A naginata is a Japanese polearm, or pole weapon, with a rich history. Naginata consist of a wooden or metal staff with a curved, single-edged blade, typically 12 to 23 inches in length. The removable blade has a long tang which is inserted into the wooden or metal staff. The naginata may have originated from the earlier hoko yari, or, through a lengthening of the tachi weapon’s hilt. Naginata rose to prominence throughout the early Heian period, as battles on foot began to supplant horse-back fighting. The shape and length of naginata allowed for close combat to be fought at an optimum distance from the enemy. The blade would be covered by a wooden sheath when the weapon was not in use. From the 15th century onwards, the naginata lost prominence as they were replaced in popularity by the nagamaki and katana combination. The Edo period saw many naginata repurposed as their hilts were cut and shortened, so the weapon then became a wakizashi or katana.