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The kama, for instance, was a farm implement. In actuality, ninjas favored knives over swords as they were easier to conceal. Curiously, ninja also utilized mines, smoke grenades, flashing balls, firecrackers, and other explosives. It could be a hidden weapon in the shape of a folding fan or it could also be placed inside the cane. This is one of the reasons why they could sell medicine all around Japan to gather news without letting people know their identities. Gunpowder technology, on the other hand, was a relatively recent development and was difficult to wield against groups of warriors. As it was easier to conceal and carry, the hankyu was more suitable for use in the covert operations that were the ninja's forte. In 1956, the first known photo of a Ninja sword was featured in Ninjutsu, a booklet by Heishichiro Okuse. What Kind of Bows and Arrows Did Ninjas Use? This was why they preferred ambushes, hidden attacks, and ranged tactics. Do ninjas use samurai swords? The Ninjato or Ninja swords were all created during the Edo period. But with poison-coated on its edges, then it could kill the enemies. Years later, various films, books, and TV shows depict the Ninja wielding the Ninjato. In films and on stage, the Ninjato can be seen with a straight and shorter blade compared to the Katana. This was purposely created so they can use it in narrow spaces such as rooms or passageways. This was a small metal plate with four spikes that extended from the palm. 7. Ninjas sometimes used poisoned arrowheads or loaded arrows with explosive tips to maximize the impact of a hit. Yes, a ninja has fought a samurai. Shuriken (Ninja Star) Kunai Knife. This weapon would then give absolute wreckage to their enemies. They would use this to pierce their targets skin, leaving them bleeding to death while they flee. In addition, they were skilled at fighting in the dark and could use the cover of night to get close to samurai and take them out. However, this also meant that ninjas often wore no armor other than their lightweight kusari katabira. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-4-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_14',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Ultimately, ninjas did not make use of firearms, instead relying on their stealth, cunning and skill with bladed weapons to complete their missions. After all, during the late warring era of Japan, the use of the weapon was strictly restricted to the military. Martial arts. As a result, samurai preferred swords to guns. [3] [4] It is portrayed by modern ninjutsu practitioners (including Masaaki . Ninja tossed them overhand or used them to side-arm an opponent with a quick, spinning motion. Even though the Ninja or Shinobi were covert agents in Japan, theyre still highly famous to the majority. However, in modern day, it is used to refer to a . To the Samurai, blinding the enemy and dealing the killing blow was one without honor. The Iga and Kga clans were often hired as spies and were experts in covert operations and guerilla warfare. As it was easier to conceal and carry, the hankyu was more suitable for use in the covert operations that were the ninjas forte. Ninjas are often associated with swift, silent movement in order to accomplish their missions without detection. References:[1] Source[2] Source[3] Source[4] Source. Getting caught with a katana would have put a ninja and his mission in peril. Fukiya was a mid-ranged blowgun that could be hidden as a musical instrument. [1]. There are also three-pointed or four-pointed Shurikens that we can see from the majority of the movies around. As a result, many ninjas would use distraction, surprise attacks, and hit-and-run tactics to wear down the samurai before finally defeating them. Properly called shinobi, ninjas were spies in feudal Japan. You would see them in a lot of movies or novels. Shinobi prioritized utility and comfort over aesthetics, so their swords were disposable. Nigiri-teppo was also a Ninja way of deception by making the enemies think that the gun corps were nearby. Says Alt, Every special forces team, every commando, every espionage agent and even researcher is performing the exact same role a ninja did back in the day.. On top of these caps were sharp nails that looked like claws. For close quarters combat, ninja used a myriad of weapons including swords, knives, daggers, spikes and clubs called hanbo. Thank you for visiting World History FAQ. The existence of the Ninjato in feudal Japan is not certain due to lack of physical evidence. Running with the arms back helps to reduce drag and wind resistance, allowing the ninja to move faster and more quietly. This type of Metsubishi was one that ninjas could simply throw to the enemys face. There's a myth that ninja only used throwing stars, swords, and knivesthat they didn't use modern weapons. There are also different types of Shuriken known. If a ninja stole a samurai sword, that would be the equivalent of impersonating a police officer and he (or she) would be put to death. The ninjat that the ninja is often depicted wielding is based on the wakizashi, a short sword that samurai carried along with the katana. Their primary weapons were swords, spears, and bows and arrows, although they did deploy other weapons such as slings and staves. Metsubishi was not a lethal weapon on its own, but the number of people that fell due to this tool