Real Ninja, also known as “SHINOBI” were covert agents in feudal Japan who specialized in espionage, sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and assassination. They were employed by samurai and feudal lords for tasks that required stealth and subterfuge. Unlike the dramatic portrayls in popular media, real ninjas were more akin to spies and scouts, often working in the shadows rather than engaging in overt combat. Their skills included disguise, stealth, and the use of various tools and techniques for gathering intelligence and carrying out missions.
Real Ninjas
Hattori Hanzō (1542-1596)
He was a prominent samurai and ninja leader during Japan’s Sengoku period. He is most famous for his role as master of espionage and guerrilla warfare. Hanzō served Tokugawa leyasu, one of the key figures in the unification of Japan, and played a crucial role in supporting leyasu’s rise to power.
He was brilliant in strategy making and intelligence gathering. Hattori died in 1596 around age 55, but the famous ninja’s legend lives on. His image actually features in numerous manga and movies, with his character often wielding magical powers, such as the ability to disappear and reappear, predict the future, and move objects with his mind.
Fujibayashi Nagato
The master of Fujibayashi clan, which was known for its expertise in espionage and covert operations. He lived during the late Sengoku period in Japan. He was reputed for his strategic skills and his ability to employ ninja tactics effectively. The Fujibayashi clan was one of the key practitioners of ninjutsu, and Nagato was instrumental in developing and transmitting these techniques.
Ishikawa Goemon
A legendary figure in Japanese folklore, often celebrated as a notorious outlaw and folk hero. His story is a blend of historical fact and myth, making his true background somewhat murky.
Goemon is reputed to have been a master thief who targeted corrupt samurai and officials, redistributing their wealth to the poor. He is perhaps best known for his dramatic act of throwing a rival warlord into boiling oil as part of his resistance against the ruling class. His exploits have been romanticized over the centuries, with many tales portraying him as a “ninja-like” figure.
Mochizuki Chiyome
A notable female ninja leader during Japan’s Sengoku period. She was the wife of Mochizuki Moritoki, a samurai and leader of the Mochizuki clan, which was known for its ninja activities.
Chiyome is renowned for her role in leading a group of female spies and assassins, often referred to as “Kunoichi.” Chiyome recruited girls who were orphans, refugees, or had been sold into prostitution, and trained them in the secrets of the ninja trade. These women were trained in espionage, covert operations, and combat, and were used for intelligence gathering and other covert missions.
At its peak, Chiyome’s ninja band included between 200 and 300 women and gave the Takeda clan a decisive advantage in dealing with neighboring domains.
Jinchi Kawakami (1850-1928)
A notable figure in the early 20th century who was often associated with the revival and promotion of traditional Japanese martial arts, including ninjutsu. Although not a historical ninja in the feudal sense, Kawakami was an important figure in the preservation and popularization of ninja history and techniques.
However, Kawakami has decided not to teach any apprentices the ancient ninja skills. He notes wistfully that even if modern people learn ninjutsu, they cannot practice much of that knowledge: “We can’t try murder or poisons.”
Thus, the famous ninja chose not to pass the information on to a new generation, and perhaps the sacred art has died with him, at least in the traditional sense.
Fuma Kotaro
An army leader and ninja jonin (ninja leader) of the Hojo clan based in Sagami Provience. Although he was not from Iga or Kaga, he practiced many ninja-style tactics in his battles. His special forces troops used guerrilla warfare and espionage to fight against the Takeda clan.
The Hojo clan fell to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590 after the siege of Odawara castle, leaving Kotaro and his ninjas to turn to a life of banditry.
Legend holds that Ktaro caused the death of Hattori Hanzo, who served Tokugawa leyasu. Kotaro supposedly lured Hattori into a narrow seaway waited for the tide to come in, poured oil on the water, and burned Hattori’s boats and troops.
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