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Akunai (苦無,kunai) is a Japanese multipurpose tool[1] and weapon thought to be originally derived from themasonrytrowel.[2]
Akunai normally had a leaf-shapedwrought blade in lengths ranging from 20 and 30 cm (7.9 and 11.8 in) and a handle with a ring on thepommel for attaching a rope.[1]
The attached rope allowed thekunai's handle to be wrapped to function as a grip, or to be strapped to a stick as a makeshiftspear; to be tied to the body for concealment; to be used as an anchor orpiton, and sometimes to be used as the Chineserope dart.
Varieties ofkunai include short, long, narrow-bladed, saw-toothed, and wide-bladed.
The two widely recognized kinds are the shortkunai (小苦無 shō-kunai) and the bigkunai (大苦無dai-kunai).
In some cases, thekunai and theNishikori, a wide-bladed saw with a dagger-type handle, are difficult to distinguish.
Contrary to popular belief,kunai were not designed to be used primarily as throwing weapons. Instead,kunai were primarily tools used as weapons for stabbing and thrusting .
Thekunai was originally used by peasants as amulti-purpose gardening tool and by workers of stone andmasonry.
The blade is made of soft iron and is left unsharpened because the edges are used to smash relatively soft materials such as plaster and wood, for digging holes, and for prying. Normally, only the tip is sharpened.
Although a basic tool, thekunai, in the hands of amartial arts expert, could be used as a multi-functional weapon.
Manyninja weapons were adapted from farming tools, not unlike those used byShaolin monks in China.
Sincekunai were cheaply produced farming tools of proper size and weight and could be easily sharpened, they were readily available to be converted into simple weapons for covert uses.[3][1]
Thekunai is commonly associated with theninja, who in folklore used them to climb walls.
As withninjutsu, the exaggeration persistent in ninja myths played a large role in creating thepopular culture image ofkunai.
In fictional depictions of ninjas, thekunai is commonly portrayed as a steel knife that is used for stabbing or particularly throwing, sometimes confused with theshuriken.[1]
Turnbull, Stephen (2003).Ninja AD 1460–1650. Osprey Publishing.ISBN 978-1-84176-525-9.
Media related toKunai at Wikimedia Commons