Post by Umeko on May 26, 2005 8:18:28 GMT -5
Given the nature of their jobs, weapons used by ninjas are compact & multi-purpose. Eg. Yamazaki's kunai can be used as a deadly projectile or a dagger in close quarters combat.
I recently watched a documentary on ninjutsu. Being mainly of peasant stock (eg. yamazaki's father was a doctor), the weapons tend to be taken from farming implements.
In Tokugawa Japan, ninjas protecting the shogun (Edo Castle) double as gardeners. Imagine Shinomori Aoshi trimming hedges with gardening shears that can double into a deadly weapon in a flash!
Yes, disguise was a common aspect of ninja work. I think no self-respecting ninja would be caught running so blatantly along the rooftops dressed in black in broad daylight like some of them did in one of the episodes. ;D
The myth of ninjas getting the better of samurai may be based in fact given the differences in their fighting styles.
The samurai is trained in kendo, often with a fixed routine of moves. The ninja's fighting technique is more flexible & allows for adaptations according to circumstances. Also the use of non-conventional weapons can be confusing to someone used to fighting swordsmen.
The ninja's mission is to go in, carry out the mission (spy, assassinate etc) and get out. If they are discovered, they must fight to escape with the info gathered. that means no holds barred, lime powder in the eye tactics are okay!
Poor Susumu, he got discovered, but escaped. I think he's angry cos he failed to gather the intelligence.
I recently watched a documentary on ninjutsu. Being mainly of peasant stock (eg. yamazaki's father was a doctor), the weapons tend to be taken from farming implements.
In Tokugawa Japan, ninjas protecting the shogun (Edo Castle) double as gardeners. Imagine Shinomori Aoshi trimming hedges with gardening shears that can double into a deadly weapon in a flash!
Yes, disguise was a common aspect of ninja work. I think no self-respecting ninja would be caught running so blatantly along the rooftops dressed in black in broad daylight like some of them did in one of the episodes. ;D
The myth of ninjas getting the better of samurai may be based in fact given the differences in their fighting styles.
The samurai is trained in kendo, often with a fixed routine of moves. The ninja's fighting technique is more flexible & allows for adaptations according to circumstances. Also the use of non-conventional weapons can be confusing to someone used to fighting swordsmen.
The ninja's mission is to go in, carry out the mission (spy, assassinate etc) and get out. If they are discovered, they must fight to escape with the info gathered. that means no holds barred, lime powder in the eye tactics are okay!
Poor Susumu, he got discovered, but escaped. I think he's angry cos he failed to gather the intelligence. 
