Most Japanese speakers will read 兜 (kabuto) and immediately picture the iconic crested helmet of the samurai — one of the most visually distinctive symbols of Japanese warrior culture. The first impression is strong and historically rooted: this person signals admiration for something proud and historically Japanese, and has chosen a word that names one of its most recognizable objects. Of all the warrior-related characters, 兜 is among the most visually resonant because the helmet itself is already a powerful image. ...