History and Origins of Ninja’s

Introduction: The ninja, also known as shinobi, was

a mercenary agent of Japan during the feudal ages. The
ninjas specialized in unorthodox methods of warfare.
The ninja had many functions dealing with, spying,
infiltrating, sabotaging and assassinating. They were
well-known for their precision, skill, and use of ninja
weapons. The ninja with it’s under cover strategy was
the opposite of the bold samurai who were very careful about their above board
reputation.

Military historian Hanawa Hokioichi wrote that the ninjas disguised themselves
while entering enemy territory to gauge opponent’s strength. They would blend in
with the adversary to find the lapses and often sneak into castles to set them on fire.
Arriving secretly they carried out assassinations.

It is guessed that the ninja group originated around 14th century. After many years of
obscurity they came into prominence during 17th and 18th centuries. Ninjutsu came
to be connected with many practices of the ninja – a mixture of philosophy and
religion being applied to the art of war including spying.

The imagination of Japan has always romanticized on the mysterious character of the
ninjas. Later this has spread to other parts of the world. Ninja figures dominate folk
tales and myths – making it difficult to separate it from history. There are legends
about the ninja becoming invisible, walking on water and having full control over the
elements. Today it has entered the entertainment zone of modern times.

The Clan Base of the Ninjas: The ninjas came from clans. In the pre-modern
ancient Iga Province lived the Iga and Koga clans. In this region the villagers were
mainly engaged in being trained to be ninjas. It was an ideal place for such activities
because the region was remote, Inaccessible and encircled by mountains.

There is a difference between the ninja coming from these regions and the common
ones who were engaged as mercenary spies. The Iga and Koga clans produced ninjas
who were professionals having got specific training. They were hired by the daimyo.
The daimyos was powerful warlords in medieval times who ruled over the major
parts of the country from their huge inherited landed property. In the late 16th
century Oda Nobunaga, aggressively conquered nearly a third of the other daimyos
and after invading Iga province exterminated the organized ninja clans. The survivors
fled and were scattered. In some places they were made most welcome for obvious
reasons. Many took shelter in the Kii Mountains.
In 1560 after the Battle of Okehazama, the warlord Oda Nobunaga emerged all
powerful and took into his employment a group of ninjas from the Koja clan
numbering 80. They stealthily entered a castle of the enemy and set its towers ablaze
while killing the castellan or the governor of the castle.

Ninja’s in Japanese history: With the help of ninjas the war lords in medieval
Japan exterminated enemies and established their supremacy.

After one such decisive victory the Iga ninjas became guards for the inner territory of
Edo Castle near modern Tokyo. The ninjas of the Koga clan got appointments in the
police force and helped in guarding the exterior gates of the castle.

Following the siege of Osaka in 1614 the ninjas again came to be employed. Miura
Yoemon was a ninja employed by warlord Tokugawa. He hired more ninjas from the
Iga clans and sent ten of them to Osaka Castle. Japan was originally known as
Ozakajo. Osaka played an important role in the unification of the country in the 16th
century.

The ninjas took a pivotal role during the peasant rebellion known as Shimabara
Rebellion in the 17th century. The peasants were largely Christians. The Koja ninjas
were employed by a shogun – a person of military rank.

In the first years of the 18th century shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune set up an
intelligence agency, Oniwabanshu, comprising of the ninjas. It secured information
for reasons of national security. The group comprised of onmitsu ninjas who sniffed
out all the activities of daimyos and government servants.