Hoko yari in an older form of Japanese spear or yari based on a Chinese spear. and thought to be from the Nara period.[1][2]
The hoko yari was thought to be a guard's spear used in the defense palisades and gates. Hoko yari were mounted on a six-foot pole and had an eight inch blade with either a leaf-shape or waved or wavy edge that was shaped like the Malay kris. Hoko yari had a sickle-shaped horn projected on one or both sides of the blade.[3] The hoko yari had a hollow socket like the later period fukuro yari for the pole to fit into rather than a long tang.[4]The sickle-shaped horn projecting on one side or both sides of the hoko yari blade, showed that the prime object of this weapon was to thrust back an enemy.[5]