Ninja's weapons,tools and instruments

shuriken

shuriken

Shuriken

Shuriken is one of the famous tools of Ninja. As a matter of fact, ninja rarely used them, because shurikens were so heavy and large.Ninja hated to have a useless things to do their jobs.They mainly used them to attack enemy when they escape from them.Sometimes shurikens were poisoned by aconite.Horse dung was also used as poison because it caused lockjaw when hurt by shuriken.

Kunai

Kunai

Kunai is thought to used as weapons but actually they were used as all-purpose tools such as shovel and knife.Sometimes ninja used as a scaffold when he climbed up the wall.

Shinobi Katana

Shinobi Katana is small sword for Ninja.Ninja loves portable goods.That's why it is rather small than other Katana. Shinobi Katana could  not only  cut down but also poke enemy.

Ninja used this in various ways for example they climbed the high wall by this. Shinobi Katana has a string. It was used to fall down enemies by making traps and sometimes used to tie the enemy.

climbing the fence by Katana

Mizugumo

Mizugumo was thought to used when walking the water.However,it's truely hard to walk the water by this items,so some people said Mizugumo might be used for other purposes.

Iron Makibisi

Makibisi was used in order to hurt pursuer. Ninja tried to hurt pursuer's sole of the foot by this.

Makibishi

Fruit of "Hishi"was used to slow down and stop the enemies.

Tekkoukagi

Tekkoukagi  was hidden weapon which Ninja used to attack enemies. On the other hand, Ninja climbed the wall and defend himself by this weapon.

Kaginawa

Kaginawa was used for climbing the wall or acrossing the valley.Sometimes Ninja used this as weapons.

Metsubushi

Metsubushi was used when Ninja was running away from enemies.Pepper and Japanese pepper or lime were in it. Pursuers become blind temporarily if it hits them.

Shinobigama

Shinobigama was useful weapons for Ninja. Easy to carry and can attack by safe position. Sickle was common farming tool,so it was less likely to be vigilant.

Hourokudama

Hourokudama was kind of grenade throwing to the enemy with a fire in the fuse.Put the gunpowder in pottery and Ninja throwed to the enemies.

Goshikimai

Goshikimai were colored riced used as making secret code.

Dounohi

Mainly used as source of making fire,otherhand used to warm body when it is cold.

various items Ninja used

Ninja's food ,diet, provisions

Foxtail, barnyard grass and buckwheat were being eaten as principal food  by Ninja

Furthermore,potatoes, tofu, fermented soybean paste, pickled plum and vegetables were being eaten.

They also tend to eat black rice,black soybeans, black Chinese quince, black sesame and black pine nut.

Sennin shoku

These black foods are called "Sennin shoku".

It is said that ancient Japanese hermit  ate these black foods.

ancient Japanese hermit

These foods strengthen life force and rejuvenated people who eat them.

Pine nuts were being eaten a lot by Ninja,because the pine nuts sharpen senses.

Ninja needs to sharpen their senses,so they tend to eat foods which sharpen the senses.

They avoid eating garlic,leeks,green onions and meat because they need to prevent body odor.

Of couｒse,they didn't smoke tabako because of same reason.

"Hoshii"is Ninja's portable ration.It's the rice dried by sun.It can eat easily by pouring water.

Hoshii

"Kikatsugan"was made by carrots, buckwheat flour, wheat flour, yam, mimikusa, pigeon wheat, glutinous rice.

NInja soaked them three years in liquor.

Then dried them and make it like a partable  ration.

Kikatsugan

It is said that you never get tired or starved  if you eat three "Kikatsugan"a day.

Suikatsugan

"Suikatsugan" was made by plum meat, rock sugar, ergot.This was eaten when Ninja was thirsty.

Katayaki

"Katayaki"is famous Ninja's food you can buy.It is first made by Ninja and nowadays it is popular food of Mie prefecture.

Hyourougan

Hyourougan is famous potable food of Ninja and Samurai. 

It was made by buckwheat flour, pearl barley, sesame seeds, honey, sugar, etc. 

It is said that no food are needed except one Hyorougan a day.

Iga Ninja

Iga Ninja

Iga　Ninja is one of the most famous group of Ninja.

They lived in Iga near Kyoto.

In Sengoku era,Iga Ninja were hired by the Daimyo and carried out intelligence activities.

Nobunaga Oda

Iga Ninja conflict to Nobunaga Oda and destroyed.

Nobunaga Oda was most powerful Daimyo at that time.

However,many Iga Ninja escaped to a various part of Japan.

So ninjyutu prevailed around Japan.

The place of Iga

map around Iga

Iga area was circled in a mountain, and the ability of the individual was important.

Iga was near Kyoto and Iga ninja had high literacy rate, and the latest information came in from a Kyoto and Osaka.

That's why Iga Ninja were excellent and could do their job easily.

There were community called "Soukoku Ikki"in Iga.

In the community,they talked each other about important things and  when being attacked, they united and fought to the enemy.

Ieyasu Tokugawa

Hanzo　Hattori,one of the most famous Ninja and other Iga Ninja saved  Ieyasu Tokugawa　when he was at a crisis.

Hanzo　Hattori

He need someone's help when  Nobunaga Oda　died because he was in Osaka with few Samurais.

He could return to a country in Mikawa by protection of Iga ninja.

Later Ieyasu Tokuga started Shogunate Government of Edo and  ruled Japan.

 Iga Ninja museum

You can know almost everything about Ninja at Iga Ninja museum.

http://www.iganinja.jp/en/index.html

Ninja　Hattorikun

Famous Anime character Ninja Hattorikun is Iga Ninja.

Koga Ninja

Koga Ninja

The place of Koga(Koka city)

Koga Ninja is one of the famous group of Ninja in Japan.　Others are Huma and Iga.They were living in Koga,　Shiga Prefecture.Legendary Ninja, Sarutobi Sasuke belongs to Koga Ninja.
In Sengoku era,Rokkaku family ruled this area. Rokkaku family's samurai is said the origin of Koga ninja.It is said to have had a conference called "Sou".Their ｌoyality toward Daimyo is amazing.

access to Koka city

Koga Ninja collect infomation by selling medicine.That is why  there are many pharmaceutical companies in Koga.

Koga  Ninja's cloth

Koga　Ninja  mansion

It is the Ninja mansion of Koga Ninja Mochizuki family. A variety of tricks such as the surprise ending and pitfalls in order to protect themselves from intruders has been decorated.

Koga　Ninja  village

Koga Ninja village is fun place to go.　Ninja's village has been reproduced here.There are also Ninja Museum here.

Handozan

This mountain was a training field of ninja.

Sokushouji

Koga Ninja trained at this temple.

Jinichi　Kawakami

Jinichi Kawakami maybe the last real Ninja in Japan. He has learned  Koga Ninjutsu from childfood.

About Jinichi Kawakami the last Ninja