I have stayed in Koga, now known as Koka. It is my “sister-city”. They have a “ninja house” museum there. The last original building I believe. The mayor also has occasional competitions against the Iga mayor. He let me wear his prize vest when I met him, which was a great honor as no one was allowed to wear it before.
In the 80's when I was going to high school, ninja was the single most talked about thing. We watched the movies, read the books, played role playing games, and tried to make the weapons in metal work class! Some time after that I found an excellent book that outlined some of the suspected tactics and history and much of it matches with what you said here. One of the theories about the sword was that it was small and straight to make it easier to conceal inside a robe. Even though I am (obviously) a lot older now, I still find these aspects of Japanese culture and history fascinating and your videos are very well presented. Arigatoo gozaimasu, sensei.
From what I understand, shinobi/ninja was more of a function on the battlefield, that focused on scouting, espionage and diversion. Both samurai and ashigaru could act as shinobi, and the "ninja clans" that are often mentioned were simply minor samurai clans that specialised in shinobi tactics.
Makes sense, specially when you consider they came to prominence during a time of civil war. That said, there's evidence they assumed a role of "special police" of sorts during early Edo period/Tokugawa shogunate, though. But it's hard to say if they already had some expertise in this field or simply adapted to a new role.
That's not a virtue of a samurai. Most were pos human beings without a bone of courage or respect in their body. Bushido was as arbitrarily defined and practiced about as much as knightly chivalry...which was practically never. That nonsense was romanticized in the modern era. The real ones were just scumbags betraying people left and right and murdering unarmed civilians in the dead of night because they could.
ironically samurai were known to be arrogant. and there are even stories of them testing the sharpness of their swords on passerby people i.e slashing at them.
Yeah they pick weapon depending on the mission. If its infiltrate then no sword. If its like killing a daimyo in the dark maybe then. But even there it is easier to to send a kunoichi as prostitude with a knife.
yeah, i agree, but they could carry any weapon that fit their mission for example if a ninja had to inflitrate enemy troops, they can pose as a samurai and obviously wear their cloths and their katana but about training, i'm not sure if actual ninja had to fight like a samurai to assassinate or only to gather Intel
The shinobi were mostly spies and sometimes assassins. Usually if ashinobi had to fight it meant they had fucked up. They were all about getting in and out quick and quiet without being caught.
@@deathchikorng1276 Yeah absolutely a shinobi would think nothing of killing if they had to, but they'd also try and avoid it because dead bodies with fresh sword wounds tend to attract attention which is the last thing a spy or assassin wants. They want to do their job quick and quiet then get away before anyone realises what's happened.
I’m surprised he didn’t theorize or bring up the “possibility” that ninjas might’ve broken down their swords when they weren’t used anymore to repurpose the materials for other things they might’ve needed at the time. Probably countered from other things that stuck around but repurposing gear would be believable.
@@mkv2718 actually most of the time they would take the head as proof! Ninja would be noticed if they did that! Also no katana is the same! They are actually all unique and designed around the person that it is built for! Unlike in today's world!
I remember when I studied "Ninjutsu" 26 years ago a couple of Sensei arguing about the existence of the Ninja-to. If they did exist there may be some reasons why they disappeared. 1)The quality of a Ninja-to would have been substandard and the rusted remains would have been recycled due to a shortage of metal. 2) No swordsmith would put his stamp on an assassin's weapon and it's legality would make it something to be disposed of. 3) Quality Katanas were treasured and passed down through generations with the Honjo Masamune being like "Excalibur". 4) Ninja-to would have been used as evidence and therefore disposable. 500 years from now there may be a museum housing guns and bayonets but I doubt anyone will keep an old zip-gun or shank.
Funny you should say that because the royal armoury museum does have various examples of zip guns and other homemade firearms. Shanks are also often preserved as an example of improvised weaponry in adversities like prisons or POW. Also, for sure most of these ninjato would've rusted away since they wouldn't have been cared for like katana, but just think about how many katanas have been found hidden away in attics, and why haven't there been even a single example of a ninjato like there are shuriken and kusarigama and etc? Given that the shuriken are even more disposable than a short sword, and are often intentionally rusted to induce tetanus in the victims, it's a wonder that there exists no ninjato to be found when shurikens are.
