Welcome to Toraba, specialists in fine antique Japanese armour and related regalia.

We were the first homepage on the web that was dedicated strictly to offering these fascinating historical works of art. As the Internet has grown, so have we, keeping pace with the changes and complexities that this ever expanding medium offers our on-line clientele. Presently in on our third evolution in homepages, Toraba has metamorphose once again into the most innovative, user friendly and comprehensive homepage on the Internet catering to discerning collectors of quality items of samurai art.

Our new site now features an even greater number of large, highly detailed images per item, far surpassing anything we have offered to date. The site is full automated and extremely easy to navigate. Dealers rates and preferred clientele viewings will be offered on all new stock, with automated newsletter updates and emailing when items you tell us you are looking for come our way.

Like every month here on Toraba we have numerous additional listings for June, a number of which have already been posted to the site, while a number of other items are still pending.

June will have the see the last of the five jyuyo bunka shiro NKBKHK graded armour items we have offered for sale in the last two months coming up for sale, which included two very fine gusoku and an extremely rare kabuto by Norikuni which is one of only two such known authentic examples in the world of a true double shikoro helmet of the Muromachi period as was worn by samurai of the Iyesugi clan. 

Amongst some of the four or five full armour sets we plan to list this month is an outstanding gusoku which features its original matching kamon crest maedate, jinbaori, gunsen warfan, sashimono war flag, camp awning panels and other items or equipment and regalia, all of which are in a superb state of original preserve. Finding a full matched armour set alone in such excellent state is increasingly difficult these days, but to find an armour with a large number of it's original related articles is extremely rare. This superb gusoku is sure to impress all once we get all of the images of it up on the site in the next few days.

We will be listing the Iwai armour I mentioned in previous news articles updates in June as well. This very unique armour has just been featured in three page spread in the renowned Aito magazine as I had promised. This set is one of only a handful of very scarce authentic Iwai school full gusoku armour set with signatures that are known to exist. The armour will shortly be returned to me and will then be rushed into the photo studio and made ready for sale.  

The jyuyo token tachi, tanto and naginata items I mentioned previously are now scheduled to be released from the Tokyo National Museum by the owner, with the exception of the naginata which is being held over for a scheduled display later this years when it will be withdrawn and sold. The tachi is signed "Tomonari Saku", making it a famous piece from the 1300's. The Tanto is by Norishige, and the Naginata signed "Bizen Osafune ju Motoshige". Images of these items are now available upon request.

There will of course be a number of new sonohoka items, menpo, a number of new kabuto to be listed as well.   

The jewel in the crown for our June offerings is one of the finest authentic kawari kabuto of the Momoyama period to have surfaced in a number of years. Accredited with having seen service during the Hideyoshi campaigns in Korea this rare helmet is a quintessential example of the kind of unique yet battle worthy helmet used by the samurai during those violent campaigns. This outstanding helmet will surely appeal to the most discerning collectors.

We are also proud to offer an additional and equally unique authentic kawari kabuto as well this month, which is also on of the finest and more unique authentic period kawari kabuto helmets to have been offered on the open market in a number of years. I am confident that this stunning helmet will in time earn itself a place amongst some of the other famous and widely recognized original Edo period kawari kabuto.

The new homepage though still under construction has developed well and should be almost completely operational in all areas soon. The forum is now up and running and we invite all armour enthusiasts to participate.

That said there is still a lot to do and a lot of stock that needs to be listed! So check back soon and or register to receive a mailing update, as new times are going to be listed almost regularly! Our goal is to have Toraba completely operational as soon as possible, but due to time restrains much of this additional fine tuning and adjustments will continue to occur over the coming months. We ask for your continued patience in waiting for the various other categories and sections of the new homepage to be made fully operational. We look forward to serving all of our many valued customers. Thank you.