Photo/Illutration Customers dressed as feudal warlords in Iga, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 15 could use a smartphone app to create a background of their choice in their photos. (Tadashi Mizowaki)

IGA, Mie Prefecture--A photo studio shop here is renting out “kacchu” suits of armor to tourists who want to dress up as feudal warlords.

The costumed visitors can have their pictures taken at the studio, called Notorious, and stroll around the area, including the grounds of nearby Iga-Ueno Castle.

The shop offers complete sets of armor, including “kabuto” helmets, “dou” chest protectors and “hitatare” jackets and trousers worn under the armor.

The suits of armor come in gold, red and other colors. “Gunbai” war fans and spears are also available.

One armor set is modeled after the gear supposedly worn by famous warlord Maeda Toshiie.

The shop is operated by a group of the same name consisting of more than 40 filmmakers and actors around Japan who are passionate about samurai.

Hiroshi Nakamura, a 42-year-old filmmaker who heads Notorious, relocated to Iga from Nagoya three years ago.

While walking around the city dressed as a warlord as part of his volunteer activities, he pondered what he could do for the community that he had grown so fond of.

He thought that he and other Notorious members could reinvigorate the area through photography and video.

“The capital of Mie Prefecture might have been Iga if the Tokugawa Shogunate had not ordered Iga-Ueno Castle lord Todo Takatora (1556-1630) to relocate to Tsu,” Nakamura said.

“We want to play up such inspirational historical episodes, capture the hearts of tourists and make the castle town a place where people dressed as warlords can walk around,” he said.

A studio photo session costs 1,500 yen ($10), including armor rental. Walking around in the armor outside the shop and other activities costs up to 5,000 yen.

Applications are accepted at the door, and no reservations are taken.

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