Steven Klamm - Ninja and Ninjutsu - The Stealth Techniques of the Japanese Martial Art of Espionage and Invisibility

Steven Klamm

Smashword Edition

Copyright 2013 Steven Klamm

Cover by Steven Klamm

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Table of Content s

Ninjutsu (known in English as the techniques of stealth or the arts of invisibility) is the Japanese martial art of espionage. Practitioners are trained primarily to infiltrate enemy territory to find out about and report on troops, artillery, provisions and fortifications. The scope of training was eventually expanded to include a means of actively altering the course of battles, including arson, assassination and seizure and/or destruction of weapons and supplies. Although practitioners are popularly referred to as ninjas, the following terms are also used to collectively describe them: shinobi (spy), onmitsu (secret agent), rappa (wild wave), suppa (transparent wave), toppa (attacking wave), kasa (grass), monomi (seer ofthings) and nokizaru (monkey under the eaves).

Despite historical evidence that suggest the presence of ninja-like activities in earlier times, it is generally believed that ninjutsu emerged in the Sengoku period (late 15 th -16 th centuries). Warfare was prevalent during this era, hence, there was a need for a formal fighting style. Schools teaching ninjutsu ( ryuha ) were eventually established, systematizing its techniques in the process. Fujita Seiko (1936) claimed that there were 71 different ryuha , the most popular of which was the following: the Iga-ryu , Koga-ryu and Kishu-ryu . It is believed that the 69 other ryuha were derived from these three.

When peace was restored in Japan during the Tokugawa Era (1600-1867), the ninjutsu was rendered virtually useless. Its practice was reduced to a form of martial arts and some ninjas were recruited by the Tokugawa bakufu for surveillance and police purposes. Because of the secretive nature of their activities, ninjas were portrayed in Tokugawa-era art, drama and literature as superhuman beings that could disappear at will, leap effortlessly over walls or sneak undetected into a castle.

That image continues to capture the imagination of people today. In the decades shortly before World War II, ninjas were popularized both in fiction and in the films of directors like Makino Shozo. In the 1960s, the Shinobi no mono (Ninja: Band of Assassins) film series, starring Ichikawa Raizo, triggered an international fascination with ninjas and ninjutsu. Ninjutsu therefore became a central theme in action novels and films set in various locations worldwide. It has also lost its Japanese characterAmerican children and even cartoon character turtles have been cast as ninjas. Indeed, the ninja is now one of the most popular icons of both Japanese and contemporary global culture.

Legends about ninjutsus origins abound in ryuha texts, but scholars have dismissed these as being highly inaccurate. It is more likely that espionage techniques for the purposes of warfare were developed in the 7 th and 8 th centuriesand they were most probably patterned after Sun Tzus military classic, The Art of War . Prince Shotokus defeat of the Mononobe in 587 was attributed largely to espionage (he is believed to be the first Japanese ruler to benefit from the services of a shinobi ). Others claim that the yamabushi (mountain ascetics), followers of a Shinto-Buddhist sect that emphasizes mountain worship ( shugendo ), were the pioneers of ninjutsu . Overall, early accounts of ninja activities remain unproven.

The need for spies and unconventional fighting strategies intensified during medieval times, as war became endemic and weaponry became increasingly sophisticated. For instance, Kusunoki Masashige, an early 14 th century Japanese warlord, is believed to have won battles mainly through ninja-like activities. He allegedly hired Iga ninja to slip into Kyoto to learn about the citys military situation. In addition, he defended his fortress by placing lifelike dolls on the battlements to make the number of his troops appear larger. Masashiges excellent guerilla skills led later ryuha to claim a connection with him.

Japan plunged further into conflict after the Onin War (1467-1477). Consequently, many daimyo (regional warlords) regularly hired ninjas as spies in order to expand their territories. Although ninjutsu was openly taught and spread around the country, samurai clans residing in Iga and Koga (present-day Mie and ShigaPrefectures, respectively) were the ones that developed most of its techniques. By the end of the 15 th century, there were believed to be 53 ninja houses in Iga and two in Koga. These houses were dominated by the Hattori clan and its two branches, the Fujibayashi and Momochi.

Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin and Hojo Ujiyasu are just some of the daimyo who employed ninja for the purposes of surveillance. In the Battle of Magari in Omi province in 1487, Rokaku Takayori defeated the invading Ashikaga bakufu army by hiring ninja to burn down the latters headquarters. Activities like this made ninja very indispensable to the daimyo. Knowledge of ninjutsu further spread among the daimyo after Oda Nobunaga destroyed the Iga and Koga territories in 1581many of the ninjas residing in these regions fled to Daimyo in eastern Japan.

Among the daimyo that used ninja, Tokugawa Ieyasu, first shogun of the Tokugawa bakufu created in 1603, is the most well-known. His familys connection with ninja spanned two generations, beginning with his grandfather, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, who employed hundreds of Iga ninja, which were led by Hattori Hanzo Yasunaga. In 1852, Ieyasu escaped an assassination attempt with the help of a group of ninja led by Hattori Hanzo Masanari. When he became shogun, Ieyasu appointed Hanzo as leader of the Iga and Koga ninja were tasked with spying on possible opponents of the bakufu. The Tokugawa relied heavily on the help of ninjas at the major engagements of Sekigahara, the sieges of OsakaCastle and the Shimabara Rebellion. Soon after, Iga and Koga ninja were officially absorbed into the regimes police and surveillance organizations.

Ninja families flourished throughout Japan from the 13 th to the 17 th centuries. Each clan had its own set of standards that must be met if one wished to become a ninja agent. Some families emphasized physical abilities. Some emphasized mental alertness. Other families placed a premium on political connections. All true ninja, however, must be proficient in the following areas regardless of family affiliation:

1. Ki-ai (Personal harmony with the total scheme of things) The ninja is an enlightened individual who is in full control of himself. He is very much aware of his strengths and weaknesses and knows how to use these against his opponent. He knows when to attack and when to retreat.

2. Tai-jutsu (Body skills) The ninja is an expert in unarmed combat (strikes, throws, locks and escapes). His fighting style makes use primarily of natural movements (leaping, tumbling, climbing, silent movement, etc.) and knowledge of the human bodys weak points.

3. Ken-po (Sword method) The ninjas primary weapon was a short, straight-blade sword. This type of sword was used for close-range fighting.