Number 15 Jitte In the time period when ninjas were most active,
no one could carry a weapon into the shogun’s palace. The law extended to the guards as
well, which is they carried non-bladed batons called jitte. The weapon eventually became
associated with the highly-coveted position of palace guard. The jitte had a 2-inch prong
starting from the hilt and pointing towards the tip. This hook, called the kusagi, could’ve
been used to catch and trap a drawn blade or it could’ve been pushed into the nose,
mouth or weaker joints of an opponent. Ninjas understood the potential that the jitte held
and modified it to suit their way of fighting. It’s worth reinforcing, at this point, that
the way of the ninja was condemned by the samurai, who held honor above all other virtues.
The handle of a ninja’s jitte could detach from the metal casing to reveal a stiletto.
The ninja’s victim was left vulnerable, as they’d never expect the hidden blade
to be drawn from the jitte. Number 14 Bombs
By the 13th century, explosive devices were already known in Japan and they would later
evolve into handheld bombs. They became a crucial part of the ninja’s arsenal. Smoke
bombs could be used to create diversions and confusion. Explosives could be filled with
poisonous gases for silent kills or with iron and ceramic shrapnel, for fragmentation damage.
Number 13 Makibishi Ninjas were masters of stealth and infiltration
but even they sometimes had to deal with being detected. While chased, ninjas had an effective
way of slowing down their pursuers. They would throw down makibishi, which is the Japanese
version of the caltrop. These are small, spiked objects with the tips arranged in such a manner
that one is always pointing upward from a stable base. The makibishi were strong enough
to pierce through the straw rope sandals commonly worn at the time.
Number 12 Kunai The kunai is an excellent example of ninja
practicality. One principle, as expressed in a shinobi training manual, warns against
a ninja becoming overburdened. The Banshenshukai claims that “a successful ninja is one who
uses but one tool for multiple tasks”. There are few better examples in that regard than
the kunai. Most likely derived from the Japanese masonry trowel, this heavy pointed tool was
extremely useful. A skilled martial artist could use it like a dagger or a throwing knife.
The ninja would also use it to gouge holes into walls and create footholds or passages
of entry. Number 11 Ninja Knowledge
When it comes to a profession that fundamentally entails becoming a shadow, information and
secrecy are perhaps the greatest weapons. Various clans contributed to developing and
perfecting the way of the ninja. Three surviving writings are today regarded as the most important
sources of ninja knowledge. The Ninpiden, written by Hattori Hanzo in 1560, is one of
the earliest authentic ninja manuals. It was passed down within the Hattori family and
considered secret knowledge, not to be shared with outsiders. In 1676, the Banshenshukai
contained information regarding the ninja’s weapons and tools but also had volumes on
philosophy, leadership and infiltration techniques. Lastly, the Shoninki, written in 1681, was
a training manual that focused extensively on the various principles of espionage. It
deals with basic operational concepts like disguise and house-breaking but is also concerned
with a ninja mastering their emotional state. Much like the samurai, children were born
into the ninja craft and were expected to pass it on. Training began early and, aside
from being intensely physical, focused on the understanding of poison, explosives and
deception. Number 10 Happo
The happo was a hollowed-out egg shell that the ninja would fill with metsubushi, a type
of blinding powder. Metsubushi literally translates as “eye closers” and would feature a variety
of materials specifically meant to damage an opponent’s eyes. These could include
ground-up peppers, crushed glass, dirt, iron filing and others. A happo thrown at the victim’s
face usually allowed the ninja to make a quick escape if they were ever detected. It was
also a redoubtable offensive weapon since taking out the victim’s eyes left them vulnerable.
Number 9 Kuji-kiri Ninjas, also known as shinobi, were the spies
and assassins of feudal Japan. They primarily relied on stealth and dissimulation, which
is why many of their weapons were designed to be concealed and surprise their targets.