From all my years of study and attending a Bujinkan Camp as a youth as well as personal book/historical studies. It seems like the Ninja took part in many different roles on the battlefield and warfare throughout Japans history. Very interesting history and the fact that some scholars say their (Ninjutsu) roots also come from china is very fascinating. Great Video! OSU!!!!a As a side note, everything I have learned stated that the swords we know as Ninjato were made very cheaply because of the fact that they were used as a tool. Its easier to create a straight sword then a curved one such as a katana. I believe that if a "Ninja" had the opportunity to pick up a Katana on the battlefield they would either for Monitory gain or the fact that they perform better in combat. That being said, there is some historical data that some of the smaller Samurai family's from the Iga region actually became what we know today as ninja. And I assume that their family historical Katana's followed suit. But of course their role is so shrouded in hearsay and history. Its hard to be conclusive on some facts and if their is any historical fact or if its fiction
Shogo... Some historians believe that the shinobigatana was a mix between the Daisho. So you take the longer tsuka and saya from a uchigatana and place than into the shorterblade of wakizashi. So you have a saya that is long enough to carry medicine and blinding or burning powder a longer handle to make it more stable and a shorter blade usefull in assassination and CQB and to trick enemies in 1-on-1 combat.
There is no such a thing as Shinobigatana nor Gatana. It’s called Katana. Secondly there were no Ninja/Shinobi swords in feudal Japan. Historical fact. Most famous Shinobi’s were Samurais who used their main sidearm Katana in spy missions as in normal service. Please don’t mix up real history with fantasy from some Anime stories and such as a fact.
@@victorribeiro2431 So you have nothing else to say, heven't you? Didn't those transcripts had enough of "historical register" for you? Or did you really believe on those fairy tail "Anime" info you had? At least a thank for giving you something real to read on would have been respectful to have. Osu!
@@Warjah104 The information they got was probably not from Anime. It’s more likely from a famous unsubstantiated theory. What they’re describing are the "official" Togakure Ryu blade dimensions. Unfortunately, said school is likely a made-up legend created by Takamatsu Toshitsugu, who claims to be a descendant of a Ninja clan but never provided evidence. In this sense, you are right. This being said, your insistence on attacking that person and assuming something about them without proof whilst making absurd claims was unsightly. You cannot prove that something didn’t exist, and there is no need for contempt nor assumptions.
@@enough_b nicely put. I'll have to re read my many papers hiding away,. From some years ago when I used to practice and study ninjitsu,. Bujinkan I think you and the first person in this comment are very correct. Each trying to keep their own history alive. I believe both sides. And from what I meant,. There were "no ninja sword". They often recovered broken and discarded swords from battle fields,. Ninja were poor,. Couldn't afford to make, buy steel,. So use what was scaffenged
I've also heard of a theory that they would keep a short sword (curved like a uchikatana) in a standard size saya, to blend in during espionage and so they have space to effectively hide poisons in the bottom of the saya. There are so many theories and it's all super interesting!
The ninja gattana were heavy thick blades meant for chopping and stabbing. They were made, crudely, by blacksmiths who were oriented toward producing farm implements and, many of the weapons associated with ninja were, in fact, farm tools, such as the kama. As you pointed out, most ninja carried katana, most likely taken from samurai they’d slain. These swords were sometimes customized to have shorter blades, making the draw faster, while keeping the length of the saya long to present the illusion of a longer blade.
Even if it didn’t properly exist, I think the distinction in attitudes toward the swords is fascinating. The way samurai tie them to faith is something I guess I’ve noticed but haven’t put together until now. Samurai always seemed more careful but I thought it was just for the sake of being a professional. I wonder if some ninja felt there was religious significance but just didn’t have the time to respect it in the middle of a mission. That would be pretty mentally strenuous
I think sword-canes or something like that sound quite plausible. It would be a big advantage to have a hidden blade in case of emergencies, i think. Something like zatoichi's blade seems like it would be smart use of concealment.
Your conclusion sound plausible. As an European visitor of your side it is like learning the different ways to look at the history. It is clear that there will be different views like there are different views about European history. Your channel is informative.
