Praying for your son’s healthy growth and carrying your family’s hopes forward.
A gift for a special day, wishing your child a healthy and happy growth.
Heian Juissui’s samurai armor sets are one-of-a-kind works of art, each lovingly crafted by artisans who carry on tradition.
Housed within a May Boy’s Day doll is a wish passed down through generations.
It is the inheritance of culture, as well as a warm connection in which “the history of a family lives on.”
Displaying a May Boy’s Day doll is a way to “give shape to that wish.”
Children’s Day: A day to wish for the healthy growth of children
From the day a child is born, parents have just one wish:
“May you grow up healthy, strong, and happy.”
May dolls are a way of giving shape to that wish.
Armor and helmets embody the hope of protecting a child from harm and helping them grow strong.
The time spent together as a family becomes a bond that carries into the future.
Inherited craftsmanship and beauty: The armor and helmet of Ichi-sui Heian住
“Graceful” Heian Sumizu’s May Festival doll
Founded in Kyoto a century ago, Heian Sumitsu, a certified traditional craftsman, continues to create “elegant” and graceful armor and helmets, grounded in masterful technique and refined aesthetics.
Harmonizing finely worked metal forms with craft materials such as gold leaf, lacquer, braided cords, and deerskin, the curves and lustre shaped by the artisan’s fingertips exude a quiet presence.
Repairs and care are also available, so each piece can grow richer in character over the years.
These are truly one-of-a-kind works, passed down across generations.
A traditional craftsman carrying on the 100-year legacy of Heian Juissui
Fourth Generation Heianjō Issui “Imamura Tatsuhito”
He studied under his father, the third-generation Heiánjū Issui, inheriting the art of armor-making. As a Traditional Craftsman certified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, he preserves traditional techniques while also exploring new forms of expression. Through daily practice, he continues to create a world of armor that is ever more beautiful, powerful, and heartfelt.
Information on the Special 100th Anniversary Website
To mark our 100th anniversary, we have published a page featuring a message from our representative and a special work created to reflect on our century-long history.
We invite you to explore our approach to craftsmanship and the specially commissioned work.
Production process
Work Introduction
FAQ
How do you read “平安住一水”?
It is read “Heian Jūissui.”
“Heianju” indicates that one lives in Kyoto, and is an art name that has been passed down through generations.
For more details, see Are “Heianju Issui” and “Heian Issui” different?
I see the names “Heian Issui” and “Issui.” Are they different from “Heianju Issui”?
They are the same thing.
It has long been commonly referred to by the shortened names “Heian Issui” or “Issui,” which are used as informal names.
For more details, see Are “Heian Jū Issui” and “Heian Issui” different?
How long does it take to make a suit of armor?
Starting from the fabric-making stage, it takes three months for a kabuto display and about six months for an armor display.
I live in an apartment and have limited space to display things. Do you have any compact pieces?
We offer a variety of sizes and display options. We hope you’ll take a look at our collection.
I’m worried that decorating and putting everything away after the festival will be difficult.
We believe that seasonal festival traditions are an opportunity for families to enjoy decorating together and putting everything away afterward.
We hope these moments will become cherished memories, with casual conversations adding up year after year.
In the unlikely event that a child touches it and breaks it or loses a part, can it be repaired?
We also offer repair services for ICHIMIZU armor and helmets(about customer support).
Please feel free to contact us using the form below.
How should I store it?
As this may cause the metal to corrode, please dust it off when putting it away and store it in a low-humidity environment.
Storage guidelines
Contact us here
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