Because of their covert actions, ninjas were sometimes believed to have supernatural abilities,
like invisibility, flight or shapeshifting. While these were mostly just illusions carefully
crafted by the ninja, there is some mentioning of esoteric practices. The kuji-kiri was a
technique that, according to the legends, could physically regenerate the ninja, increase
their focus, render opponents immobile or perform other superhuman feats. The kuji-kiri
originated in Taoism as nine words and incantations. These were eventually accompanied by hand
symbols which, when adequately performed, were said to give the ninja great power. It’s
rather incredible that, in lack of swords or daggers, the ninja could perform kuji-kiri
and basically turn their body into a weapon. Number 8 Neko Te
There are a number of ninja weapons that take inspiration from the natural world. Felines
are perhaps the creatures that best embody the set of skills required of a ninja. Cats
are not only exceptionally athletic but they’re also nocturnal, silent and generally rely
on stalking and ambushing their prey. The neko te were iron claws, similar to those
of a cat, and the preferred weapon of the kunoichi, the female ninja. These metal claws
were placed over the fingers independently or connected to form a Freddy Krueger-like
glove. The kunoichi received extensive martial arts training and knew how to use the neko
te to inflict maximum damage to their victim’s vital regions. Moreover, the tips of the neko-te
were often dipped in poisonous tinctures so any slash held deadly potential.
Number 7 Mizugumo Adding to the list of abilities that ninja
were believed to possess is water-walking. As much as it defies natural law, ninjas could
move across the water’s surface without sinking. However, unlike reports of the kuji-kiri,
there was nothing supernatural about this. The ninja was actually using a device called
the mizugumo, which literally translates as “water spider”. It consisted of a harness
attached to the ninja’s waist and featured small air pockets, made from animal hide,
which kept the ninja afloat. Another description of the mizugumo claims it involved curved
wood planks, connected in a circle, and worn on the feet like shoes. This design was tested
in modern times and, while it wasn’t necessarily effective for staying afloat, it was well-suited
for walking across marshes or wet rice paddies. The mizugumo was a strong contributor to the
ninja mythos that allowed these shadow operators to reach seemingly impossible positions.
Number 6 Kanzashi Even though they were capable of executing
any type of assignment, the main role of the female ninja was espionage. The kunoichi would
find work at targeted houses and gather information by gaining trust or eavesdropping. Since they
were hiding in plain sight, the ninjas adapted their weapons accordingly. Women in feudal
Japan often wore long, ornamental hair pins called kanzashi. In the hands of a kunoichi,
a sharpened kanzashi was more than a fashion accessory, it was a killing tool. If the spy
was discovered, they’d be able to act quickly by attacking their victim with the kanzashi.
Should the ninja have received orders to assassinate someone in the infiltrated household, they
could dip the kanzashi in poison and make the kill.
Number 5 Ninjato The ninjato, as presented by the majority
of modern ninjutsu practitioners, was the purported sword of the ninja. As masters of
stealth, these assassins needed weapons that they could easily carry. Their movement was
swift and silent so a sword like the samurai’s katana would’ve often been cumbersome. The
ninjato is said to have been thick, heavy and straight while also being shorter, at
a maximum length of about 23 inches. According to some historians, ninjas had to forge their
own swords and a straight blade design was easier to create than the curved shape of
the katana. The weapon’s design might’ve also been a tribute to Fudo Myo-oh, a patron
deity of the ninja who’s often depicted with a straight sword. Still, a number of
sources claim that the ninja also relied on the katana when it came to sword fighting.
Number 4 Kama The kama was basically a sickle with a straighter
edge, initially used for reaping crops. However, the ninja eventually found a use for it as
a weapon and experts could double wield a pair of kama with deadly proficiency. This
weapon could be used to block, trap or disarm an opponent. The blade was kept razor-sharp
and there was a nook, at the end of its handle, which allowed the kama to be attached to a
staff. Number 3 Kusarigama
The kusarigama was a modified version of the kama with its handle connected to a metal
weight via a long chain. It’s said to have been one of the deadliest weapons of its time.
The ninja would swing the weighted chain in a circle above their head then throw it forward
to entangle the ninja’s opponent or their weapon. The wielder was thus free to strike
their incapacitated target with the sickle end of the kusarigama.
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Number 2 Shuriken Perhaps the best known ninja weapon was the
shuriken. While they’re commonly known and popularized as throwing stars, the shuriken
took many shapes, including darts, discs, spikes or knives. While they could inflict
mortal damage, they were likely mainly used as distraction tools. One common technique
was throwing the shuriken only to produces a glancing strike and then become lost, confusing
the victim. Number 1 Fukiya
Fukyia is both the name for the Japanese blowgun and for the practice associated with it. Yet,
long before it became part of an archery sport, the fukiya was a weapon used by the ninja.
It was shorter than the modern version, at only about 20 inches. While this reduced its
range, the blowgun was deadly when used by an expert. From a secluded position, the ninja
fired special darts with poisoned tips at their targets. It could also be used as a
breathing pipe, enabling the ninja to stay submerged and undetected.
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