What is ana tsurushi?

Ana Tsurushi is a torture and execution method that was practiced in feudal Japan, particularly during the Edo period (1603-1868). It involved suspending a person by their arms from a rope hanging from a tall gallows or tree, with their hands tied behind their back.

The victim would be hung upside down, and the executioner would begin to strike them with a variety of tools, such as iron rods, batons, or even whips. The blows would focus on the victim's abdomen and legs, causing intense pain and often resulting in internal bleeding or even death.

The method was typically used to extract a confession or punish suspected criminals, such as thieves or murderers. It was also used as a means of public humiliation, with the hope that the sight of a person being hung in such a manner would serve as a deterrent to other potential criminals.

Ana Tsurushi was eventually abolished in Japan in the late 19th century, as part of broader reforms aimed at modernizing the country's legal and penal systems. Today, it is considered a cruel and inhumane form of punishment, and its use is widely condemned.