Plain fusuma (plain robe) - Suou

Japanese: 素襖(素袍) - すおう

A two-piece garment consisting of a top and bottom and a hanging robe derived from hitatare during the Muromachi period, it was worn mainly by samurai as everyday wear. Its shape is almost the same as hitatare, made of hemp, and the family crest is attached to the back and at the sleeves. It is also called "kawao no hitatare" (leather strap hitatare). This is because the breast strap and chrysanthemum embroidery are made of leather. In terms of status, it is one level lower than hitatare and daimon, and in the Edo period it was the formal attire of commoners and subordinate vassals who had no rank or position and were able to meet the shogun or higher.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

室町時代に直垂（ひたたれ）から派生した垂領（たりくび）の上下二部式の衣服で，もっぱら武士が常服として用いた。形は直垂とほとんど同じで，地質は麻で，背および袖つけのところに家紋をつける。一名〈革緒（かわお）の直垂〉といわれる。これは胸ひもや菊綴（きくとじ）が革でできているからで，服装の格からいうと，直垂や大紋（だいもん）よりは一段低く，江戸時代においては無位無官で将軍御目見（おめみえ）以上の平士（へいし），陪臣の礼装であった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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