#bracer

What is the point of an archer’s armguard? And do we really need them?

to start off, i just wanna say that i love your blog and it has been a wonderful archive and resource for kimono and japanese fashion history!

on that note, i was wondering if you happen to know about these tight sleeves worn by the main characters on jidaigeki? (circled in red)

someone on reddit suggested that it could be a strip of sarashi wrapped around the arm, while this ask here said it could be a juban with its long sleeves bounded tightly (they did provide a link which is now unfortunately no longer available).

i was just wondering which is correct, and if these sleeves are historically accurate?

thank you! ☺️

Hi! Thank you for your kind words <3

Well technically one could use fabric strips to wrap arms (and legs), but it's dubious this would have been done unless you were a rag-wearer of some kind. This is inconceivable in a formal setting (first pic), and for well-off samurai (second pic).

To my knowledge, juban would not have been used like this either. Wrapping them would have looked wonky and felt uncomfortable considering juban tailoring.

Arm wrappers are in fact a whole category of "traditional" clothing, and generally called 手甲 tekkou, which designates any mittens-like arm bracers, tied with strings and/or kohaze clasps.

Variations existed:

in length, for example 半手甲 wrist to elbow / 長手甲 wrist to upper arm often tied together on the bust

with or without part covering backs of hands, coming in different shapes and styles, attached or not with a loop around middle finger (山付き手甲, 手甲付き手筒).

Similar attire existed for legs, in form of gaiters/leg warmers called 脚絆 kyahan.

(find more, including another "sexy" kyahan pic, and how to put them on here)

As a side note, vocab around mitten-like clothing can be confusing:

手甲 Tekkou, is the generic term for anything covering the arms and hands, including gauntlet/armored ones (which I know under the term 籠手 kote)

But you can also find the word 腕貫 udenuki = arm tube, which can made from several materials like rattan/bamboo (worn under sleeves to keep fresh during summer, or above them to protect sleeves when writing with a brush), or made from fabric (and used for warmth, to keep dirt away, etc. Also called 腕袋 udebukuro)

Nowadays, both tekkou and kyahan are still super common sight during matsuri, as they are part of the attire of mikoshi bearers and taiko drumers (see this shop here and here):

🍄‍🟫My Forest Spirit Bracer crochet pattern is finally ready.

🏹Published in my Etsy, RoseOfMayGreece (Link: ), and Ravelry, Afroditi Gaitanidi Designs.

Publisher Akupara Games and developer Curious Fate have announced 3D dark fantasy shoot ’em up game Bracer. It will be available for PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.

“The idea for Bracer came about while thinking about games that would be fun to create and play at every stage of development, from prototyping to playtesting to shipping,” said developer Jason Shields in a press release. “Something about the fast-paced SHMUP genre felt perfect. The classics tend to be focused around spaceships, but I wanted to see what bringing a Fantasy twist would look like. Adding a bit of depth with a story, shops, skill trees, a free-roam area, and Bracer was born.”

Here is an overview of the game, via Akupara Games:

About

Bracer is a 3D fantasy shoot ’em up where players will face off against a twisted necromancer fueled by a cursed bracer and a bloodlust for destruction. Players won’t have to face this challenge alone, as Bracer supports couch coop allowing you and your mighty comrade to mix and match your skills, abilities, weapons, and classes, all while traveling across swamps, forests, gothic cities and astral planes. Akin to old-school shoot ’em up mechanics, players will make their way through an endless barrage of encounters, blasting enemies, dodging projectiles, and unlocking upgrades. Whether that be in a full-fledged story campaign or through the relentless “Endless Dungeon” mode, Bracer aims to raise the stakes and put the world’s safety in their hands. Do you have what it takes to halt the apocalypse or will you falter at its wretched feet? A necrotic curse spreads across the land. At its heart, a malevolent bracer, worn by a once-familiar figure. The sickness has spread. The sacred tree of life has been twisted into the dreaded tree of death, spawning armies of undead from its wretched underground tendrils. To face this threat are three heroes—an intrepid Knight, a mysterious Wizard, and a relentless Bounty Hunter, each with their own motivations for pursuing our villain and ending his corruption. Safety is an illusion: Waves of enemies, hazards, and projectiles advance without pause, turning every encounter into a dance of blasting, dodging, looting, and slashing. Battle through the monstrous hoards in a dark, gothic and deadly world. Forward motion is your greatest enemy, and… your only path to victory.

Key Features

Fantasy Shoot ‘Em Up Reborn – Fast-paced, classic shoot ’em up gameplay with endless twists. Dodge necrotic forces, weave through enemy fire, and fight through a dark, gothic world.

RPG Progression and Customization – Collect gold, unlock powerful skills on an in-depth skill tree, and purchase vital weapon upgrades to customize your play. Bring one of 11 unique player pets into battle and personalize your look with character, pet, and weapon cosmetics.

Couch Cooperative Carnage – Don’t face the darkness alone! Gather your fellowship for classic local couch cooperative and turn the tide of battle side-by-side with a friend!

Story and Endless Modes – Hunt down the Necromancer in the full story mode, or push your limits in Endless Dungeon Mode. Both paths feature unique rewards and progression flows.

True Realm Mastery – Progress through multiple difficulty settings that fundamentally change the game, adding extra hazards and denser enemy hordes. Prove your skills by defeating challenging bosses, completing level objectives, and best your ranks and high scores in all modes.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.

Announce Trailer

"Y-You're not scared?"

"Not really, no! Afterall- the worst thing that can really happen with a delivery is getting lost, right?"

Fleshing out more of Clicker's backstory and establishing timeline and such... whatever whatever !!! Was working on this before the remake came out and realized I never put it anywhere! Some sketchbook Clicker lore for you... she was in charge of delivering something important to the Weapon's Factory before she. Erm. Was interrupted to put it nicely! Crest found her in the aftermath and so on and so forth.