The feudal police often relied on
various pole arm arresting implements that could be used from a
relatively safe distance to restrain and disarm suspects.
This is a late Edo-period
sasumata. This U-shaped pole arm was used to trap the neck or limbs to immobilize an opponent. One of the of the standard Edo-period police station tools called
torimono sandogu (three tools of arresting), the U-shaped end was used to trap an opponent. Then the person could be pushed to a wall or other barrier and immobilized. The other two long pole arresting implements were the
sodegarami, which had short spikes used to ensnare the clothing, and the
tsukubo, which had a T-shaped end used to push and control an opponent.
P-2
This is a late Edo-period
sodegarami (sleeve entangler). This pole arm arresting implement was the most frequently used of the standard Edo-period police station tools called
torimono sandogu (three tools of arresting). The short spikes were thrust into an offender's
kimono or other clothing with a twisting action to entangle the material. Then the person could be pushed to the ground and immobilized. The other two long pole arresting implements were the
sasumata, which had a U-shaped end used to pin the neck or limbs, and the
tsukubo, which had a T-shaped end used to push and control an opponent.
P-3
This is a late Edo-period or early Meiji-era
teyari (hand spear). Shorter than a typical yari, the teyari was often the favored weapon of the machi-kata yoriki for apprehending lawbreakers, especially in confined spaces.
