Salvete Omnes,
Japanese saddle or kura was divided into three types- samurai saddle (Yamato gura) - gunjingura (war saddle), saikangura (riding saddle) and finally a kura for packhorse- ni-gura or konida-gura.
First the kura (saddle ) has saddle tree or the kurabane- wooden tree made from red oak, made from pommel (maewa), cantle (shizuwa), two bars (igi) connecting maewa with shizuwa.
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on top of the saddle tree went kura tsubo (a thin leather saddle seat or basen) with slots for the stirrup straps (Chikara-gawa/gekiso)
Saddle flaps - Aori - went under the Kurebane saddle tree protecting the horse's sides
Shita-kura or hadazuke - double leather pads under the saddle-tree
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| a cinch went through this part |
Abumi - stirrups and stirrup straps/'fenders'
saddle tie-downs (4) or Shiode -
Kiritsuke - saddle blanket
Shirigai - crupper leathers/straps
Shirigai was covered with a padded cover or Bakin.
Mungai - breast strap
Cinch strap or Harubi -
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the bridle and its parts I will do another time .
ps
a pack saddle
valete