I was always under the impression that ninja primarily used a modified wakizashi that has a katana handle. The shorter wakizashi allows for close quarters use, and equipped with a longer katana handle it provides more power, better balance, and leverage.
I had a Nintendo Power game guide for Ninja Gaiden 2. The first twenty or so pages were the history of ninja, their weaponry, and the uses of the ninja-to. All of this was outlined in this video, and it was great to revisit childhood memories.
In fact, the ninja sword, being in the scabbard, was no different from the samurai sword. The only difference is the shorter blade - hence the straighter curve of the blade (the scabbard had the same curve, although the length of the blade was closer to the wakizashi). The intended purpose of such a sword is "work" in enclosed spaces, stabbing blows, speed of reaching, longer scabbards could be used as a case for ... A square tsuba was made only when there was a need to forge several swords as quickly as possible, usually this could occur immediately before some task, although in the future the same swords could be used (but only during sorties). Using a tsuba as a step, if desired and dexterity, could not only be square. So we can talk about at least four types of swords (in terms of the blade) that the ninja used: samurai katana, wakizashi, samurai katana with a shortened blade and ninjato for special tasks ... As for whether a ninja could carry a sword behind his back - then yes, they could (of course, this mainly applies to a short sword). There were special techniques for drawing the sword from behind the back in different positions, also under certain circumstances the sword could be displaced, for example, when somersaulting, the sword could be pulled to the chest and stomach ...
I did not know Ninja were related to swords. I thought they just used Shuriken, Nunchaku, small throwing knives and kunai. I quite like the idea of Ninja more than Samurai from anime and video games. Wakizashi reminds me of Yojimbo in FFX
Because some people say that a ninja isn't just a samurai or former samurai engaged in syping or guerrilla warfare. Some people say a ninja could be a word used to describe a common person engaged in the same activities, using improvised weapons or civilian tools to take people out/defend themselves against enemies.
Shogo, I appreciate your balanced approach on any topics I've heard you talk about! Very enjoyable. Here's a thought that I heard once from a martial arts teacher of mine: at certain times in Japanese history, only samurai were allowed to carry katana. If a ninja was not also a samurai (some were), he would have to either steal or scavenge a sword. So he theorized that the idea of straight swords used by ninja came because of scavenging bad quality or failed swords form swordsmiths (who he theorized would have thrown away blades that ended up being straight at the end of forging). It's an interesting theory at least.
The non-curve of the blade is the main thing that makes ninja swords look like fiction The curve of the katana is a natural byproduct of its forging... I find it very unlikely that people would develop a new forging process for such a small part of a ninja's kit If I had to put money on it, i'd say that ninja used normal wakizashi with modified shieths
well, there are many things that were invented by ninjas and not revealed to anyone else, you could call those "ninja technologies" wich they kept to themselves, also straight katana were invented eventually, so its not unreasonable to assume that ninjas might have invented them sooner but not revealed the secret of its production to outsiders.
Finally got a chance to be the third commenter. Shogo I love your casual way of conveying topics 😍 Wait a minute, am I mistaken? The seven types of katana you mentioned aren't actually katana. They are the weapons of the samurai.
Technically, they are... but also aren't (well except the yari, sorry Shogo but this should be substitued for nodachi or tsurugi). The kanji for katana is present in all of these weapons; they can also be built through some derivation of the katana (naginata is literally katana + pole for example).
Just a note - straight Japanese swords were the norm before 980AD. Straight bladed Japanese swords are referred to as chokutō. There are quite a few ancient blades surviving in the museums and shrines to this day and they look exactly, especially the later ones, as the "ninja sword" blades (not sure about the fittings: guards, sheaths and etc.) Curved bladed swords in Japan did not come into popular use until somewhere around the middle of Kamakura period around 1100s. A katana, only one particular and quite specific style of a Japanese sword out of many, usually worn tucked in a belt with the edge facing up, is actually quite a late development. It was initially used only by ashigaru (common folk light infantry) and later adopted as a more practical style of sword by samurai class who had mostly used a longer more curved tachi swords, that were worn with the edge facing down suspended from a belt and quite well adapted for horseback fighting but not as practical on foot as a katana. Japanese spies - historically known as shinobi, probably used whatever they needed and had depending on their class, including samurai. For certain spy jobs you needed an actual samurai for other spying jobs an actual monk, as pretending to be one would not always do, while for others merchants, peasants and prostitutes and even criminals. They were all known as shinobi. Spying was a task not a social class, though some clans like Koga and Iga later started to hyper-specialize in spying task specific skills. A stereotypical "ninja" character clad all in black is an invention of a Japanese entertainment and popular fiction of Edo period and aesthetically is modelled more on kuroko { 黒衣 }, traditional Japanese stagehands, not the real shinobi.
