Kusarigama was mainly used as a weapon of self-defense for the rank of people who were not permitted to wear a sword (peasants, merchants, craftsmen) and in addition it was used as a hidden weapon in various schools of Japanese martial arts.
主に帯刀を許されない身分の者（農民・商人・職人）の護身用の武器として、また、日本の武術各流派では隠し武器として用いられた。