How Mizu hat would look irl?

Today we'll take a closer look at it and Kasa (hat) in Blue Eye Samurai generally.

I’ll start with presenting you some of maaany types of Kasa

Sandogasa 三度笠

Associated with travellers, it’s name literally means “three-time hat” which refers to messengers who traveled three times a month between Edo and Kyoto.

It has very characteristic shape, flat at the top just like a bowl

Another interesting thing is fact we often see Mizu in this exact type of Kasa in concept art. (and it must refer to her traveling life style)

Tengai 天蓋

Worn by Zen monks to hide their identity and represent the ego denial.

We also could see those in actual show <3

Ajirogasa 網代笠

Wickerwork kasa made from baboo. It’s name refers to ajiro 網代 which is the commonly known wickerwork pattern.

I believe when typical Gaijin (foreigner) thinks about that “asian hats” Ajirogasa is the one appearing in their minds. It’s also easiest one to buy cheap. I saw them in many cosplays.

It’s worn in the show by shingi lady (sorry I don’t know how to name her)

fukamigasa 深編笠

Used by samurai or zen monks, it's specific shape helped in hiding identity.

I love how silly and unserious it looks.

I'm showing it because it also appeared on Mizu in some concept arts, but I think authors decided not to use it (even though it's a great way to hide her beautiful eyes) because this "big head" illusion they make don't fit to Mizu design making her appear less dangerous (and more cute instead in my opinion).

Now I present to you our two candidates for what Mizu kasa might actually be:

(during research to one of them it turns out I thought two types of kasa was the same one, sooo I'll show them in a little comparison)

Sugegasa 菅笠

Literally Kasa made grom sedge 菅-suge (type of grass)

It's weaved in technique that allows air to flow freely between the straws cooling our heads when it's hot, but when it's raining straws absorb water and expand filling these gaps and making Kasa waterproof. (Sooo clever omg) Not every straw have that absorbing feature.

Kubagasa クバ笠

Made of palm leaf

The material of hat depends on what grows in region it's from, and Japan lies in three climatic zones, so we can deduct that Kubagasa is definitely from warmer areas.

That was the hardest one to find how it's actually named, oh my gosh..

(btw photos for both these Kasa I took from channel or site of this amazing man, he have a lot of interesting stuff there https://youtube.com/@taketora?si=5NeEorXmUvEAnrFX )

So

Sugegasa / Kubagasa

Made from sedge straws / palm leaf

Straw ends are secured on top / palm leaf ends are tucked underneath bamboo rim at the bottom

Inside it has sedge straw woven around bamboo construction which creates some geometric trapezoids coming to the middle / inside there's some crazy thread work

Outside straws are secured with just thread / outside leaves ale secured with thread and rattan or bamboo thin wick which creates some spiral

I started to search kasa like these two because of "I kill" series placed in Edo period, but when I'm watching it now I have no idea if it's sugegasa or kubagasa or something completely other. It has this spiral cord on top but I can't see the structure of palm leaf (in kubagasa you can clearly see when palm leaves come together to stalk on the top of hat) it looks more like made from some separate wide leaves/straws

Here's some screenshots

jingasa 陣笠

Worn by samurai or ashigaru (foot soldiers). Apart from usual Kasa features it also had a protective function. That's why it was made with unusual for Kasa materials: metal (iron or copper), leather or rattan tingly wrapped with rope (technique similar to Mongolian shields). During peaceful Edo period it was worn as a symbol of status and was often decorated with family crest Kamon 家紋

Rattan wariant was the first type of Kasa that made me think "I found it"

Just take a look:

See that stairs alike structure? It really resembles that rattan wicks (right bottom photo from jingasa collage)

But ;/ two things felt off

The "most outer part of hat/its brim" is very vertical while jingasa starts very flat and rise more when closer to the middle, also on that edge we see some damage/torn which has vertical direction. I don't really think Kasa made with this technique would get damaged like that, It's more likely to torn horizontally, between rattan wicks

And that shredded tip, I was wondering about it and I think it's kind of possible, but would look more like some ripped threads while those looks more like little splintered wood parts stacked together.

What about sugagasa and kubagasa?

Maybe they don't have that much strong staircase shape, but kubagasa with straws secured by spirally attached small rattan wick resembles it in some way.

That vertically thick brim can be just wide bamboo rim, which is base for both of them, and it's very possible to have some vertical crack.

But in the shredded tip competition winner is Sugegasa, take a look at the photo with lady weaving it.

Imagine this straw ends being cut shorter and more uneven, It'd be perfect.

So kubagasa vs Sugegasa is 2:2... it doesn't make it easier

I won't be able to make perfect reconstruction of hat either way (because how hard it is to find materials for them in my country) so I decided to make some blend of Sugegasa and Kubagasa (something similar to hats in "I kill") and use what I'll be able to find.

Coming to the end, I'm really satisfied with that post and the fact it all fitted in one thanks to photo collages (Tumbrl had limit of max 10 photos per post) I promise I'll make part 2 when I'll gather materials and start process of weaving.

That was some portion of knowledge that your brain need to convert now, so please take these carbohydrates to nurture your neurons: 🥕🥒🫛🥦🥔🫜🫑