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Yari (槍) is the
Japanese term for
spear, or more specifically, the straight spear. Yari measured
anywhere from one meter to upwards of five meters. The longer versions
were called nagae-yari while shorter ones were known as mochi-
or tae-yari. The longest versions were carried by foot troops,
while the
samurai carried the shorter versions.
Yari were characterized by a straight
blade that could be anywhere from a foot long, to a meter and a half
long. The blades were made of the same high-quality steel that the swords
and arrow-heads of samurai
weapons were forged with, and yari blades were very durable. The
shafts were made of wood, with metal rings spaced along the shaft to
strengthen the spear during
combat.
Yari were more commonly used by samurai than were swords, and foot
troops (ashigaru) used them extensively as well. While it has not
received the same recognition as has the
katana, the spear was an invaluable weapon of
war.
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