TEPPO - "Iron Gun" / "Iron Cannon"

Firearms were introduced to Japan in the 13th century during the first Mongol invasion, referred to as teppō.  Portuguese firearms were introduced in 1543, and intense development followed, with strong local manufacture during the period of conflicts of the late 16th century. Hōjutsu, the art of gunnery, is the Japanese martial art dedicated to firearms usage. Due to its proximity with China, Japan had long been familiar with gunpowder weaponry. Firearms appeared in Japan around 1270, as primitive metal tubes invented in China and called teppō (鉄砲 lit. "iron cannon"). These weapons were very basic, as they had no trigger or sights, and could not be compared to the more advanced European weapons which were introduced in Japan more than 250 years later.