Heian Takehisa Saku, Hammered Copper Kuroda Nagamasa, Large Buffalo Horn Side Crest Helmet, Screen by "Kitamura Shogetsudo" with Foil Pressing
Tens of thousands of May Dolls' armor and helmets are manufactured annually across Japan. Among them, the proportion of Takehisa's armor and helmets is minuscule. We, who wish to widely share the spirit of Japan and traditional craftsmanship, find this regrettable. However, mass production by machines can never express the techniques of Takehisa, passed down through generations.
For warlords of turbulent times, armor was not only a weapon but also an object of faith, wishing for the prosperity of descendants and military achievements. Accepting this sentiment, armor masters, with pride equal to that of the samurai, took on the challenge of creation. In that sense, creating masterpieces can be seen as reflecting the spirit of great generals in the present day. This, too, cannot be expressed by machines. We promise to continue creating masterpieces from Takehisa going forward, with the pride of a Kyoto armor master.
《 Heian Takehisa (Heian Bukyu) 》"Takehisa," one of the three major brands of Kyoto armor masters, alongside Issui and Awataguchi Kiyonobu. The eldest son of the first generation Heian Takehisa (Saji Hisaburo) and his wife, the first generation Chihisa (Kyoto City Traditional Craftsman Award recipient), Kazukazu Saji was born in Kyoto. After learning traditional techniques and spirit, he succeeded to the name of the second generation Heian Takehisa in 1973. His activities after succeeding the name were truly worthy of the name Heian Takehisa. In 1985, he was appointed Director of the Kyoto Doll Manufacturers Association. In 1991, he became Chairman of the Kyoto Doll Manufacturers Cooperative Association. In 2008, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, among other honors, becoming a prominent figure in the Kyoto armor world in both name and reality. Subsequently, the traditional techniques were passed down to the third generation, Master Tetsuya Saji. His craftsmanship exudes the profoundness unique to Kyoto-made items, fully embodying the luxury of authentic Kyoto armor.
―Notice Regarding Size and Weight―・Estimated shipping: Ships approximately 10-20 days after order confirmation.・Products on backorder, made-to-order items, and orders placed during periods of carrier or store closure may not be delivered on the scheduled delivery date.・Delivery may be delayed due to weather conditions or land, air, and sea transportation circumstances.・Box measurements and weights vary by product.The weight of smaller items on our website is around 1,000g, while larger helmets and armor are approximately 20,000g as an estimated shipping weight.・The dimensions listed on the website are the product sizes.