Missed about to mention that some samurai are also ninja. And they commonly used shorter katana (ninjato) on a regular saya as a disguise to walk under the streets, or between other samurai. Great video!
First, wonderful information Shogo. Second, in modern "Ninjitsu" training most ninja were disguised as gardeners and peasants to obtain information and the "weapons" used were literally garden tools....like hedge clippers. As a Combat/Survival instructor I have even incorporated this concept into my training program and I teach and recommend students to purchase/practice fighting with hedge clippers. A preferred set of clippers I've purchased from Lowe's home improvement that has forged blades 20" to 24" blades and an extendable handle giving a combat reach of over 36". The clippers are excellent for thrusting attacks both closed or open and excellent for blocks and to parry oncoming attacks. Another weapon that gave Ninja "supernatural" were scaling or climbing claws that they doubled as a measure to block sword strikes. I've only known hollowed out bamboo or reeds as as snorkel...sorry about that. Ninja were also proficient chemists and in documentation I've studied they even developed gas weapons derived from yellow cow poo and flamethrowers. Swords by my understanding were rarely used the straight sword w/square hilt doubling as a step ladder, as you described was the same as I understand it to be used for stabbing and hacking. The Ninja would also use a fallen adversaries weapon as well as Ninja were trained to capitalize on any opportunities presented. Amphibious attacks were also devised w/flotation devices allowing Ninja to cross lakes and bogs. Undoubtedly, swords were weapons utilized by Ninja and adaptability is the key trait that Ninja embraced the most and everything the Ninja used were multifunction tools allowing for them to complete their mission. In my research it was said that the last Emperor of Japan hired all Ninja clans as secret bodyguards posing as gardeners and attacking any would be insurrectionists that might threaten the Emperor. Finally, Ninja were adaptable and to avoid being wiped out, by outlawing them, they are said to have either gone silent or immigrated to other nations i.e. USA. Again thank you for your sharing your information and your study to the Combat Arts.
The curve of a samurai's sward is imparted during the heat treating process. The differential hardening employed causes the blade to curve. This method of hardening makes for a very complex blade. But it has the down side of causing a higher rejection rate due to warping or cracking. A blade that is not differentially heat treated is easier and less likely to have issues during the heat treatment. This would make a blade that was not differentially hardened much less expensive. It would also make for a blade that isn't as strong or perhaps is as strong but not as sharp or that dulls more quickly. Depending on how the blade was tempered after the heat treatment. So, it isn't just that a straight blade is straight it is about why the blade doesn't curve. I would imagine given the low quality of steel available to smiths in Japan. That both blades would have been made of layers of forge welded steel. Unless a trade route form the main land brought in other steel. I am not an expert in Japanese history or swards but I am a smith.
i take it it is easier to mold a straight blade than a curved katana ...this in itself would give a little credulity to the idea of a straight-bladed 'ninja' weapon ...-make a lot easier for the "peasants" to come by anyway ....
@@krishnan-resurrection714 Swords are not molded they are forged. Molds are used in casting. Casting isn't usually used to make blades. Parts of a weapon are often cast but I don't know of any cast blades. As far as I know all japanese blades are forged. It isn't about the difficulty of forging a straight blade vs curved. All katanas start their lives as straight blades. It is the differential hardening that imparts a curve to the blade. The differential hardening imparts a Hamon line as well. If you differentially harden a long blade like a katana. You have a higher risk of warping and cracking the blade. But you get a better quality, more complex blade. The alternative is edge hardening. Where you heat just the cutting edge up and quench it. Edge hardening does not curve the blade. One advantage to edge quenching is you can have a lower rejection rate due to cracking and bending. I've only made a few blades, about 1 in 3 will crack or twist to the point of being unusable and me having to start over. Again I don't know why ninja swords were straight. But that is was straight might reveal differences in how it was made. Also that it is straight might come from cost savings from differences in production. But both of those are inferences.
