Kasuga Taisha Shrine, two of the most famous armors in Japan. It is also extremely rare to see half of the armor and armor designated as national treasures gathered in one place, and this will probably be the last exhibition to feature this many armors.

This summer, come and enjoy the ultimate collection of famous armor at the Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall.