The naginata is a traditional Japanese polearm weapon that features a curved blade on the end of a long shaft. The origins and development of the naginata can be traced back to ancient Japan.

While it is challenging to attribute the invention of the naginata to a specific individual, it is believed to have been influenced by similar polearm weapons from other cultures, such as the Chinese guandao or the Korean guan dao.

The naginata gained prominence during the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan, and it became associated with female warriors known as onna-bugeisha. These women were trained in martial arts and used the naginata for self-defense and to protect their households. Over time, the naginata evolved in design, and different schools or ryu developed their own specific techniques and training methods.

While there is no single individual credited with inventing the naginata, its development can be attributed to the cultural and historical context of ancient Japan, as well as the influences of other polearm weapons from neighboring regions.