To Families Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival ― A Wish from Hyakunen no Kobo

As the season approaches the Boy's Festival, it is time to consider the decorations for May.
We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the families celebrating their child's first seasonal festival.

It is a Japanese custom to display armor and helmets in the hope of your child's healthy growth.
It is not merely an annual event, but an expression of the prayers of grandparents and parents who wish to protect their child.

Today, as living environments and lifestyles have changed, so too have the ways in which armor and helmets are displayed.
It seems that more and more people are choosing not to compete in opulence, but rather to select "something truly meaningful that can be cherished for a long time."

Armor and helmets were originally intended to serve as a substitute for the child.
They are a "guardian" commissioned once in a lifetime for their first seasonal festival.

Since our founding in 1925, we at Heian Juisui have continued to craft decorative armor at the foot of Higashiyama in Kyoto. Throughout our century-long journey, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to "faithfulness to the fundamentals" and "dignity."

The shape of each individual plate, the tightness of the lacing, the finish of the fittings—
We believe that it is in these inconspicuous details that the maker's attitude is revealed.
Armor and helmets that possess a dignified presence rather than being ostentatiously decorated.
We believe that is why they are cherished for so long.

"This is the one I want to choose for my child."
It is our duty to sincerely craft works that will make you feel that way.

Although it is a milestone year, rather than doing anything extraordinary, we will continue to focus on the work before us just as we always have.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help, please feel free to contact us. We hope you will find the best choice for your family.

A child's first seasonal festival is a new step for the family.
We sincerely pray that this new beginning will be peaceful and fruitful.

　　Fourth Generation Heian Juisui