Tosei-Gusoku

'Tosei-gusoku was a new style of protection developed by Crab armorers in the 12th century. Vaguely resembling a suit of gaijin armor, a tosei-gusoku used large, contoured steel plates laced together and worn over a chain or ringmail coat. Plated gauntlets, iron greaves, a kabuto-like helmet, and a four-piece haidate of laced steel plates completed the suit. The shape of the plates and the clever use of hinges and laces provided better defense against ranged weapons than more common suits of armor. It remained unpopular among Crab samurai dDue to its deviance from normal traditions of armor making and the fact that it tended to be drab and utilitarian rather than lovingly decorated like most armor. Many more traditional-minded samurai considered this suit fit only for ashigaru, rōnin, and samurai of a poor lord.