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Weapons for Samurai
Yumi : Japanese Bow
A typical Japanese bow is 2.3m length, made of bamboo with a string of silk and pine resin. An arrow is made of bamboo and bird feather. Bamboo is the best material for bow in the plant kingdom. Though inferior to modern composite archery bow in penetration and accuracy, it was a deadly weapon, too.
Until musket was brought from Europe in 17th century, bow was the most respected by bushi.
Today, Japanese bow is enjoyed as a sport just like western archery, which is called Kyudo (the tao of bow).
Yari : Japanese Spear
Spear is a very simple form of weapon. So Japanese spear didn't differ largely from that of other countries.
During the Civil War Era, spear was the most standard weapon of bushi.
Katana : Japanese Sword
A katana is not just a weapon, but the soul of bushi. It is the most sophisticated form of the beauty of killing. The more beautiful it is, the more deadly sharpness it has.
Katana are distinguished from broadswords for the extremely sharp edge and the slightly curved blade. The beauty of a katana appears on its blade and edge. Its grace form and grim beauty has been fascinating many warriors.
Katanakaji (swordsmiths) are the craftsmen who forge swords (not only katana but also wakizashi and other edged weapons). Forging katana is art rather than manufacture. They heat and hammer iron repeatedly with extreme keen sense. A finished katana has stratified structure which makes extreme beauty when it is wetted.
Quality of a finished katana depends on various factors, such as a bit of impurities within raw iron, temperature of fire, water etc. Even a master swordsmith cannot keep good quality all the time.
Today, Japanese law prohibited people to have edged weapon, including katana. All true katana must be registered by the government. However, yakuza members often have edged katana still now.
There are also replicas of katana, which has no edge. Such replicas are popular as interiors.
Jitte
Jitte was a branched iron bar, about 60cm length or more, something like the image below. It was used by Doshin, policemen in the Edo Era.
Legends say that they used Jitte as a swordbreaker. But historical research shows it was a type of mace.
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