Makibishi was one of the items supposedly used by the
ninja. It had six or eight pointed spikes. Iron
makibishi were called
tetsubishi while the
makibishi made from the dried seed pod of the
water caltrop formed a natural type of
makibishi called
tennenbishi. The term
makibishi literally means "scattered water chestnut" in Japanese. Both types of
makibishi could penetrate the thin soles of the shoes such as the
waraji sandals that were commonly worn in feudal Japan when the
makibishi was dropped on the ground or planted in advance.
Makibishi could be carried in a bag attached to a belt along with other commonly carried weapons and/or tools such as
shuriken and
kaginawa.
Makibishi could be thrown like a
shuriken Modifications made by the ninja included serrated tips, which were also said to be occasionally coated with poison. ==References==