Samurai is an elite class military officer in preindustrial time in Japan. Samurai work for an employer or landlord called a daimyo, whereas an unemployed samurai is called ronin. Samurai have a set of rules or codes of ethics called bushido.

The samurai wore a kind of lamellar armor called dō-maru or "body cover". This armor is made of many small metal scales tied with ropes into large slabs and varnished. Then each plate is tied up to form a complete armor. Because iron is heavy enough to wear, eventually the use of iron in armor is limited only to protect the important parts of the body, while the rest using the skin. After contact with the Europeans, the Samurai began to use the armor plates, which gave them more protection. Samurai are also usually wearing flat, flat helmet helmets called Kabuto.