兜
helmet · headpiece · kabuto
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Kabuto decorations displayed on Children's Day. The helmet, believed to house a warrior's spirit, symbolizes courage and strength. Warlords' personalities show in their helmets - Date Masamune's crescent moon, Sanada Yukimura's deer antlers.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
兜首実検
かぶとくびじっけん
examining heads in helmets - verifying defeated enemies
兜を脱ぐ
To remove one's helmet - to surrender or admit defeat
Proverbs & Idioms
勝って兜の緒を締めよ
Tighten your helmet strings after victory - stay vigilant even in success
Games
ポケットモンスター
Pokémon(1996–)
Developer: Game Freak
Kabuto and Kabutops take their names from the kabuto helmet — the shell they wear is the name.
Related Figures & Stories
真田信繁（幸村）
(さなだのぶしげ)The warrior shown in the deer-antler helmet
The commander who held out against the Tokugawa to the last at Osaka, remembered in red-lacquered armour and a helmet with deer antlers. The name Yukimura, by which he is universally known, comes from Edo-period storybooks; he signed himself Nobushige.
伊達政宗
(だてまさむね)Known for the crescent-moon crest on his helmet
First lord of Sendai. The black-lacquered helmet with its tall crescent moon survives in the Sendai City Museum and has become the image of him.
Similar Kanji
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 兜 mean in Japanese?
兜 means helmet, headpiece, kabuto.
How do you read 兜?
On'yomi: ト、トウ (TO, TOU). Kun'yomi: かぶと (kabuto).
How many strokes does 兜 have?
兜 has 11 strokes.
Is 兜 a good kanji for a tattoo?
兜 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means helmet, headpiece, kabuto. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.