Sodegarami
Encyclopedia
The is a Japanese pole weapon
used to entangle sleeves. Historically, it was usually around 2 meters in length, with multiple barbed heads, facing forwards and backwards. The pole is often sturdy wood, reinforced with iron. Small spikes or other sharp protrusions can often be found along the pole, similar to the tsukubō
and sasumata
. Together with those other implements it is part of the sandōgu used by police.
(1368-1644), which he writes was used to defend against Japanese pirates. Cunningham gives the following alternative names for the sodegarami: roga-bō , shishigashira, neji, and tōrigarami.
The sodegarami (literally 'sleeve entangler') was used, as its name implies, to entangle the sleeves and clothing of an individual. This could be done to restrain the individual, who could then be more easily disarmed or dealt with. Spines and barbs along the length were there to prevent a criminal from easily grasping the shaft and wresting the implement away from the arresting officer. Together with the sasumata
and the tsukubō
it is one of the three torimono sandōgu of the Edo police.
Image:Sodegarami.JPG|Edo period Japanese (samurai) Edo period sodegarami, used by samurai police and security forces to capture armed suspects.
Pole weapon
A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is placed on the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range. Spears, glaives, poleaxes, halberds, and bardiches are all varieties of polearms...
used to entangle sleeves. Historically, it was usually around 2 meters in length, with multiple barbed heads, facing forwards and backwards. The pole is often sturdy wood, reinforced with iron. Small spikes or other sharp protrusions can often be found along the pole, similar to the tsukubō
Tsukubo
The is a Japanese pole weapon. Historically, it was usually around 2 meters in length, with a T-shaped head. The head often has various metal spikes and barbs. The pole is often sturdy wood, reinforced with iron. Small spikes or other sharp protrusions can often be found along the pole, similar to...
and sasumata
Sasumata
The is a Japanese mancatcher and firefighting tool. Historically, it was usually around 2 meters in length, with a U-shaped head. This head looks similar to a koto bridge, so it is sometimes called a kotojibō. The pole is often sturdy wood, reinforced with iron. Small spikes or other sharp...
. Together with those other implements it is part of the sandōgu used by police.
History
Cunningham makes a claim for the evolution of the sodegarami from the yagaramogara, "a long pole implement employed by naval forces." He goes on to trace that implement back to the lang xian, dating to the Ming dynastyMing Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(1368-1644), which he writes was used to defend against Japanese pirates. Cunningham gives the following alternative names for the sodegarami: roga-bō , shishigashira, neji, and tōrigarami.
The sodegarami (literally 'sleeve entangler') was used, as its name implies, to entangle the sleeves and clothing of an individual. This could be done to restrain the individual, who could then be more easily disarmed or dealt with. Spines and barbs along the length were there to prevent a criminal from easily grasping the shaft and wresting the implement away from the arresting officer. Together with the sasumata
Sasumata
The is a Japanese mancatcher and firefighting tool. Historically, it was usually around 2 meters in length, with a U-shaped head. This head looks similar to a koto bridge, so it is sometimes called a kotojibō. The pole is often sturdy wood, reinforced with iron. Small spikes or other sharp...
and the tsukubō
Tsukubo
The is a Japanese pole weapon. Historically, it was usually around 2 meters in length, with a T-shaped head. The head often has various metal spikes and barbs. The pole is often sturdy wood, reinforced with iron. Small spikes or other sharp protrusions can often be found along the pole, similar to...
it is one of the three torimono sandōgu of the Edo police.
Gallery
Image:Sodegarami.JPG|Edo period Japanese (samurai) Edo period sodegarami, used by samurai police and security forces to capture armed suspects.