 "Haramaki" refers to any Japanese armour which is put on from the front and then fastened in the back with cords.Other types of dō open from the side ("ni-mai dō", "dō-maru", "maru-dō") instead of opening from the back as the "haramaki" does.Modern haramaki refer to a thick cloth undergarment worn around the belly to increase body heat retention during the winter.