Types of Arrowheads

The samurai used many different types of arrowheads and each had a different purpose. The togari-ya was the classic, pointed arrow, the main battle arrow for an archer (Hubbard). The yanagi-ba arrow is also known as the “willow-leaf.” These featured designs such as hearts, cherry blossoms, or the clan’s emblem (Hubbard). The karitama was also known as the “rope-cutter.” It was a forked arrowhead that resembled a pair of open-scissors (Turnbull 10). They came in a variety of sizes and were used to cut ropes, hunt game, and disable horses legs (Hubbard). 

One of the most notable arrows was the kabura-ya, also known as a “whistling” or “humming-bulb” arrow (Hubbard). The whistling sound came from a perforated wooden arrowhead, which was made from sections of magnolia or holly wood glued together and pierced with square holes. They were used at the start of battles to signal the troops, to intimidate the enemy, and to summon the kami (deities) “to pay attention to the deeds of valor about to take place” (Turnbull 10). Another notable arrow was the watakushi arrow. It was barbed and designed to inflict terrible wounds when pulled out of the body. They measured between two and 15 cm and featured single or double barbs (Hubbard). Arrows were kept in quivers and different types of arrows had their own position in the quiver, usually twenty-five arrows, so the correct type of arrow could easily be chosen (Turnbull 12). 

Hubbard, Ben. The Samurai Warrior: The Golden Age of Japan’s Elite Warriors 1560–1615. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2014. 

Turnbull, Stephen. Weapons of the Samurai. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2021.