Kunoichi, female Ninja

Kunoichi is female Ninja. Kunoichi rarely perform destruction work or the assassination, but they crawl into a mansion and the castle of the enemy as a spy to gather information.

That Kunoichi does duty by sexual charm seems to be a fiction.

Kunoichi are sent to the castle or mansion and work as maidservant. Kunoichi will collect various information and report it to allies. Notions dealer and kimono dealer go to the castle or mansion and they met this woman ninja and received inside information.Since Kunoichi returned to its home periodically, information may be then given. Their family and a guarantor are fellow ninjas and the family of Kunoichi was trusted by the surrounding residents so they can easily do intelligence.

The  beautiful girl Ninja is sent into the castle as a mistress where a enemy's feudal lord lives.The girl Ninja who is in the inside of a castle has clothes and household goods sent from its home. Then the large clothes box made of  wood will be sent from home.The bottom becomes double, and when the inside is opened, usual clothes are included, but male Ninja hide himself in the lower bottom.The ninja was able to steal into a castle safely in this way.This method is called "Kakuremino no jyutsu".

Japanese Castle

There were a lot of children who lost a parent by war in Sengoku period.Samurai lord made those children Ninja.The girls become Kunoichi and travel everywhere as shrine maiden.Without being suspected as Ninja, the shrine maidens were able to travel in the whole country and was able to gather information.

shrine maiden

Basic 6 goods of Ninja

Ninja was always carrying six spy tools.These 6 tools didn't arouse suspicion because a general person carried around, too.

Inro

This is called a "Inro".This is portable medicine case.Several kinds of medicine can be carried.Ninja carried various medications such as ointment and stomach medicine, cell food, poison.Medicine was a necessity in sickness and injured explanation in the outdoor activities and the long invasion.

Amigasa

The shade knitted by a sedge and straw.

It was used in order to hide a face so that it won't be disclosed to an enemy.

wearing Amigasa

Sekihitsu (Rouseki)

Sekihitsu is like a present-day chalk.It was possible to note down a mark and the character in the various material.It was used when giving information to an ally. 

Sanshaku Tenugui

It's a Japanese towel over 110 centimeters.It's made of cotton.It was used for various purpose and was necessary for a Ninja.It becomes a protector when fighting unarmed. The wet Japanese towel became arms like a whip. Besides also it was used for a bandage ,hiding a face, and was used to make drinking water from muddy water.

Uchitake

The one which put a source of fire in the bamboo tube.Although fire can light quickly, the fire cannot be maintained for a long time. It was used as heating pad.

Kaginawa

Use the metal hooks attached to the end of the rope, throwing like a lasso to the target.Use to climb on the roof and across the moat of the Castle.Can be used as a tool to overpower your opponent with a rope.When brandished, it also became arms like a chained sickle. 

Kaginawa

About Ninja

I think you are very interested about Ninja.

I will tell you the truth of Ninja as possible as I can.

The image of the ninja was twisted by people except the Japanese, and a wrong image has spread worldwide.

The main work of the ninja is intelligence.

To get information, true character needed to be hidden and also Ninja must be inconspicuous.

Ninja works as a mercenary for the Sengoku Daimyo at Age of Civil Wars.

Ninja stole into the enemy land using various art of concealment and espionage so that an employer became advantageous.

The ninja is said to have had the physical strength more than a present-day top athlete by daily training.

Ninja can fly over 3 meters of height and could advance the distance of 400 kilometers a day.

Speaking of a ninja, Iga and Koga are famous.

Iga and the ground of Koka are surrounded by the mountains.

Iga

Moreover, it is close to Kyoto which was a political important point those days, and Ninja in Iga and Koga could get central information easily and quickly.

Kouga

It became the perfect hideout of people who lost to fight.

Because of those reasons,many excellent Ninjas were born from Iga and Koga.

In "Iranki",Ninja's Life was written as below.

"Ninja wake up at 4 am in the morning and plow the field or do other family business till noon.Then exercise martial arts until dusk."

The ninja had ordinary work, such as agriculture.When a war happened,they played an active part as mercenaries or spy.

Most of Ninja did their work with "right mind".

If a Ninja's work is not performed by the right heart, it is the same as a thief.

Ninja's magic Kuji-kiri and Jyujino-hijyutsu

The ninja is affected by the mountaineering asceticism called "Shugendou".In Japan, it was presupposed that God dwelt in a mountain and it has been considered as the object of faith.
The mountaineering asceticism that was going to get a virtue and omen power by training itself in a steep mountain was born in Nara era in Japan.

Yamabushi

The person who practices Shugendou is called "Yamabushi".The Yamabushi learns a lot of  black art through ascetic practices.Ninja learns many black arts from this Shugendou.The ninja is said to have been able to disappear by the art.

