This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(August 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Men-yoroi (面鎧), also calledmenpō (面頬) ormengu (面具),^[1][2][3] are various types offacial armour that were worn by thesamurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan. These include thesōmen,menpō,hanbō orhanpō, andhappuri.

Themen-yoroi, which covered all or part of the face, provided a way to secure the top-heavykabuto (helmet). TheShinobi-no-o (chin cord) of the kabuto would be tied under the chin.^[4] Small hooks calledori-kugi or posts calledodome located on various places would help secure the chin cord. Themen-yoroi was constructed from iron, leather, or a combination of both. It had alacquered or rusted type of finish and included a variety of facial details, such as amoustache, fierce teeth and a detachable nose.^[5][6] With the exception of the happuri, amen-yoroi had a small hole underneath the chin for sweat drainage.

Face armour in Japan begins with thehappuri, which is depicted in Heian- and Kamakura-erayamato-e paintings^[1] and is thought to have appeared during the 10th or 11th centuries.^[7] It is depicted as being worn with or without a helmet by both mounted warriors and foot retainers. By the 14th century, the hōate appears, and according to Tom Conlan,^[8] this development is behind decreased facial wound statistics. However, others, such as Yamagishi Sumio, believe that the hōate was not widespread at that time,^[9] as it—and the later menpō—restricted the vision of the wearer.^[7] Hōate are also portrayed in art and literature of the period, most notably the Aki no yo no Nagamonogatari scroll^[10] and Taiheiki. The menpō (half-mask with detachable nosepiece) and the sōmen (full face mask) are believed to have been introduced around the mid to late 15th century, and the hanbō (chin guard) in the second half of the 16th century.^[7]

Sōmen covered the entire face.

Menpō covered the face from the nose down to the chin.

Hanbō covered the lower face from under the nose to the chin.

Happuri covered the forehead and cheeks.

• 
  Odome, an attachment post for securing the chin strap of a kabuto (helmet)
• 
  Ori-kugi, an attachment hook for securing the chin strap of a kabuto (helmet)
• 
  Ase nagashi no ana, a drain hole (or tube) for perspiration located under the chin of various mengu
• 
  Yodare-kake, throat guard on various mengu

• Japanese armour
• ō-yoroi

1.^ Seehttp://digital.princeton.edu/heijiscroll/ orHeiji monogatari.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMengu (facial armour).

• Samurai Arms and Armor
• Anthony Bryant's online Japanese armour manual

• Medieval helmets
• Samurai armour
• Masks in Asia
• Military masks

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles lacking in-text citations from August 2019
• All articles lacking in-text citations
• Articles containing Japanese-language text
• Commons category link is on Wikidata