was nonetheless high. As descendants of samurai clans, the Shinobi would have been familiar with the samurai weaponry of that era. Although based on actual historical figures from medieval Japan, the ninjas that modern audiences are familiar with owe as much to myth as reality. On the other hand, the ninja would not use a kunai as a weapon, let alone a throwing knife. For the Saya of the Ninjato, it was often said that it had different purposes. As descendants of lower-class samurai, ninjas received training in most of the conventional weapons of the day. While wandering the enemy area as an obscure priest, they had their weapon hidden in plain sight. Unlike Samurai who has different methods in fighting, the specialty of the Ninja lies on how they would use their swords. Ninja also developed their own martial arts styles, which included acrobatic skills, dodging and jumping techniques as well as various martial arts weapons. He saw the ninja as a threat to his power, hence starting a campaign to conquer their territories. This myth is incorrect. After all, when one loses their eyesight, their combat ability could very well go down the drain. They did not attach a lot of value to the swords. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-leader-4','ezslot_28',166,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0');@media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0_1-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-leader-4','ezslot_29',166,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0_1');.leader-4-multi-166{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Ultimately, the answer to how many swords ninja carried is likely to vary from one ninja to the next. Kakute were rings worn in their middle fingers with spikes hidden in their hands. Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Although its appearance is different, wielding the Ninjato was similar to that of the Katana. We exist to educate and inspire readers through teaching history in an understandable way. The dachi () (large/great sword) or nodachi (, field sword) [4] [5] [6] is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (, nihont) [7] [8] used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. As a weapon, they can use it as a short sword in close combat. Ninjas did use bows and arrows. While its a fact that they utilized a sword to accomplish their tasks, its unknown whether these were called Ninjato. They also followed a strict code, Bushido, which forbade them from engaging in certain acts such as espionage and carrying out assassinations. The history of the Ninjato can only be reliably archived from the 20th century until the present. The katana is most often mistaken for Leonardo's weapon from the 2007 TMNT film, the Ninjaken. It was these secretive aspects of the ninjas craft that, over the centuries, gave them a near-mythic reputation for invisibility. Since they lived in the mountains they were familiar with different kind of plants and as well as the effect of it to the people who would eat it. The iconography of ninjas with swords on their backs came from a need to. Ninja (aka Shinobi) were the specialised assassins, saboteurs, and secret agents of medieval Japanese warfare who were highly-trained proponents of the martial arts, especially what later became known as ninjutsu or 'the art of the ninja'. Ninjas would also use distraction techniques by throwing things in different directions while they moved in the opposite direction, keeping their steps soft and slow. Neko-te or Nekode literally means cat hand, and quite fittingly, the weapon actually looked like a cats claw. Ninja practiced the ninjutsu fighting style, a traditional martial art practiced to date. Because of the way of living of the Shinobi, only a few genuine . It could also be a tool that is actually working as an instrument. Anyone who has seen a pirate movie or television show knows pirates were fond of using swords. Even their weapons cannot be accurately determined since they kept their identity hidden as much as possible. Ninjas would also have been familiar with the shorter hankyu half-bow. They would blow needles out of the Fukiya. Additionally, they used the element of surprise to their advantage by way of ambush tactics, often meeting the enemy on their own terms instead of engaging in open combat. Their fighting tactics relied heavily on deception, secrecy, slowing down opponents, or inducing temporal blindness. They also used nunchucks, plus an assortment of specialized ninjutsu weapons like the shuko, kyoketsu shoge, shuriken, caltrops, explosives, bamboo bows, bamboo staff, and small escape weapons. These weapons include the following: The kind of armor ninjas wore was a light chain mail shirt under their clothes called a kusari katabira. Just like the Medieval times, the Samurai with their Japanese swords and Wakizashi Sword Tantojutsu: Fight with Your Knife! As a result, there have been numerous accounts of ninja and samurai clashing. This article was originally published on August 7, 2012. In some cases, ninja could even use smoke bombs to temporarily blind their enemies, giving them a split second advantage in a fight. Wait a moment and try again. Samurai warriors, who prided themselves on the discipline of the martial arts, mainly used swords and polearms as weapons. Samurai also continued to incorporate firearms into their everyday fighting methods, though never abandoning the sword. This