Who Were the Shinobi? The Truth About Ninjas

Ninjas are frequently portrayed in films, television programmes, comics and other media. They are normally depicted as stealthy warriors who hide in dark clothing and carry items such as throwing stars and a sword. While most people have heard of ninjas, few know the true history behind them.

Shinobi: the origins of the modern ninja

The origins of the modern ninja go back to feudal Japan, where covert warriors called shinobi carried out infiltration, sabotage and secret operations on behalf of their daimyo. As powerful ruling lords, the daimyo hired shinobi, many of whom served as mercenaries, to attack rival daimyo in secret. Shinobi did not carry out these tasks directly on an open battlefield. Instead, they used stealth to slip behind enemy lines undetected.

Before the shinobi appeared, attacks were made in the open. But as daimyo built up their defences and increased the size of their armies, these open attacks became less effective. As a result, some daimyo hired highly skilled and capable mercenaries to attack rival daimyo in secret.

Records show that the word "shinobi" first appeared in Japanese literature towards the end of the 8th century. At the time it was used to describe the act of "hiding". The word later became synonymous with ninjas carrying out secret operations.

Shinobi and ninjutsu

Shinobi often trained intensively in swordsmanship, unarmed techniques and stealth so that they could carry out their tasks more effectively. This led to the development of a new style of Japanese martial art centred on the skills used by the shinobi. Known as ninjutsu, it teaches practitioners the essential skills used by the shinobi, including irregular warfare tactics, espionage and infiltration.

Several martial arts schools in Japan taught ninjutsu, including Togakure-ryū. These schools were often considered essential to becoming a true shinobi. And by enrolling in a ninjutsu school, shinobi could make themselves more attractive to prospective daimyo when selling their services.

Today, most people recognise the stealthy assassins depicted in films, television series and other media as ninjas. Originally, however, they were called shinobi and played an important role in the history of Japan by carrying out tasks on behalf of their daimyo. Neither the daimyo nor the genuine mercenary shinobi exist any longer, but some schools continue to teach the martial art of ninjutsu.

Shinobi vs samurai: two opposing worlds

The samurai is a caste warrior who fights openly according to bushido; the shinobi is a mercenary of the shadows, hired precisely to do what honour forbade the samurai to do: spy, sabotage, poison. The two figures are nonetheless linked: many shinobi served daimyo, and some samurai practised infiltration techniques. To understand the warrior society in which the ninjas operated, read our complete guide to the samurai.

The shinobi's tools

Forget the fanciful arsenal of the movies: the shinobi mostly used discreet, versatile tools such as shuriken, kunai (originally a mason's tool), fukiya (blowpipes) and grappling hooks. As for blades, the ninjato, a short, straight-bladed sword, served him as much as a tool as a sword; discover our collection of ninjato to see what this unusual blade looks like.

Ninjutsu today

The art of the shinobi has not disappeared: it is still passed on, notably within the Bujinkan, a Japanese organisation that teaches nine traditional schools, three of them ninjutsu. As for the legacy of the Japanese sword in general, it lives on in kendo and iaido.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a shinobi and a ninja?

None: shinobi is the historical Japanese term, while ninja is the Sino-Japanese reading of the same characters, popularised in the West in the 20th century.

What is the difference between a ninja and a samurai?

The samurai is a high-ranking warrior who fights openly according to the code of bushido; the shinobi is an infiltration agent who operates in secret, without any constraint of honour.

What did ninjas use?

The ninjato (a short, straight sword), shuriken, kunai, the fukiya blowpipe and various climbing tools: above all, discreet and versatile equipment.

Do ninjas still exist?

Not as spies, but their art survives: ninjutsu is still taught in Japan, notably by Masaaki Hatsumi's Bujinkan.