I honestly didn't even know there were that many differences so this was very informative. I also didn't know that samurai used anything other than katana, that shocked me a but but it's actually really cool. Thank you so much for this video, I really enjoyed it
Oh, and I’d love to see a video about my namesake, Musashi. Maybe about the fictional version of him and his effect on Japanese culture, or perhaps the true story. Kyoto is one of the great places where many of his important life events occured.
I have discovered you channel recently, thanks to some intricate algorithm mechanism. Although I did not have a particular interest in Japan and Japanese culture, I really enjoy your content. It is well made, informative and aesthetically pleasing. You seem like a genuine and heartfelt person and I hope you get the success you deserve. Salutes from Italy!
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I read some where that some ninja swords were just wakizashi blades with katana handles and scabbards. This was supposed to give them a faster draw and surprise their opponents.
Absolute loved the video! I will never claim to know as much about katana and other Japanese swords, I have loved the katana since I was a boy and it always surprised me how many people didn't know the difference. Can't wait to watch more!
the only example of nodachi that i am aware of was considered to be too unwieldy to use in any sense of combat. it falls under the same issue great swords like claymores fall under. too big to be effective in combat.
@@signolias100 Dude, claymores were effective; moreso than the nodachi. The nodachi is more a polearm than a sword due to the long size and requirement for a servant assistant to unsheathe it; but it, and variants such as the zhanmadao, did work as options of the field. But of course, the naginata was a better choice overall.
@@blazinkid5178 while I understand that claymore swords varied in length by a great deal and while shorter versions were viable, the longest ones were impractical
In the 60's in Hi. On Saturday morning we watched the White Samurai. He was blind,and never lost a battle with any bad guy's. Thanks for the update and entertainment.
Glad to see this channel . I have several Japanese friends and I think this channel will help people understand and be closer together. Just being friends can bring cultures so closer together. And see we're all different and we're all alike.
I have a lot of historical doubts about this. Historical ninjas pract more yo-nin than in-nin and were dressed like samurai, yamabushi and normal people. Normally in in-nin the sword was just a kodachi.
@@whateverwhatever4476 Also, these supposed Japanese martial arts historians you see all over UA-cam are complete boneheads. I've come across a ton of historical records (not densho) that refute most of the nonsense they claim. I have studied Takamatsu's claim that all samurai bujutsu traditions stem from the Tendai temples of Shingon Buddhism and it appears to be completely legit. They were called Sohei. These warriors were those mysterious bodyguards that they claim eventually became samurai. I can further break down this history, but it will get very long-winded..
I must clarify. Katanas don't use sheaths. They are all use scabbards. Sheaths are flimsy and made of leather and cloth. Scabbards are rigid and provide substantially more protection to the the blade
@@shredder1799 well my post was based on there are no historical documents on anything but katana swords. There are no documents in Asia that mentioned a straight sword.
Yep, the modern depiction of "ninja" is entirely based in the entertainment industry. The sneaky ninja all garbed in black, with short straight swords, simply never existed in real history. Actual Shinobi were just samurai dedicated to scouting/information gathering roles
@@joshballesteros22 In Asia? That is a huge generalisation. Tibetan swords and its offshoots that exist in North-East India are straight swords - called Ryokce or Yoksa.
I’m so happy for you and your family, sensei! When I first sub to you, it was 50k something…. Now you almost hit 1M sub!! I love to get a lot of Japanese‘s history lessons from you, sensei! 😇😇😇
Also there are some straight uchigatana in existence today but most of them are like that because of them getting lost in a fire like for example the uchigatana of sakamoto ryouma
I love the explanations buddy, I've been a fan of Japanese History since I was a kid. This was around the time I watched anime and read Manga based off of Samurai and Ninja and I'm learning alot from your explanations 😁 You should do a movie documentary buddy.
Thank you. Domo. It's very interesting and a big honor to watch this video. Many information are this which we did not known in Germany. Big respect for this.