weapon was a favorite among Kunoichi or female Ninjas. They did not hold any regard to the methods they used as long as they finish their job. Like other weapons, this tool would highly work if there is a poison covering the spikes of it. According to Alt, this weapon was ideal because it could be easily dissembled into farmers tools. A favorite ninja weapon was a style of sickle called the kama. Anyone who has seen a pirate movie or television show knows pirates were fond of using swords. Ninjas preferred short-bladed weapons that could be concealed and carried without drawing attention to themselves. The whole point of a ninja was to blend in. Ninja often dressed as farmers so they could do just that as they collected information and scouted enemies. The Ninja must be invisible to the eye of their enemies. Did ninja have a five-day workweek system? As Kodachi are short swords they were allowed to be carried by the general public and so the Ninja likely had access to them. Some of those would not even give the person the honor of knowing how they died. This made it easy to carry a sword without revealing their identity to their enemies. In an atmosphere of constant war, ninja skills were essential for all sides, and they played a key role in the Nanbukucho Wars (1336-1392), the Onin War (1460s), and the Sengoku Jidai, or Warring States Periodwhere they aided samurai in their internal power struggles. [2]. They did throw shurikens, but the stars were used as a distraction more often than they were used as weapons. By learning how to move slowly and deliberately, a ninja would be able to assess the situation before making a loud sound. This might be the case if a ninja were infiltrating an enemy castle at night. Finally, ninjas also deployed a wide variety of other sharp instruments that were similar to knives but, strictly speaking, were not actually knives. It was a formidable weapon, frequently used by samurai. Their sword art would have been the old art of kenjutsu and they also had training in the use of the spear, known as sojutsu and . It would have been a familiar sight on farms across the Japanese countryside. Japan's era of shoguns and samurai is long over, but the country does have one, or maybe two, surviving ninjas. Specifically by the Samurai who existed in the same warring period of Japan. As wandering street performers, this was a vital weapon that they could conceal in plain sight. Different forms of armed and unarmed fighting techniques. However, this policy does not stop a few people from especially collecting these items. And most of the Japanese population weren't even allowed to carry sword, so it's h. Although they are often depicted wielding short straight swords, known as ninjat, there is no evidence that ninjas used ninjat. These books reference the Ninja sword. When firearms became available, they started using derringers, amongst other handguns. In the museum, replicas of the straight-bladed swords used by the Shinobi in feudal Japan were displayed. What Are The Ancient Military Weapons Of Japan? Inside the bag were a variety of concealed tools such as kunai and shuriken. Another type of Metsubishi was the one made from paper and eggshells. They improvised some of these weapons as they were Japanese swordsmiths have helped Japan throughout history; theyve created swords that have played an important role in Japans history. They are a flat, star-shaped piece of metal that they would throw in a lot of movies and Anime. In fact, any evidence of the straight-bladed Ninja sword before the Edo period is non-existent. A ninja usually wore a ninja-to or other short sword on his back. Ninjas were warriors skilled in various martial arts, stealth tactics and weapons techniques. The most common way for a ninja to carry their weapons was in a cloth bag, known as a ninja bag, which was usually tucked in their belt, under their obi (sash). Several historical accounts show the existence of the Ninjato. Start changing your life today! According to the website for the Koka Ninja House, a museum of ninja history in Japans Shiga prefecture, ninjas were famous for seven disguises. Their main weapon is the Katana. These are the most common Ninja Weapons. Ninja weapons explained. In 1964, the Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum was established. The sword is the axis of the world and its power is absolute. It was suitable for both defensive and offensive stances. They were used along with other weapons to increase their effectiveness in battle. Blowgun. To the Ninja, there was no such thing as underhanded. Ninjato Sword T10 Folded Steel with Twisted Grain Pattern and Black Semi Red Ray Skin Saya With Buffalo Horn, Handmade Ninjato T10 Folded Clay Tempered Steel Kiriha Zukuri Kissaki, Black And White Saya, Ninjato T10 Clay Tempered Steel with Hadori Polish & Kiriha Zukuri Kissaki, Sparkle Black Hardwood Saya, Special Ninjato Blade 1095 Folded Carbon Steel, Ebony Wood Saya with Copper Fittings, Ninjato 1095 Folded Steel with Black And Gold Saya, Ninjato Sword 9260 Spring Steel with Purple Acid Dye and Redwood Saya With Black Buffalo Horn, Fully Functional Ninjato T10 Folded Clay Tempered Steel with Hadori Polish and Smokey Saya, Purple Blade Ninjato 1060 Folded Carbon Steel with Glossy Black Engraved Saya, Ninjato T10 Folded Clay Tempered Steel with Black Engraved Dragon Saya, Hexagon Rosewood Shirasaya T10 Clay Tempered Steel Kiriha Zukuri, Hexagon Maple Wood Shirasaya