The Naginata is a Japanese melee weapon with a long handle (about 2 m) with an oval cross section and a curved one-sided blade (about 30 cm), with which the ancient japanese samurai fought.

Over time, a lighter version of the weapon (1.2 - 1.5 m), used in training and has shown better characteristics in combat, has established itself. The first records of the use of Naginata date back to the end of the 7th century. There were more than 400 schools in Japan that taught Naginatajutsu fighting techniques. This was the main weapon of the soldiers. The naginatas were also used by women to protect their homes.

The naginata shaft was made of oak, varnished and often had an oval cross-section, which made it easier to determine the direction of the blade during rapid rotations and interceptions. The blade could be separated from the shaft by a round guard of tsuba. The blades, with the exception of those made for noble customers, were generally inferior in quality to the tips of the spearheads. The shapes of the blades also differed: in some they resembled sword blades, in others they widened towards the end. Forged katana blades were sometimes used as naginata tips.