Spears of Japan

thumb|Three (, , and ) mounted in , including one with an asymmetrical crossbar () is the term for a traditionally-made in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the is called .

, meaning "art of the spear", is the Japanese martial art of fighting with a .

is a traditional school (koryū) of Japanese martial arts that specializes in the art of spearmanship (sōjutsu). Hōzōin-ryū was founded by Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei (宝蔵院 覚禅房 胤栄, 1521–1607) in c. 1560. In'ei was a Buddhist monk of Kōfuku-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. He adored martial arts and trained in the art of swordsmanship. At the same time, he was coached and mentored by , a master of the spear. Under this master's guidance, In'ei honed his spearmanship.

three Japanese spears

thumb|upright|Replica of the Tonbokiri, made in 1847, in the Tokyo National MuseumThe is one of three legendary Japanese spears created by the famed swordsmith Sengo Masazane, said to be wielded by the daimyō Honda Tadakatsu, a leading general of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

thumb|Kama-yari