Even today, in our world of forward thinking history documentaries, packed with state of the state CGI and dramatic story telling, the myths of Japan still hold on to the romantic, bound by a thick chain of love of the east. At the pinnacle of this romantic image of Japan is the black clad assassin in the night, the ninja. In the last few years the movement to expose the truth of the ninja has been in full throttle and ninja manuals translated into English are hitting the shelves. From these new translations we have a chance to see real ninja skills for the first time and understand just how amazing the ninja actually were.
The Paper Net
If a ninja new that another ninja would sneak in late at night or if someone just feared that they would be targeted, they would make a mosquito net mad of paper and leave a small viewing hole in it. This way the agent sent after them would not know if the man inside was awake or asleep, a true poke in the eye.
Three V one
Ninja, when they had targeted a building for infiltration and destruction, would break into teams of three and target single fighters to bring them down quicker.
Capture by torch
Similar to the above and packed with religious overtones is capture and divination by torches. Ninja would use torches filled with gunpowder – which makes a horrible smoke that induces coughing. They would throw between one and three at a target until the man could not move or breath well, then they would move in for the capture. Depending on how many they took to capture him would change the god to which it was dedicated to.
The break fall sword
When jumping down from a height, ninja would use the scabbard of their sword to break the fall, helping spread the landing weight.
Hiding in the mist
Ninja would use natural mist, call on the gods for mist or if that failed, create their own smoke, it is in here they would hide.
Throwing fire
Gunpowder would be packed on to small bamboo tubes, the size of a fist. Then from here, the tube would be placed over a thin stick. The ninja would light the gun powder in teams and then throw them en mass to thatch and food stocks.
Gunpowder letter
If the ninja had to carry an important letter that could not get in enemy hands, they would fill it with gunpowder, just in case they had to quickly throw it on the fire, making it explode before it could be pulled out of the fire.
No sword
A ninja would infiltrate the enemy, pretending to be one of them, then when he was allowed near the enemy lord, quickly he would snatch the lord’s sword and kill him there and then.
Death by fire and blood
If there was no way out for a ninja, if his house was surrounded and his cover blown, if he did not want his face to be seen by others so that the identity of his lord was kept safe, then he would go out in flames – literally. Filling his futon with gunpowder and sleeping on explosives each night, if they day came that he was surrounded, he would open up his belly with a sword and then incinerate himself in a blaze of glory.
Read more on the skills and secrets of ninjas with Antony Cummins 'In Search of the Ninja - The Historical Truth to Ninjutsu' or go further into the art with his new book, co written with Yoshie Minami, 'Iga and Koka Ninja Skills - The Secret Shinobi Scrolls of Chikamtsu Shigenori'
