ōtsuchi

thumb|In this Kunisada print, [[Horibe Yasubei holds a large mallet.]] An is a large wooden war mallet used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Unlike bladed weapons such as the katana or polearms such as the naginata, the ōtsuchi was a blunt-force instrument, resembling an oversized wooden mallet or sledgehammer. It had a shaft of about 6 ft (183 cm) much like the ono (war axe). Typically constructed of heavy wood, sometimes reinforced with iron, the ōtsuchi was not commonly used for direct combat but for breaching doors, gates, or fortifications. Its design and purpose align it with siege implements rather than battlefield sidearms, yet it occupies a place in the corpus of Japanese martial weaponry.

==Historical context== During the Heian period (794–1185), most warfare in Japan emphasized mounted archery and swords. However, as castles and fortified structures developed during the Kamakura (1185–1333) and Muromachi periods (1336–1573), siege warfare became increasingly important. The ōtsuchi emerged in this context as a practical tool for breaking gates, doors, and barricades. Its blunt force could shatter wooden barriers that would resist bladed or piercing weapons.