Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu江戸町形逮捕術
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The Cunningham collection

Dr. Cunningham bought his first jutte in a Japanese antique store in the 1980s, after assuming from television dramas that the weapon was invented. It was the first of many Japanese law-enforcement items he collected — later from flea markets, online auction sites and antique stores, and in time including Edo woodblock prints.Source B33

He photographed and catalogued each piece — J for jutte, T for tessen, H for hachiwari, P for pole arms — and offered the collection for loan to museums and public exhibitions.Source A30

57 catalogue entries and 164 photographs survive in the archived pages, reproduced here with his descriptions as he wrote them.Source D36 The current whereabouts of the physical collection are not recorded.

Jutte (1)17 objects · J-1–J-17One arresting implement which became standard for nearly all levels was the jutte or iron truncheon.Jutte (2)19 objects · J-19–J-38One arresting implement which became standard for nearly all levels was the jutte or iron truncheon.Tessen11 objects · T-1–T-11The tessen (iron fan) was also considered a symbol of authority in Japan as well as a common self-defense weapon when otherwise unarmed or in extraordinary situations.Hachiwari2 objects · H-1–H-2Worn like a dirk, hachiwari were used as a parrying weapon, held in the left hand while wielding a sword in the right.Pole arms3 objects · P-1–P-3The feudal police often relied on various pole arm arresting implements that could be used from a relatively safe distance to restrain and disarm suspects.Kusarigama1 object · K-1The kusarigama evolved from a unique tool called a jingama (camp sickle) carried by low-ranking bushi.Armor2 objects · A-1–A-2For regular patrol duties and even ceremonial occasions, dōshin dressed in simple patterned kimono, often with the bottom edges pulled up in front and stuck in their obi, dark blue tabi, and a black haori.Tobikuchi2 objects · S-1–S-2To contain damage and keep flames from spreading, Edo-period hikeshi (firemen) would knock down existing structures using a tobikuchi to quickly pull down screens and siding, often even the supporting beams.

Also in the collection

Woodblock prints of the Edo police

Prints by Toyokuni, Kunisada, Kunitoshi and Yoshitara showing officers with the jutte and the long arresting poles, with Cunningham’s notes.Source A11Source A13Source A9

See the prints

Woodblock print: police assistants carrying long arresting poles in the foreground, an attack inside a castle behind

Sources for this page

  1. A4Cunningham collection, “Armor”. e-budokai.com/weapons/armor.htm · © 2009 (capture 2012-10-22) · Original organizational material
  2. A9D. Cunningham, woodblock notes: “Chushingura”. e-budokai.com/woodblock/chushingura.htm · capture 2009-01-11 · Original organizational material
  3. A11D. Cunningham, woodblock notes: “Doshin”. e-budokai.com/woodblock/doshin.htm · capture 2009-01-11 · Original organizational material
  4. A12Cunningham collection, “Hachiwari”. e-budokai.com/weapons/hachiwari.htm · © 2009 (capture 2012-10-22) · Original organizational material
  5. A13D. Cunningham, woodblock notes: “Hakkenden”. e-budokai.com/woodblock/hakkenden.htm · capture 2009-01-11 · Original organizational material
  6. A16Cunningham collection, “Jutte (1)”. e-budokai.com/weapons/jutte1.htm · © 2009 (capture 2013-07-02) · Original organizational material
  7. A17Cunningham collection, “Jutte (2)”. e-budokai.com/weapons/jutte2.htm · © 2009 (capture 2013-08-06) · Original organizational material
  8. A19Cunningham collection, “Kusarigama”. e-budokai.com/weapons/kusarigama.htm · © 2009 (capture 2012-10-22) · Original organizational material
  9. A23Cunningham collection, “Pole arms”. e-budokai.com/weapons/polearms.htm · © 2009 (capture 2013-01-03) · Original organizational material
  10. A27Cunningham collection, “Tessen”. e-budokai.com/weapons/tessen.htm · © 2009 (capture 2013-07-02) · Original organizational material
  11. A28Cunningham collection, “Tobikuchi”. e-budokai.com/weapons/tobikuchi.htm · © 2009 (capture 2013-01-03) · Original organizational material
  12. A30Cunningham collection, “Weapons Collection”. e-budokai.com/weapons/index.htm · capture 2013-10-01 · Original organizational material
  13. B33P. Powers, “Author lays down law on historical Japanese weapons”, Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI). scan at e-budokai.com/books/leader1-bw.pdf · 2006-01-12 · Independent source
  14. D36Owner’s confirmation of permission to republish the organization’s and Dr. Cunningham’s texts, photographs and graphics. project record, docs/rights-and-attribution.md · 2026-11-03 · Owner-supplied file

Full source register and method