Menuki with armor shoulder pad (Sode) and Naginata pattern.

Menuki Omote: Length 45.5mm, Width 13mm, height 5mm

Menuki Ura: Length 45mm, Width 13mm, height 5mm

These menuki represent the warrior spirit of the legendary bushi of ancient times.

The Sode 袖 is a piece of Japanese armor, Yoroi, protecting the shoulder and the arm. This piece, like many pieces of armor, is composed of plates (Kozane) assembled with silk or leather lacing, making it articulated and mobile.
Japanese armor existed for a very long time, on the Chinese model, examples of which can be found in ancient Kofun, burial mounds. They then evolved during the Heian period, until the end of Muromachi. In ancient Japan, the Sode was wide and allowed to block arrows, the bow was then very used.
Armor with Sode were very expensive armor, dedicated to high-ranking warriors.

The Naginata 薙刀, is a kind of scythe, with a wide and thick saber blade mounted at the end of a shaft of about 2 to 3m. It is a formidable weapon, especially used on the battlefield at mid-range and to attack riders and their horses. One of the illustrious legendary warriors using this weapon was Benkei 弁慶, in the 12th century. He was a Buddhist warrior monk, a Sohei. Who pledged allegiance to Minamoto No Yoshitsune after losing a fight against him. He then accompanied him as a bodyguard and sacrificed himself for him by receiving a rain of arrows that aimed at Yoshitsune. He is the symbol of devotion, honor and loyalty.