Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: weapon

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Naginata

薙刀長刀
alternative words: Nagi nata, Japanese halberd, Halberd
keywords: martial art , weapon
related topics: Kamakura period , Edo period
related web sites: http://homepage1.nifty.com/sira/taiheiki/moriyosi.html , http://www.jttk.zaq.ne.jp/nihontou/toukenkobugu/yarinaginatalist.htm
explanation: Weapon composed of a long shaft and a curved blade of 1 or 2 feet length attached at the top. It had been a favorite weapon of Japanese infantrymen until Kamakura period especially Buddhist monk soldiers. It was then gradually replaced by spears and rifles. During Edo period, it was taught as a defensive weapon for samurai's women and continued to be taught as a woman's sport nowadays. Naginata means "mowing sword".

Tanegashima rifle

種子島銃火縄銃
alternative words: Tanegashima gun, Tanegashimaju, Tanegashima ju, Tanegashima teppo, Tanegashima, Rifle, Teppo
keywords: weapon
related topics: Sengoku period , Oda nobunaga , Battle of Nagashino
related web sites: http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~kaze_k/special-02.htm
explanation: In 1543, a Chinese ship carrying Portuguese had wrecked on Tanegashima island. Local seignior, Tanegashima Tokitaka bought 2 rifles from Portuguese and asked a blacksmith to imitate them. Japan being at a civil war period (Sengoku jidai), this new weapon had spread quickly all over Japan. At the famous battle of Nagashino in 1575 near Nagoya, Oda Nobunaga eliminated redoubtable Takeda's cavalry troops by aligning more than 1000 rifles (world's record of that period).

Zero fighter

零式艦上戦闘機零戦
alternative words: Zerosen, Reisen, Zero sen, Rei sen, Zeroshiki kanjo sentoki, Reishiki kanjo sentoki, Zero
keywords: weapon , world war 2
related topics: Emperor Jimmu
related web sites: http://contest.thinkquest.gr.jp/tqj1998/10043/zerosenhistory.html , http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~yamato/zeke.htm , http://www.imagineer.co.jp/pc/products/cp2/
explanation: The main fighter of Japanese navy during world war II with more than 10,000 examples. Created by Mitsubishi by using an engine of Nakajima hikoki (actual Fuji heavy industry), initially it surpassed any allied planes by its astonishing performance (maximum speed 560 km/h, range 3000 km with an auxiliary tank, 2x20 mm guns) and agility but soon surpassed by new American fighters such as p-38. Its name comes from the year of release, 1940, corresponding to 2600th year from emperor Jinmu.

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