What kind of image do you have about ninja? Some people may think that they use magical ninjutsu power such as manipulating flames, like the characters do in the Japanese anime Naruto.
Unfortunately, ninja who use “magical” ninjutsu are only fictional found in anime and movies (at least as far as we currently know). Then, what did ninja actually do and what do they look like?
Ninja were secret agents in pre-modern Japan who used a variety of weapons and ninjutsu to engage in combat, espionage, sabotage, and assassination. However, with the end of the samurai period, ninja are said to have ended their role and disappeared.
This article describes the real-life ninja in Japan, what weapons and ninjutsu they used, and what their attire was like.
Contents
Ninja weapons
Ninja used a wide variety of weapons. First, let us see what kind of weapons the ninja actually used.
Shuriken
The Shuriken is one of the most famous ninja weapons, and is probably the first thing most people associate with their weapons.
Shuriken were divided into two types according to shape: flat shuriken, which represents a cross shape, and stick shuriken, which is stick-shaped. They were weapons to be held in the hand and thrown at the enemy.
Although these weapons have a strong association with attacking, they were actually ninja weapons that were often used to throw at the enemy while fleeing, to distract the enemy and escape.
When used for attacks, the blade was sometimes coated with poison to increase its killing power, and it was also widely used as a weapon for assassinating important persons.
Kunai
A double-bladed knife, it was used in a variety of situations other than combat, such as digging holes, cutting ropes, and prying doors, making it a sort of all-purpose knife.
Ninja Swords
In the days when samurai carried Japanese swords (Nihonto or Katana), ninja also carried Japanese swords. Because of their covert action, the Japanese swords ninja carried were specifically called “ninja swords,” which had a special shape.
One of the characteristics of the ninja sword is its short blade.
The blade of a normal Japanese sword is about 70 cm long, but the ninja sword is very short, about 40 cm, and does not have the curvature of the blade, called “sori,” which is unique to Japanese swords.
The main mission of ninja was to sneak into enemy territory and conduct espionage activities without being noticed by the enemy, so it was important to successfully escape without fighting as much as possible. Therefore, in order to eliminate the possibility of running into or getting caught by obstacles such as trees or walls when running away, the blade became shorter and less curved.
In addition, the ninja, who was acting in a covert manner, needed to be blended in and become unnoticeable to the general public. For this reason, when performing missions in places where Japanese swords were not allowed, or when disguised as someone who did not carry a Japanese sword on a daily basis, the ninja used a “shikomigatana,” which was the sword camouflaged as an everyday tool.
Famous examples are the “shikomizue“, a cane in which a Japanese sword is hidden inside, and the “shikomisensu,” a fan in which a Japanese sword is hidden inside.
Kusarigama (Chain and Sickle)
Ninja were often engaged in farming and other work when not engaged in warfare or espionage activities. Therefore, they were accustomed to handling sickles, a farming tool that they used on a regular basis.
A Kusarigama is a weapon consisting of a sickle and a metal weight, which are connected by a chain of more than one meter. The weight was thrown at an enemy who was far away and out of reach of the sickle’s attack. The chain was also used to strangle an enemy.
Makibishi
A Makibishi is sharp on four sides, one of which pointed upward, so that when stepped on, it would pierce the foot. They were scattered when fleeing from pursuers. Makibishi can be made of iron, wood, bamboo, and various other materials. To be able to scatter them while escaping, Ninja would carry a small bag that held Makibishi around their waists.
Ninjutsu (Martial Art Strategy and Tactics)
While manipulating fire is a fictional one, ninjutsu was taught in different schools where ninja was were trained to become professional. Let us take a look at some typical examples:
Ton-Jutsu
Ton-Jutsu was the art of hiding or escaping from enemies. There were mainly 5 types:
- Moku-Ton: The art of escaping behind a tree and possibly knocking it down to gain time to run away. Moku (木) means tree.
- Hi–Ton: The art of using fire to distract the enemy’s attention. Ninja would start a fire and flee while the enemy was in panic. Hi (火) means fire.
- Do-Ton: The art of making use of terrain. Ninja would hide in a hole dug in the ground, and throw sand or dirt at the enemy’s eyes to escape. Do (土)means soil.
- Kin-Ton: The art of using metal. Ninja would escape by using an iron rope or by throwing money around. Kin (金) means metal or gold.
- Sui-Ton: The art of using water. Ninja would escape by hiding under water, or by throwing large stones into the water to make noise to make it look like they jumped into the water, while they ran away on land.
Ninja Outfit
Ninja usually wore special farm clothes transformed for combat, with many pockets on the inside. In addition, they hid their faces with hoods, concealed their blades with a cuirass around their wrists, and with leg bands around their shins. During the daytime, they disguised themselves as people of various statuses and occupations.
Summary
Although the Ninja in anime probably give you an image of using magic or having superpowers, in history they were secret agents who used a variety of weapons, ninjutsu, and costumes to engage in combat, espionage, sabotage, and assassination.
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