Sode

Sode is a term with multiple uses in Japanese language and historical contexts. In everyday language, sode (袖) refers to a sleeve—the arm-covering portion of a garment such as a kimono or shirt. The design, length, and style of sode vary by garment type, season, and fashion tradition.

In the realm of traditional Japanese armor, sode denotes the shoulder guards worn as part of samurai armor. These are typically large, rectangular or curved plates attached to the cuirass and connected to other components such as the kote (arm guards). Sode are designed to shield the shoulders and upper arms while allowing movement, and they appeared in various shapes and construction styles across different historical periods, including the Sengoku and Edo eras.

As a proper noun, sode can occur as a surname or as part of place names in some contexts. In Japanese usage, it may be romanized as Sode, though such instances are relatively uncommon and generally distinct from the sleeve or armor senses.

Etymology-wise, the sleeve meaning directly derives from the everyday Japanese word for sleeve, while the armor sense—though conceptually related as an arm-covering protection—developed as a specialized term within the nomenclature of Japanese armor.