Thekanabō (金砕棒,kanasaibō) (literally "metal stick" or "metal club") is a spiked or studded two-handedwar club used infeudal Japan bysamurai. Other related weapons of this type are thenyoibō,konsaibō,^[1][2]tetsubō (鉄棒), andararebō.^[3] Related solid iron weapons with no spikes or studs are thekanemuchi (orkanamuchi) and thearibo (also known as agojo orkirikobo).^[4]

Kanabō and other related club-like weapons were constructed out of heavywood or made entirely fromiron, with iron spikes or studs on one end. For woodenkanabō, one or both ends could be covered with iron caps.Kanabō-type weapons came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; though the largest ones were as tall as a man, on average they measured roughly 55" in length. Thekanabō was typically intended for two-handed use, though one-handed versions exist which are more usually referred to as tetsubō and ararebō.

Their shape could be similar to that of a medieval club or bludgeon, with a thicker outer end tapering towards a slender handle with a pommel, or, after the manner of ajō, they could be straight all the way from the handle to the end. The shaft cross-section could be round (as in a baseball bat) orpolygonal; that is, multi-faceted with flat surfaces arrayed around the central axis.^[5][3][6]

Thekanabō was also amythical weapon, often used in tales byoni, who reputedly possessedsuperhuman strength.^[7][8] This is alluded to by the Japanesesaying "like giving akanabō to anoni"—meaning to give an extra advantage to someone who already has the advantage (i.e. the strong made stronger).^[9]

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  Akanabō
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  Astatue of anoni armed with akanabō
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  A close-up of the iron spikes of atetsubō
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  A Japanesekanabō
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  A small antique Japanese wooden club with iron-covered ends and iron studs (ararebō)^[3]
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  An old Japanese wood club with iron spikes (akanabō ortetsubō), 4′ 9″ long and 4 lb (1.8 kg) in weight
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  A smalltetsubō
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  A close-up of the iron studs on an antique Japaneseararebō, a small version of thekanabō

• Bō
• Hanbō
• Jō
• Tanbō
• List of martial arts weapons
• Mace (bludgeon)
• Macuahuitl
• Morning star (weapon)
• War hammer

•   Media related toKanabo at Wikimedia Commons