Kuji-kiri is the magic which strengthens ninja's typical belief and divine protection.

Shugendou Yamabushi performed "Kujikiri"

Kujikiri's sｙmbol "In"

How to cut Kujikiri

Ninja used "Kuji-kiri"to expel evil spirits, strengthen spirit and make duty succeed.


Jyujino-hijyutsu


This is the ancient magic to grant a wish by tracing the letter such as "天" and "虎" in a palm and pretend to swallow it or hold it.

"天 "means sky or heaven."虎" means tiger.

When using "天",the man will relax.

When using "虎",the man can return safely.

When using "王",the man could show the outcome of the practice successfully.

When using "是",the man will be healed soon.

The ninja got the presence of mind of the heart by  "Kuji-kiri" and was able to work on a duty.

In addition, using these magic raise the success rate of mission and  improve Ninja's concentration.

Where are real Ninjas in Japan now

Hello.I know you want to see real Ninja in Japan but it may be difficult to meet REAL Ninja now.

Ninja mainly acted when Japan is in the Middle ages(1200～1600）.From Edo period ,internal wars rarely occured in Japan,so Ninja lose their meaning of existence.

The number of Ninja decrease gradually and some people said  real Ninja became extinct now in Japan.

　Masaaki Hatsumi

Masaaki Hatsumi is the grandmaster of Togakure Ninjyutsu and the head family of nine other martial arts.

He teaches real Ninjyutsu (The art of Ninja).He is the owner of ancient martial arts training hall,"Bujinkan".

He learned martial arts from Toshitsugu Takamatsu.Takamatsu was called,"Tiger of Mongolia".

At the "Bujinkan"

Jinichi Kawakami

Jinichi Kawakami is also said to be real alive Ninja in Japan.He is the grand master of Koga Ninjyutsu and last heir of Ban family,famous family of  Koga Ninja.He learned Ninjyutsu from real Kouga Ninja from he was little.

Training of Ninja

 Training of Ninja (2)

If you want to learn Ninyjutsu or meet real Ninja,you may go to see Hatsumi or Kawakami.I don't know other real Ninja but I believe some of them are still exist and living in Japan now.

Originally,Ninjyutsu was secret and no one knows except real Ninja.Similarly Ninja themselves must be secrets.So it is possible that real Ninja still exist in current Japan.

Ninja disguise themselves as various types of jobs

Ninja disguise themselves as various types of people such as Japanese monk,merchant,priest.

Buddhist monk

Komuso

Japanese priest 

Sarugakushi

Houkashi

merchant

Ninja became these people in pictures to succeed their missions.

These jobs were popular in Middle Ages and it was very suitable for Ninja to complete their missions.

Buddhist monk could go everywhere of Japan and gather infomation from temple.

In those days,temples were important place to gather infomation.

Komuso wears deep straw head-gear so Ninja could carry out their mission hiding their face.

Sarugakushi is who play Sarugaku which is traditional Japanese performing arts.

Nowadays Sarugaku is called "Nou".

Houkashi is kind of a street performancer.

Sarugakushi and Houkashi are good job for putting enemies off their guard.

Merchant can go everywhere around Japan and also easy to gather information.

When Ninja became someone he is looks more real than who he became.

Ninja is professional of disguise.

Disguise of Ninja must be perfect.Even Ninja's father could not identify him as Ninja.

Ninja wears cloth which is reversible because they can change colors of appearance instantly when they are chased.

Ninja sometimes pretend to be ill.

They make themselves as sick people by not sleeping a few days or eating nothing.

In some cases,they put fish scales in the eyes and act like blindness.

About Shuriken

stick shuriken

In the Sengoku period, warriors throw stones, javelin, arrow and wakizashi(the short  sword of Samurai) in the battle.It is said that these arts became the basis of  skills of shuriken.

Shuriken is not necessarily a weapon of ninja. It had been established as one of the martial arts.

There are two types of Shuriken.One is stick shuriken (Bou shuriken) such as dagger and nail, the other is cross-shaped or star-shaped Kuruma shuriken.

Kuruma shuriken

various types of shuriken

real shurikens

There are two ways to shoot shriken.The way to shoot it straight and the way to shoot it spinning.

Without long-term training, it is hard to hit the enemy by both shuriken.

Because the shape of stick shuriken is simple than Kuruma shuriken,it is easier to make and the making cost is lower.

When attacking by Kuruma shuriken,Ninja must shoot it spinning.There are various forms than stick shuriken.

Because there are many blades in Kuruma shuriken, the killing power is higher than stick shuriken.However,Kuruma shuriken is difficult to carry and making cost is higher.

