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Metsubushi (Japanese: 目潰し, lit. "eye closers") or gantsubushi are a variety of implements and techniques that were used in feudal Japan by samurai police and other individuals to temporarily or permanently blind or disorient an opponent.

Description

One type of metsubushi was used by police for blowing powdered pepper or dust into the eyes of a suspect. It is described as being a lacquer or brass box with a wide mouthpiece for blowing on, and a hole or pipe on the other end for directing the powder into the eyes of the person being captured. One type of metsubushi powder was made up of ashes, ground-up pepper, mud, flour, and dirt. For severe damage, it could also include fine-ground glass. It was kept in hollowed-out eggs (happō), bamboo tubes or other small containers. When confronted by an attacker, a person would blow the metsubushi in the attacker's eyes, blinding them.

See also

• Mace
• Pepper spray

References

1. ^ Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan, Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook, Tuttle Publishing, 1991 P.323
2. Caldwell, Darryl (June 1985). "The Shadow Warrior: The Ninja Web". Black Belt. 23 (6). St. Louis, MO: Rainbow Publications Inc.: 15. ISSN 0277-3066.

External links

• Media related to Metsubushi at Wikimedia Commons

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