Heroes In The Half-Shell: Samurai Wore Huge, Turtle-Like Back Protection

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Those aren't backpacks or turtle shells...they are the Samurais' Horo. Source: (reddit.com)

If you were to travel back in time and witness warriors going into battle with huge, shell-like bulges on their backs, it means you've landed in one of two time-spaces: 1980s New York City or feudal Japan. Take a look at the warriors. Are they adolescent boys who morphed into reptiles after coming in contact with radioactive sewage or samurai soldiers? Believe it or not, it could be either, thanks to a traditional samurai garment called a horo. What's a horo, and why did samurai wear these odd-looking turtle shells in battle?