@@revbladez5773 No one used it. Fantasy weapon. Any “real shinobi” weapons that actually were used in real life, are all improvised farming weapons. But a throwing star is a custom built battlefield weapon. It has no main non combat use like a kunai. So it’s practical existence is not likely
Well I'm watching this in January 2022 and it seems you absolutely smashed that sub goal! Bit late but I've subbed too. Great video, very clear and informative and I will definitely be watching your other content to learn more about Japanese history and culture :)
Hello, it's Tristan, I been a martial artist my whole life and been deep into japanese as well as other asian cultures. I believe that the ninjatos would be fine at slashing with no problem, I like seeing leonardo tmnt with ninjatos instead of katana, my favorite sword was johnny's in Surf Ninjas it was a long handled philipino style sword. I'm going to recreate TMNT in my own better style, I want Leonardo to use an average length Ninjato and also have a companion sword, a twin if you will, but with the blade about only slightly less than half the length of the other but with the hilts the same everything, and he will wear bolth sheeths on his back with the smaller on top . Thanks remember NINJATO'S are the future whahahahah
I read a book a long time ago that explained that all ninja weapons were actually refurbished farming tools. In the case of ninja sword the book proposed that they were katana of samurai taken from battlefields and reshaped the blade more straight for stabbing, as stabbing is more in line with assassination that direct battle. If you look at the wide range of their tools though, most of then are refurbished farming tools.
I understand that feeling when you start collecting Katanas. Got 7 Katanas, a Wakizashi and a Tanto and I still want to get an Odachi, a Yari, a Naginata and a Kanabo
Interesting fact about shuriken, shurikens are apart of samurai martial arts and where not used by ninjas at all. The reason can be found on the youtube video on Asian boss youtube channel interviewing the last real ninja jinichi kawakami.
That sword seems too well designed to have existed during the time of the ninja. It's been suggested that the curve of the katana was NOT a design choice, but a byproduct of the cooling process due to the forging options available during the age of their creation. As such, it seems likely that a straight katana for a ninja would be a literal impossibility. It was always my understanding that ninja used the tools available to them. Things like the kama and sai, while great for farming, were terrible in combat. However, these are what the average peasant had available, and in a time of necessity would surely figure out a way to use it somewhat effectively. That said, it was more guerilla tactics they employed to catch the samurai off guard as that was the best chance they had at defeating them. As such, any katana a ninja had would have been taken off of a samurai, and considering how sacred the katana is to the samurai, it was most likely taken off a dead samurai. As I understand it, "ninja" basically translates to "spy" which not only suggest they can still be active today (similar to the American CIA or Russian KGB), but even at the time they'd do their best to blend in and look like everyone around them. To this effect, the outfit we associate with the "ninja" did exist, almost. Rather, the "modern ninja garb" is based off of what the ninja wore in the period, which is what everyone else wore around them. If the ninja was the only one wearing that garb (including the face covering) they'd stand out, but if 90% of the populace is wearing the same, then they look like everyone else. I don't know how much (if any) of the above is true, but it does feel like most of "ninja weapons" are only used by the "modern medieval ninja" which is to say modern weapons optimized for use by feudal "ninja" in anime, manga, and video games.
Yes, I would like to hear about the origins of both iga and koga! They sound really interesting, and I love how you explain these topics in your show;) I hope you make 1M subs!
Thank you for your very special kind of explaining things of the historical stories about Japan and Japanese traditional culture. And this in a very good pronunciation....very good to understand for me ;-)...and now I`m a subscriber too. Regards from germany and stay healthy.
Domo Arigato gozaimasu (think I got that right 🤔) Great video 👍 and definitely showed the difference between the two types and the styles of combat. My hypothesis of the "Ninja sword" would be practical, if you can get hold of a well made katana then use that! The Ninja by trade were practical and resourceful. A identifiable and task specific "Ninjato" would make the user identifiable and jeopardize the covert operations. Maybe simple and rudimentary swords were made that were meant to be disposable and that's why none have survived. Loved the video and will be watching more of your channel. Best wishes
@3:26 the weapon shown is a kama which are normally used in pairs. A kusarigama is an individual kama with a weighted chain fastened to the base of the handle.
