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RK14-13

The Hishimangi Gurentai using their wooden cannon

A wooden cannon was a lightweight, makeshift cannon that shoots clay cannonballs, used by the Hishimanji Gurentai.

Design[]

The Wooden Cannon is carved out of oak or cherry wood and bound with rope or crude metal rings. In situations where metal for forging cannons was scarce or not enough time was available, wooden cannons acted as serviceable substitutes, launching simple balls of clay which carried a level of destructive force comparable to a real cannon. In keeping with their makeshift nature, however, wooden cannons were prone to breaking after just a few - or, in some cases, one - shots.

History[]

Historically, wooden cannons were used since the 16th century throughout the world. In Japan, wooden cannons were used during the Boshin War. However factions were arming themselves with acquired "Western artillery" throughout their modernization. Nevertheless, with metal being expensive, wooden cannons were a practical if imperfect cheap alternative.

Tokyo Arc[]

In Rurouni Kenshin, a wooden cannon appears in the possession of the Hishimanji Gurentai, a troublemaker gang of bandits present in Tokyo. The cannon was used in the gang's siege on the Kamiya Dōjō. It was fired only once, but its clay projectile was cut in half and deflected by the Dōjō's acting protector, Himura Kenshin.

Users[]

  • Hishimanji Gurentai - They were bunch of troublemakers on Tokyo. After picking a fight with former Kamiya Kasshin-ryū's students, the Hishimanji Gurentai followed them to the Dōjō, were they fired the cannon.

Trivia[]

  • While the wooden cannon was part of Act 4 in the manga, that Act was not adapted in the 1996 anime, although some elements of it were incorportared on Episode 14 were the Hishimanji Gurentai did appear with the wooden cannon.

Gallery[]

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