Bisentō

A bisentō (眉尖刀, lit. "halberd") is a kind of Japanese pole weapon (adopted from the Chinese kwan-do or guan dao) which greatly resembles a naginata. It consists of a thick curved blade mounted atop a long wooden pole. Much heavier than the naginata in construction, there are some accounts of it being used as a training weapon to improve one's naginatajutsu. The history of the weapon is a little obscure; the claim of the Kukishin-ryū is that the weapon was introduced from China during the 5th century. This would make the weapon the most likely precursor to the naginata. It would have been used in warfare as an anti-cavalry weapon.

Famous users

• Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate (fictional)

References

• Hatsumi, Masaaki. Ninjutsu: History and Tradition.