M-Tac has released a new morale patch with the image of a samurai mask – a well-known symbol of Japanese military culture. Since the end of the 8th century samurai, who were warrior-aristocrats, wore masks not only for protection, but also to express their status. Such masks were called „mengu” and had about 5 varieties, depending on the part of the face that was covered. The samurai battle mask, which covered the entire face, was called „somen” and was made individually for the fighter. The face of a warrior was depicted on it, often in great detail – with protruding teeth and thick eyebrows, and in some cases a removable nose and even beaks were made. Therefore, the mask performed several important functions. First of all, it protected the samurai’s face and head from injuries in battle, and also instilled fear in the enemy, who, frightened, became more vulnerable. The patch is made in patriotic yellow and blue colors and expresses the samurai philosophy, which required a high level of self-control and the ability to be morally strong, even in the most difficult situations. There was another important function of the mask – to hide the samurai’s emotions. This phenomenon is connected with the Japanese philosophy of martial arts. Hiding ones’ real emotions made it possible to deceive the enemy, and also limited any information given away to the enemy. Young samurai in particular wore masks with the image of old faces so as not to look like easy prey. Experienced warriors, on the contrary, wore the masks of young boys and girls so that the enemy thought that the samurai was still very young and weak. The patch is made of Cordura 500D – an extremely durable material that is resistant to abrasion and high loads. The pattern is applied with colored machine embroidery, which makes the patch more refined. Attaches to clothing, bags, backpacks or gear with Velcro. Dimensions: 9.5 x 7,5 cm Material: Cordura 500D Features: velcro for fastening