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| Art by TL Jeffcoat |
Although the Katana
and other smaller blades were the most famous and most common weapons a Samurai
used, they weren’t the only weapons in his arsenal. The Kanabō was probably the
heaviest of the weapons a Samurai trained in. This two handed monster varied in
actual length and weight, but there were those made that were the length of a
man and were heavy enough that when swung down in a chopping motion they were
powerful enough to destroy what they hit.
The thick club-like
shaft was usually made with a very strong heavy wood, and sometimes with iron.
Then one end was studded with iron spheres. The studs were inserted in rows
along the length of each side of the shaft. Once completed it looked like a
giant baseball bat with iron balls lined along its length.
There is a saying in
Japan that goes “Like giving a Kanabō to an Oni.” What is an Oni you ask? It is
basically a mythological Japanese demon that was supposed to be very strong.
Strong enough that artistic depictions of them often had them wielding the
Kanabō with only one hand. So the saying basically means giving someone an
advantage while they already had the best chance; never a good idea.
