Aikuchi/Tanto: Curved japanese dagger which can be thrown. the tanto has a hilt. the aikuchi does not.
Bisento: A large spear with a broad, curved blade, considered to be a kind of pole arm.
Blow gun: Essentially a small pipe through which darts are fired by air pressure.(You blow on them) A favorite weapon of the ninja despite a short range of about 50 feet. (Blow reallly hard).
Bokken: A wooden version of the katana. used in practice and competition.
Daisho: "Long and the short". refers to the pair of the katana and wakizashi. Symbol of the samurai caste only samurai carry them. "True" Daisho are treated with reverance as they were viewed as having a soul.
Jitte/Sai: These weapons are just large three pronged fork looking blades. Used as a pair. Were designed from farming tools to counter the samurai by the ninja.
Katana: One or two-handed longsword used throught the culture. Quick, efficent and deadly in a trained warriors hands.
Kusari-Fundo: Larger version of the Manriki-Gusari. Is a chain weighted on both ends. Ninja weapon.
Kusari-Gama/Kyoketsu-Shogi: A weighted chain with a sickle on the other end. Commonly used by the ninja.
Manriki-Gusari: A chain with solid blunt weights on each end. Used by ninja to entangle opponents.
Naginata/Yari: Long spears. Difficult to conceal. The naginata blade is curved the yari's blade is not. The naginata is primarily a womans weapon.
Ninja-to/Ninja Short Sword: Similar to the wakizashi but with a straighter blade and more easily concealed.
Used by Ninja.
No-Dachi: A huge, curved, two handed sword. 5 to 6 feet long. Typically slung over the back and shoulder.
Nunchaku: Two wooden handles with a single chain between. Used primarily to entangle. Originally an
agricultural flail.
Shinobi-Zue: A hollow wooden staff with a wieghted length on chain inside.
Shikomi-Zue: A staff with a spring loaded blade. commonly triggered by a twist or stud on the staff. Used by the ninja.
Shuriken: Ninja throwing stars, blades or pins. Used to distract more than kill.
Tonfa: A short wood weapon ideal for parrying and close combat. Is similar to a nightstick in appearance.
Wakizashi: Short curved blade of the samurai. Often worn and used in conjunction with the katana.
Dai-Kyu: Long bow 7 feet tall and used from a kneeling position or from horseback. Samurai weapon.
Yumi: Designed to be fired from the standing position. Associated with short bow.
Ya: Standard arrow also refers to the yanagi-ba or willow leaf arrow.
Armor Piercer: Narrow tipped arrow designed to punch through armor.
Watakusi: Broad head that spins at firing to auger into target. Not real good against armored targets.
Karimata: The "fork" arrow is specialized to cut ropes or cords.
Humming Bulb: A hollow tipped arrow used as a signal. it whistles as it flies.
Bo: A long hardwood staff about 6 to 7 feet in length.
Jo: A smaller version of the bo staff. about 3 feet in length.
Die-Tsuchi: Equivalent of a warhammer.
Nage-Yari: A 3 foot long javelin.
Nagamaki: A shorter version of the naginata. 3 1/2 long handle with a 3 foot blade.
Ono: Battle axe with a 4 foot shaft.
Sasumata: "The man catcher" is a 6 foot long pole arm with a double pronged hook at the end and barbs on the inside to catch a body and rake with the barbed claws.
Sodegarami: "The sleeve entangler" is a 6 foot long pole arm with a series of wicked barbs designed to catch sleeves of kimonos.
Tetsubo: An iron rod much like a mace. used with two hands. the head is ribbed or tipped with metal studs.
Tessen: The war fan a metal ribbed fan that serves as a shield or a way to convey commands on the battle field,or you can swat someone with it if nothing else seems useful.
Armor: Various styles abound. Metal armor was often reserved for Samurai and Lords. The peasant conscripts often wore simple padded clothing or a soft type of leather armor.
