The term “shuriken” did not just refer to the well-known ninja's throwing stars. “Shuriken” was also used to denote any instrument or tool thrown by a ninja, such as knives or darts. 1)
The most proficient ninja clans in Japan were from the Iga and Koga (Koka) areas. Because of their geographical location, these ninja clans thrived in their abilities. They were protected because they were isolated between two mountain ranges. 2)
Hattori Hanzo was a Samurai who became renowned as one of Japan's most legendary ninjas. Although he was not a ninja, he used comparable tactics and frequently battled alongside them. Hattori was employed by the illustrious Tokugawa family and subsequently assisted Tokugawa Ieyasu in becoming Japan's king. Hattori earned his many renowned nicknames, including “ghost” and “devil,” as a result of his abilities and involvement in successful raids. Hattori was even mentioned in the film Kill Bill. 3)
Mochizuki Chiyome was a well-known female ninja of her day. Chiyome is a well-known pop culture personality, having appeared in several video games, films and other forms of media. 4)
Ninjas devised a technique for transmitting secret messages through colored rice. Each rice hue represented a distinct significance. 5)
Ninjas frequently used nekome-jutsu, or the ability to tell the time by gazing into the eyes of a cat. Cats' eyes are extremely sensitive to light, causing their pupils to change shape at different times of the day. 6)
Female ninjas favored beautiful hairpins, known as kanzashi. Unlike other women's hairpins, female ninjas used their kanzashi for numerous purposes. Hairpins would be sharpened and dipped in poison to be used as weapons or assassination tools. 7)
Female ninjas would attach lethal metal nails to their fingertips. These razor-sharp weapons were known as neko-te, which translates as “cat hand.” 8)
A yatate is a tiny bamboo container used to store ink and writing tools. A yatate was not only useful for writing information, but also for hiding poison, needles and other tiny weapons. 9)
Ninjas utilized a variety of weapons and equipment, but one of their most essential things was a live cricket, which they used to help them in their secret operations. The chirping of crickets would ingeniously cover a ninja's footsteps, allowing them to go unobserved. 10)
Ninjas kept their abilities and knowledge hidden from everyone, even themselves. 11)
The idea of a ninja clad entirely in black with a mask concealing their face is a contemporary one. Ninjas were taught to blend in with the crowd, and someone dressed entirely in black would stand out like a sore thumb. The ability to remain anonymous was critical to a ninja's survival. 12)
The ninja performed espionage, sabotage, infiltration, assassination and guerilla warfare. Ninjas were often employed and had little loyalty. 13)
The ninjas were commonly referred to as Shinobi, which translates to “covert agent,” a term borrowed from the Japanese “to steal away” or “to hide.” 14)
Because ninjas concealed in plain sight, many ninja weapons were just adapted farming equipment. One example of an agricultural implement transformed into a ninja weapon is the sickle and chain. 15)