Sodegarami

thumb|300px| Weapons for capturing suspected criminals: on the left tsukubō, in the middle sodegarami, and on the right [[sasumata]] The is a polearm that was used by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan.

==History and description== The sodegarami is a type of man catcher. It is around in length, with multiple barbed heads facing forwards and backwards. The pole is sturdy hardwood with sharp metal barbs or spines attached to metal strips on one end to keep the person being captured from grabbing the pole. The opposite end of the pole has a metal cap or ishizuki, like those found on naginata and other polearms. The sodegarami, tsukubō (push pole), and sasumata (spear fork) comprise the torimono sandōgu (three implements of arresting) used by samurai police to capture suspected criminals uninjured. The sodegarami was used to entangle the sleeves and clothing of an individual who could then be more easily disarmed or dealt with.