Flying distance of shuriken is about 15m and it is difficult to inflict a mortal wound by shuriken.

Thus Shuriken is not a main weapon, it was being used for self-defense and the assassination.

It was effective for assassination if I a shuriken is coated in the poison such as aconites.

To bring back the accurate information is the most important thing for the Ninja's mission.

For this reason shuriken is one of the best weapons for Ninja because it can wither with enemies easily.

How to shoot stick shuriken

happou shuriken

The basic principle of Ninjutsu

I often feel that foreign people have a misunderstanding about the Ninja.

I try to tell the real information of the Ninja through this blog.

Ninja must be first of all right-minded. Ninja's missions were like those of thieves.

So what is most important is heart of justice.

Without a heart of justice, they becomes just like thieves.

To stray from the path of righteousness means they were abandoned by God or Budda.Ninja had gained superhuman strength by faith of God or Budda.

Special skills of a Ninja is called "Ninjutsu".

There are two types of Ninjutsu.

Yin Ninjyutsu

Yin Ninjutsu is the way to achieve the mission by hiding under cover of darkness.

The missions of Ninja most people imagine are kind of Yin Ninjyutsu.

Yin means darkside and shadow.

Yin Ninjutsu is the art for sneaking  into enemy's territory to sabotage or to explore the inner workings.

Jyoueinin How to surprise or intrusion to the castle

Kanin The way to break into the house

Kaiko The method for opening the door

Shinobiyouchi The way of disturbance tactics

Yan Ninjyutsu

Yan Ninjyutsu is the way to carry out the mission by stratagem without hiding the figure.

Yan means light.

Ninja disguised themselves as a monk or priest and then penetrate into enemy's territory.

Japanese monk

Toiri Spy enemy's territory in advance

Chikairi Confuse by passing a variety of information that was mixed with truth and falsehood in the midst of battle

Miwake Disguised as a form appropriate to the time and place

Japanese priest

The role of Ninja

Ninja played an active part vigourously in Sengoku period (1497-1590) when Sengoku Daimyo（Feudal lord) had been fighting each other in the nation.

They were trying to broaden the territory so the Ninja was important for them to acheive the main purpose.

Ninja were excellent mercenary and spy but on the other hand they had a normal life as a farmer or merchant.

Ninja carried out intelligence, plot and disturbance at the same time.

Although spy was in any country,Ninja was special at this point.NIinja has four main roles.

These are information gathering, plot,unconventional warfare and counteract sabotage.

For Daimyo it was necessary to know the information of enemies in details as much as possible.

If they know the political situation,climate,troop strength,stockpile situation of food,they could make a plan to avoid the fight or attack opponent's weak points.

So it was important to get back safely than to fight for Ninja.

The activities to protect their information from the other intelligence activities were also important role of Ninja.

Sometimes Ninja gave out false information to the enemy's side so that enemy's action became more predictable.

Plot means strategy that does not use force.

To make the enemy general ally was usual strategy for Ninja.

Breaking the news that enemy's subordinate was going to betray the general was another technique Ninja did.

Doubts beget doubts and it caused internal breakdown of opponent groups.

Ninja were good at guerrilla warfare.

Even if the scale of troops are large,they couldn't show their ability without formation.

Ninja showed their ability especially in the battle of the castle and mountainous area.

Ninja also did activities such as digging pitfalls and arson.

Ninja supported the Daimyo who hired them not only by intelligence activities but also as Special Forces.

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Ninja's residence

Ninja's houses looks same as ordinary residence.In preparation for the sudden surprise attack, Ninja were making the escape route and hiding place in the house.Ninja usually had a normal life
as villagers.

Dondengaeshi

Dondengaeshi from upstairs

hidden stairs 

If small-scale attack, it was able to fight advantageously.This Ninja's house was also useful for escaping and stalling enemies.In Ninja's houses there were secret door called,"Dondengaeshi".
The wall rotates and it can be hidden on the other side.At the bottom of the altar, there is a hidden passage,so Ninja was able to escape out of the house.There was also a hidden staircase at the wooden floor.

Kougaryu Ninjyutsu Yashiki

Kougaryu Ninjyutsu Yashiki is real and only Ninja's house still exist.It was built in Edo period. Mochizuki family who were noble family of Koga Ninja made this tricky house of Ninja.In the Edo period,the world became more stable and peaceful than before but Mochizuki family ,based on the lessons learned from the past of oppression of the Koga Ninja, made perfect defence residence to be prepared for unforeseeable circumstances.

There is a pitfall ahead of "Dondengaeshi".

WEBSITE of Kouga Ninjyutsu Yashiki