The ninja were the mercenaries of Japan. They specialized in covert action, though they might also participate in open warfare. In contrast with the samurai, who held to an aristocratic code of personal honor and ethics, the ninja got the job done.

The actual ninja of feudal society was a rather different person than the ninja of modern myth or video game. He or she (there were female ninja) was sometimes from the lower classes, at least in the beginning, and seldom someone whose exploits became the stuff of literature or boast. Like modern intelligence professionals, it was part of the ninja’s job to remain unnoticed.

Ninja roles

Espionage was a major ninja role. Like Joshua in the Bible, they spied out the land and brought back a report. They functioned as scouts, collecting information on enemy movements or apparent intentions, often in disguise and “out of uniform.”

Sabotage was another role. Asymmetric warfare was not invented in the twentieth century, and the ninja practiced it. Ninja might infiltrate the enemy, for example, and set their castles ablaze.

Assassination was in fact a ninja specialty. The ninja could kill by stealth, while a samurai must kill in open battle or during a duel. Obviously, people in power often found it expedient to employ ninja.

Ninja skills

Because the ninja were not usually literary subjects, not much is known about their training or skills. Though it is very unlikely that they dressed in black, they were apparently masters of disguise. Certainly, they were skilled in combat. . It is also certain that they could not walk on water, become invisible, or fly. It was probably to their advantage to foster a belief in their supernatural skills, long before they became folk heroes.

Ninja weapons

The ninja sword was shorter than the samurai sword. Though it would have a shorter reach, it was easier to carry and to conceal. Nunchaku were two joined sticks, thought to be derived from tools once used for threshing rice. The bow was a silent weapon, that could take effect from afar. The female ninja were often especially skilled with the bow. All these weapons, and others, required diligent practice to learn.

Ninja traditions

The ninja had strong values, though they were different from those of the samurai. As time progressed, children were born into ninja clans, just as children were born samurai. Training apparently began in childhood, and included knowledge of survival techniques, weapons, and disguise. Martial arts were an important discipline, and physical training was also emphasized.

Modern ninja

It is possible that there are modern ninja of some kind. However, they are probably not much like the characters that enthrall children. The ninja were a necessary institution that arose during a relatively lawless period of Japanese history, a time that is gone.