What is a nagamaki?
Q: What is a nagamaki?
A: A nagamaki is a Japanese pole weapon with a large and heavy blade. It looks similar to a traditional naginata, but the main difference is that the handle (tsuka) of the nagamaki was not constructed of wood; it was made more like a katana handle.
Q: When was the nagamaki introduced and used?
A: The nagamaki was introduced and used primarily during the Kamakura (1192 - 1333), Nanbokucho (1334 - 1392) and early Muromachi (1392 – 1573) periods.
Q: How does the nagamaki differ from other weapons?
A: The main difference between the nagamaki and other weapons is that its handle (tsuka) was not constructed of wood; it was made more like a katana handle, which means it had cords wrapped in criss-crossed manner very similar to how katanas are wrapped. Additionally, when handling a nagamaki, not too many sliding actions on the handle were performed as it would be with other weapons such as spears or naginata swords.
Q: How did warriors use this weapon?
A: Warriors typically used this weapon against horsemen in an infantry setting. It could be used for large sweeping and slicing strokes, as well as functioning as a spear.
Q: What materials were needed to create one?
A: Creating a Nagamaki required more time and materials than creating spears or Naginata swords, which may explain why they weren't so widely spread at their peak usage during the middle of Muromachi period (1336-1600 A.D.).
Q: How do you hold a Nagamaki?
A: The way to hold Nagmakai is by holding it with two hands in fixed position just like you would hold a Katana sword; your right hand should always be closest to the blade while performing minimal sliding actions on its handle.
Q: What does "Nagmakai" mean?
A:The word "nagmakai" means "long wrapping", referring to how its handles were traditionally wrapped with cords in criss-crossed manner much like how Katana's are wrapped up today.
