Sasumata

Although some sources attribute the emergence of sasumats to the Muromachi period, most sources mention their use in Edo , when samurai became responsible for law enforcement operations. During this period, many varieties of non-lethal weapons began to be used to detain criminals for trial by both samurai police and commoners.

Along with sodegars and tsukubo, sasumats were used by police to detain criminals. They tried to catch the enemy’s weapons with the tip or to influence the leg, neck or joint, or to hook some clothing to hold it until the others caught and tied. Spikes were made on the pole so that the enemy could not grab hold of him.

There were versions of the tool designed for fire fighting, they are known as chokyakusan , rinkaku , tetsubashira , or tokikama . Analogs with a similar role in fires are known in China under the name chang jiao qian , and sometimes cha gan or huo cha . Sasumato-like tools were used by firefighters to dismantle burning buildings and climb stairs.

Sasumats are still occasionally used in Japan both by the police and as a personal instrument of self-defense. Modern samples of sasumat have no blades or spikes and are usually made of aluminum. Marketing presents sasumats as a response to fears associated with attacks on schools. The increase in reports of violent incursions has forced many Japanese schools to contain sasumats so teachers can protect themselves and students in the event of an attack and detain a potential threat until authorities arrive. ^{[1] [2]}

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  Sasumata of the Edo period, used to capture criminals and deter crowds

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  Sasumata of the Edo period

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  Modern sasumata

• Cunningham, Don. Taiho-jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai . Boston; Rutland, Vermont; Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2004.
• 神 之 田常盛. 剣 術 神道 霞 流 . 萩 原 印刷 株式会社, 2003.
• Mol, Serge. Classic Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts . Tokyo; New York; London: Kodansha International, 2003.