T10 Clay Tempered Steel Kiriha Zukuri, Japanese Ninjato Sword T10 Folded Clay Tempered Steel Kiriha Zukuri with Hadori Polish and Purple Acid Dye, Wakizashi Ninjato 1060 Carbon Steel with Black Acid Dye & Gloss White Saya, Straight Blade Ninjato T10 Clay Tempered Steel with Hadori Polish Sparkle Black Hardwood Saya, Ninjato T10 Clay Tempered Steel with Ebony Wood Saya, Wakizashi Ninjato 1060 Carbon Steel with White Maple Wood Saya, Straight Blade Ninjato 1060 Folded Steel with Red acid Dye and Saya with Gold Inscription. Yes, in the warring era of Japan, there were females among these hired men, a witty way of implementing cat fights. They specialized in guerilla warfare and cloak and dagger tactics and often went about in disguise on information-gathering missions. Ninjas used nunchucks as offensive weapons. You cannot even find them with the secret shop since they were only available on Ninja schools before. So, a ninja carrying a katana might attract attention. Still, however, the sword remained the weapon of choice for the samurai, not just for its cultural significance, but because it was effective for close combat and could be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. We may earn a commission from links on this page. These guns were fired using a lit match, much like a musket, and were popularized by the samurai. The following sections will outline some of the ninjas' most . They featured four sharp points designed to slow down a pursuing enemy since one point always protruded upwards. Naturally, they could be well genuine doctors with their skills and experience in concocting medicine. Uses as a weapon: Cutting, tying a rope to the handle and using it to climb to high places, other uses. Ninjas mastered the use of many of the usual weapons of war. This article will describe the styles of bows and arrows the ninjas used, provide an overview of the kinds of weapons they preferred to use, and explain if ninja weapons still exist today. For ninjas, they have shurikens and kunais. The end with the ring wrapped around the enemys arm, allowing the ninja to pull him close and swipe down sharply on the neck, using the curved knife edge. For Alt, theres been a hyper focus on martial arts and ninja in the West. Katanas have been around since ancient times in Japan, used by samurai warriors for centuries. Metsubishi was primarily used to ruin the targets eyes. Nunchaku is a favorite kind of weapon of ninjas. The Samurai is the most powerful military caste who is famous to wield a sword. They also use it to coat their weapons or put poison to their enemys food. Being adept at using these weapons prepared ninjitsu trainees to use any alternative objects available during a fight. The Katana was used for closer in-fighting and to perform the hari-kari ritual. When I say what you know about ninja is wrong, Im using quotes because this iconography, while not historically accurate, was created, refined, and tweaked in Japan. This gave way to weapon-based martial arts. The arms back position also helps the ninja to control their movements better, allowing them to adjust their speed and direction easily and quickly. In the same year, the fourth and fifth entries of the Japanese historical movie series, Shinobi no Mono, were shown. It was quite longer than the blade of the Ninjato since the Shinobi kept various objects like chemicals for blinding enemies. The katana, the long, curved sword favored by samurai, was the weapon of choice for fighters of the ninjas era. You can view them at museums in the traditional ninja heartlands in Japan. The blade length is 225.43 cm and the tang is 92.41 cm. For these reasons, ninjas frequently preferred to work with unconventional weapons or weapons modified from everyday tools. Like its history, the usage of the Ninjato is theoretical since there is no historical proof of its existence. Ninjas used the traditional Japanese longbow, the yumi, and arrows known as ya. Ninjas were Japanese warriors whose skills and lifestyle were centered around the traditional martial art known as Ninjutsu.They are highly trained individuals who practice how to be stealthy and maintain a low-profile to take out their enemies with fatal techniques and weapons. Perhaps the most iconic one is the katana associated with the samurai. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-leader-3','ezslot_26',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0');@media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0_1-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-leader-3','ezslot_27',164,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-164{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Ninjas, who were trained in espionage, infiltration, sabotage, and assassination, carried their weapons in a variety of ways for use in their missions. In the 1960s, the Bond film You Only Live Twice put ninja on the map in the West; in the 1970s, there was the big martial arts boom, which engulfed the ninja; the 1980s saw American Ninja as well as Frank Millers comics; then, of course, there was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Being stealthy was the doctrine of the Ninja. Ninjas, or shinobi as they were sometimes known, were part of the ancient samurai culture, and as such were trained in the traditional ways of the samurai, including the use of katanas. The first Hollywood film featuring the Ninjato was shown in 1983. Others kept special sheaths attached to their belts specifically designed to hold their weapons. Japan excels at creating memorable characters; along with Godzilla and Hello Kitty, the ninja is one of its best. They also worked with spikes, darts, poisons, explosives, and even modified farm implements when required to be more stealthy. The effectiveness of the katana is well known. Ninjas would also have been familiar with the shorter hankyu half-bow. The word ninja didnt appear until the 1800slong after real ninja existed. Modified with a weighted chain, the kama became the even more lethal kusarigama. These include fast drawing techniques that focus on drawing the sword and cutting as a simultaneous attacking or defensive action. Similar to Kakute, Tekken was a weapon that ninjas used for close combat. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The samurai was an elite fighting group in early feudal Japan. Known as shuriken, they probably inspired the throwing stars that are another staple of pop culture ninja depictions. Why does a diver pull his hand and legs close to his body when jumping from diving board in the swimming pool to get more somersaults? Such weapons could pass off as everyday tools used by commoners across Japan. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am. In modern time, one of the mysteries of Ninja aside from their actual existence, are their weapons. People could frown upon their methods, but to them, as long as it worked out, then it was an excellent strategy. Ninjas used various weapons, including conventional fighting tools like the spear, sword, bow and arrow. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); How can I stop being claustrophobic in an MRI? While some samurai did experiment with the use of guns, the majority of samurai warriors did not regularly rely on firearms or even handle them in battle. As covert operatives, they preferred weapons that were easy to conceal and carry. Samurai swords were unlike the swords being carried by the ninjas. They use swords, super sonic speed, and their awesome balancing running and jumping abilities against their opposition. A potent weapon, the kyoketsu shoge featured a cord with a metal ring on one end and a double-pointed knife on the other. Some ninjas used a method of concealment known as kusari-fundo in which they hid weapons in the fabric of their clothing or underneath their garments. The combination of swordplay and firearms proved very effective, and became a key part of the samurais fighting technique. - Charles de Gaulle. Ninjutsu is an umbrella term entailing all the ways in which ninjas trained to fight. Ninjas inspired fascination across generations and cultures. What Kind of Weapons Did Ninjas Use? However, historians and experts believe that the Shinobi wielded a straight-bladed sword known as the Ninjato. Ninjas possessed superior knowledge of the land and were able to use the terrain to their advantage to effectively and efficiently fight their samurai opponents. But what happened to the ninja? The striking art of the ninja would have been an old form of fighting in Japan known as taijutsu and their grappling art was the forerunner of jujutsu, known as kumi-uchi. Their primary weapons of choice were swords, throwing stars, claws and disguised weapons, such as a cane that could be used as a spear or staff. With it being small in size, it was hard to aim and kill in one shot, but with the use of poison then a mere nick could send their targets to the door of death. The real ninja? Real ninja (or shinobi) typically relied on a variety of different weapons, depending on the mission. Katana is one of the finest swords in the world. Artist Hokusai gets credit for the first image of ninja in the classic black suit. Yamabushi carried a cane with them when they roam around, and Ninjas took advantage of this. Historically, the word ninja was not in common use, and a variety of regional colloquialisms evolved to describe what would later be dubbed ninja. They were versatile, and they actually invented their very own handgun. A Ninja sword had a long strap of about 3 meters in length tied around the sword. Sometimes wakizashi or tanto (shortswords and daggers) are used instead. Although guns became common in some areas, many samurai felt that using firearms in combat was dishonorable, opting instead to use their traditional weapons. They also had specialized weapons like chained sickles and projectile blades. Fight for Your Life. In spite of these advantages, ninjas still had a difficult time fighting samurai in an open, fair fight. This was for the people who were not allowed to carry a Samurai sword such as the farmers. So, yes, the ninja of popular culture differs from real ninja (and if you want to know about real ninja, check out Alts book), but the ninja of popular culture is so vivid and so fascinating, that its easy to see why Japan has continued to embrace this mythos. While ninja weapons such as nunchucks were initially designed as farming tools, with time, the ninjas decided to transform them into weapons for their survival. Another type of Neko-te was an iron glove, again with sharp claws. Something went wrong. Science Has Determined This Is The Scariest Game Of All Time. Ninjas Didn't Have Samurai Swords No movie featuring ninjas would be complete without shuriken, the dreaded throwing stars that can be unleashed with deadly force from many yards away, or a man in black pajamas wielding a samurai sword.