Ninja have been familiar to many Japanese since childhood through movies, television, manga, novels, and video games. Ninjutsu stimulates people’s imagination and attracts not only many Japanese but also people from all over the world these days.
However, there is actually a lot we do not know about the details of the history of the ninja to begin with. The ninja are an enigmatic part of Japanese history and culture. Their activities were particularly active in Japan during the Warring States period, but their existence was considered so secretive that official documents and records are almost non-existent. Only a few books and picture scrolls of folklore, oral traditions, and ninja techniques have survived.
Information on the activities and techniques of the ninja is sometimes difficult to distinguish between folklore and fiction and reality. In this issue, we will begin our study of the enigmatic “Ninja”, a topic that is full of mysteries.
Mysteries of the Ninja (1) Where do the Ninja come from?
There are various theories about the history of the ninja, and it is not clearly known.
According to one theory, the word “ninja” and the word “ninja” began when Ohtomo no Hosohito, who served Prince Shotoku, was given the title of “shinobi” by Prince Shotoku.
Ootomo Hosoiri is said to have possessed superior martial arts and a talent for espionage, and as such is regarded as the founder of the ninja arts.
In Japanese history, ninja played an active role as shadow warriors from the Warring States Period to the Edo Period through assassination techniques and espionage activities. The Kansai region in particular is known as a region where ninja activities were active.
Two of the most representative of these schools, the Koga Ninja and the Iga Ninja, took root in the Kansai region. The Kouga Ninja were based in the Kouga region of Shiga Prefecture, while the Iga Ninja were based in the Iga region of Mie Prefecture. These areas were mountainous, and the natural terrain is believed to have suited the activities of the ninja.
The ninja used tactics and techniques that deviated from the traditional samurai fighting style, and carried out their missions by means of surprise attacks and subterfuge. In the Kansai region, ninja groups such as the Iga and Koga clans operated in response to employment or requests from warring feudal lords.
Ninjutsu is not a supernatural ability as legend has it, but is said to be the art of infiltrating enemy lines to gather information, killing hostile individuals in secret, and acting in such a way as to avoid detection by the enemy. These techniques were acquired through rigorous training and advanced knowledge. The ninja required not only superior physical skills, but also various other skills such as observation, patience, information gathering, and acting.
However, clear evidence of the roots and details of the ninja is scarce, and much is handed down through folklore and oral tradition. This is due to the fact that records and documents are scarce, as ninja activities were conducted in secret and they themselves were required to conceal their existence. In addition, because ninja activities were generally outlawed, they are rarely mentioned in official documents.
The Mystery of the Ninja: 2) What was the relationship between the Iga-Kouga and the Ninja?”
Among the ninja, two schools are particularly famous: the Iga and Kouga schools. The Iga school was based in the Iga region of Shiga Prefecture, while the Kouga school was based in the Kouga region of Shiga Prefecture.
The Iga region of Mie Prefecture and the Kouga region of Shiga Prefecture are famous as the birthplace of the ninja, and the Edo period geographical journal “Omi Koshiji Shikaku” states that “Ninja (shinobi no mono) Iga Kouga,” which means “Ninja,” and ninja were represented as “those from Iga and Kouga.
The “Ninpou Hikan (Secret Scroll of Ninpou)” mentions Iga (Hattori) Hirauchi Saemon Ienaga as the founder of the Iga school in the late Heian period (794-1185).
Iga-ryu is a form of ninjutsu that developed uniquely in the harsh environment of mountainous regions. It specialized in mountain warfare and intelligence gathering, and required a high level of physical ability and perseverance.
The Kouga school is said to have a longer history than the Iga school. Koga-ryu developed as a comprehensive martial art system that included not only ninjutsu but also martial arts and medicine.
In addition to the Iga and Koga schools, there were various other ninja groups in the Kansai region. For example, the Yagyu school in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) and the Negori-ryu in Tanba Province (present-day Kyoto Prefecture) are well known.
Mystery 3: Why Did the Ninja Disappear?
In the Edo period (1603-1867), the ninja gradually disappeared from the public stage. This is thought to be due to the fact that the demand for the activities of the ninja disappeared as a result of the strict rule by the Tokugawa Shogunate and the beginning of the peaceful era.
With the end of the Warring States period, the demand for the ninja decreased. With the formation of a unified state and the rise of centralized government, the need for informal fighters and operatives such as the ninja diminished. The spread of firearms and changes in tactics also threatened the role of the ninja. The combination of these factors led to the gradual decline of the ninja.
Since the 1950s, ninja has been a popular name used in novels and other works, and has been featured in numerous creative works (stories and novels, visual works such as movies and TV dramas, manga, anime, and video games) not only as a superior martial art but also as a being with supernatural abilities, and the name ninja is known not only in Japan but also worldwide. Ninja.
