Standing near one of the mounted warriors, for example, we take in gold-trimmed expanses of small lacquered squares that cover the horse's flank, the grain of a decorated leather saddle pad, the sheen of a black metal mask, the ribbing of the helmet, the softness of the underarmor shirt, and the vibrant orange-and-gold striation of the samurai's cuirass and skirt.

WSJ: Dressed to Kill in Peacetime | Samurai! | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | By Lee Lawrence