Date Masamune KABUTO
nfluenced by the glittering Momoyama culture of Kyoto and the innovative Nanban culture of the West, the first lord of the Sendai domain, Date Masamune, boasted the most refined aesthetic sense of the Sengoku period.
The KABUTO of Date Masamune, one of the most popular warlords in Japan, has been reproduced as a 925-silver ornament using the skills of a skilled craftsman. The crescent moon front plate (MAEDATE), which symbolizes the beauty of this KABUTO, is carefully cut out one by one with delicate handwork. The 62-ken sujikabuto is also faithfully reproduced in its number, and the craftsman's attention to detail is reflected in the rugged texture, the three-dimensionality of the overlapping parts, and the beauty of the silhouette.
The jet-black KABUTO, symbolized by the golden crescent moon, inspires the spirit to face difficulties and illuminates the path to follow like moonlight shining in a dark night.
Uesugi Kenshin KABUTO
This helmet, known as the Kinpaku-oshi Ori-eboshi-gata Kabuto (Gilt Folded Eboshi-shaped Helmet), is said to have belonged to Uesugi Kenshin. It was crafted by shaping leather over a mold into the form of an eboshi (a traditional Japanese headwear), hardening it with lacquer, and then applying gold leaf over the entire surface.
From the sides to the back, thin and flat leather cords covered in gold leaf—meant to resemble the tying cords of an eboshi—gracefully hang down, adding a natural and elegant accent. The decorative element resembling bold and powerful eyebrows is another impressive feature of this masterful design.
Although believed to have been worn on special formal occasions, the helmet also possesses ample practicality. It is a renowned piece that has long been recorded in historical inventories such as the Gusoku Daichō and the Former Treasures Ledger, offering valuable insight into Kenshin’s aesthetic sensibilities.
Based on the shape of the brow area, it is thought that the helmet may date back as far as the Eiroku era (1558–1570). It is considered a rare and important example from the earliest phase of uniquely shaped (variant) helmets, both historically and artistically significant.
Takeda Shingen
The Suwa Hōshō Kabuto (Helmet of the Suwa Deity), said to have belonged to Takeda Shingen, features a striking crest depicting a red demon with golden horns and is adorned with yak hair on the crown.
This helmet is attributed to Shingen based on a reference in the *Kōyō Gunkan*, a military strategy chronicle passed down in the Takeda clan. According to the text, the helmet was handed down from Shingen to his son Katsuyori, who wore it in battle after borrowing it from Suwa Taisha during the Battle of Nagashino.
Suwa Taisha, located in Shinano (modern-day Nagano Prefecture), from which the helmet takes its name, has long been revered as the shrine of Japan’s foremost war deity, Takeminakata-no-Mikoto. The Takeda clan, rulers of Kai Province, are said to have worshipped the deity for generations. Shingen was no exception—he is believed to have borrowed this sacred helmet from Suwa Taisha before each campaign.
The company was founded in August 2011 in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, one of the world's three largest jewelry processing centers, with the goal of passing down jewelry and gemstones from parent to child and grandchild through generations under the motto of "3 generations, 100 years of assets."
Founder Ken Watanabe reexamined his life after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, and came to the realization that "people don't know when their last moments will come," so he gathered a small group of trustworthy craftsmen and started a company with seven people.
The company name B.L.S. is an acronym of Bonds Linking for Success. This is Watanabe's personal belief and the foundation of the company's management.
The company philosophy is to pass on traditional techniques handed down from ancient times to the future, and to ensure that Kofu's jewelry industry continues for 100 or 200 years to come. To achieve this, we have developed our own brand, which allows craftsmen to use their skills at a reasonable wage, while protecting current craftsmen and nurturing future ones.
Yamanashi's jewelry industry was born from the crystals produced in the area centered around Mt. Kinpu. Kofu City has a long history with crystals, dating back to the Paleolithic period (more than 16,000 years ago). In terms of jewelry history, the combination of crystal polishing and metalworking from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period led to the creation of more sophisticated products with high marketability. This led to the development of the jewelry industry as a major production center.
Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture is also a city that has all the elements necessary for jewelry manufacturing, centered around jewelry artisans who procure raw materials, design, polish gemstones, and do metalwork. For this reason, it is known as one of the world's three major jewelry processing centers, along with Idar-Oberstein in Germany and Vicenza in Italy.
Awarded in the Silver Accessories category at the 2024 Japan Cultural Grand Prix