Dou (body armour) and kusazuri (skirts)

As will be seen, this piece comprises not only the back and breast plaes but also the laminated skirt piece called kusazuri. There are many kinds of dou. The renjaku-do is attached with renjaku (suspenders) inside it. The tatami-do (folding armour) has an opening on the right side. All kinds of dou which open in front must be worn with right hikiwase (edge of the opening) over the left. Sewari-gusoku (which has an opening at the back) must be worn with the left over the right, This style of dou was only worn by rank and file. THe wakidate will be put on before the dou. This protects the wearer at the point where the opening of the dou occurs, so that it is different from the piece which at present. Seita no yoroi is another piece to be put behind the opening of the dou, sometimes it is called haramaki. Hato no ita and sendan ita are plates on the left and right sides respectively of the upper breast plate. Fittings of this sort are not put on common suits of armour.

The okegawa-do is put on in six stages, as follows:
1. Sit in the position illustrated.
2. Take the dou towards you and open the hiki-awase (the part where the dou is made to open at the side).
3. Take the hikiawase in your right hand and put the dou upon your knee.
4. Put your left hand and arm into the dou and pull it until it entirely covers your body.
5. Fold the front part of the hikiawase on to the back part, and then tie the cords attached to the upper part firmly in the knot called hanamusubi (flower shaped knot).
6. Fasten the cords which are generally called kurisage-no-o, beginning on the left side of your waist, pulling one towards the back and the other towards the front, passing the back cord through the ring whcih is attached to the right side of the body, and tying the ends in front. These cords will be best made of twisted cotton cloth, cutting it into halves from ordinary width. Silk cords are made, but are not good for actual use.