I believe that a shorter straight sword would have been an exception rather than the norm. As true Ninja, like modern spies, blended into their surroundings, they would dress the same, move the same, and act the same as the people around them. In cases where a sword would be needed, a short straight one is easier to hide in loose traditional clothing. Also, as the swords would be limited in use over more common weapons like Tanto, there would be little chance of one being lost or confiscated, and therefore later turning up in the historical record. My understanding is the Ninja swords were also of a lower quality than Katana, so it was no great loss to break or dispose of one. A straight piece plain steel sword could quickly be hammered out in a foundry into a block, without the distinctive layering of a katana. I believe the real Ninja were in all appearances just everyday people, with an incredible skill set that didn’t require large weapons. Sneak in, steal secrets or execute a target, get out, and be long gone as someone else in different clothes by the time someone realised. I once read a story, which may have been made up, but was given as historically correct, where a Ninja snuck into a Shogun’s home, snuck under the floor, and when the Shogun was asleep, pushed a dagger through the floor and tatami, silently killing the Shogun. The Ninja then left, and was many miles away before anyone realised the Shogun was dead.
The whole point of layering was to get more flexible steel out of pure iron (soft) and carbon rich steel (brittle). A "straight piece of plain steel" did not really exist in Japan. You could remodel a broken sword, or use less layers. The folding of layers of steel and iron was a method of mixing without melting and stirring, a lot of work but can be done in a relatively simple workshop. The several hundreds of layers you hear of start out as for instance 7, four iron and three steel, fold it and weld the iron with the fire an anvil, makes 13 (one less than dubble because two are fused), repeat, 25, 49, 97, 193, 385, 769. Sevenfold, so to say. Still a lot of heating and hammering. Would be advertised as having 896 layers. Friend of me made a sword this way and dug up all that information.
I have it, shinken katana and ninjato as collection. And now from you i can practice about the historical of this weapon. Thank you. Greet from Indonesia.
The information I found on katana's and ninja swords when I researched the topic in the 90's was that the ninjas would disguise a wakazashi blade in a katana tsuka and a katana saya. This was done to fool an opponent with a much faster sword than a standard katana.
Couple of.questions: As I understand it, the method of creating a Katana causes a natural curve to occur in the blade during the tempering process. The folding of the metal in creating the billet also made a Katana incredibly strong. Since the Ninja were considered lower class citizens, could the fact that the swords were straight and that none exist pre-meiji era mean that they were made using less durable materials and methods closer to those used in making western straightswords? Second, in the 80's, an anime called Kamui no Ken was released in theaters. Directed by Rintaro, It features, among other things, a heavily stylized version of the Ninja (referred to as Shinobi in the movie, which based on one of your other videos indicated a specific region of origin.) The Shinobi in the movie wear straight blades that, if I am judging scale correctly, would have been at the minimum length for a Wakizashi (30 cm) at most, but could also have been a longer Tanto, since they had no Tsuba. These blades were worn behind the waist as opposed to over the shoulder the way ninja swords are depicted, and used for quick draw slashes and stabbing techniques. Is there historical prescident for this, or is it just made up for the movie? Thanks for your time. I very much enjoy your videos.
I am really enjoying your videos Shogo! I have practiced Ninjutsu since 2008 and what I have learned is this. There are a number of plausible theories all of which could be true. The idea of the "Ninja" sword both in appearance and association may come from the Togakure Ryu style sword which has a longer Tsuka and shorter blade which appears straight but is slightly curved, this is still held in a full size Saya giving the impression of a long sword but allows a quicker draw against an opponent due to the shorter blade. Another theory and style is that the ninja clans were not set up to make refined blades and therefore the finished Katana would have had a different, perhaps less of a curve and duller edge. Within the sword school there is a method of actually using your body weight to push/drag the sword across the opponent as they are not as efficient when cutting. The Ninja also armed themselves with what ever they could find/take from opponents, shuriken were derived from the wheel hubs of carts for example, their swords may have equally been taken, modified or repaired which would change their appearance. Just my thoughts on what I have experienced so far but as you say, who really knows and could we ever really know for sure....
In Bujinkan Ninpo (passed down from the clans of Iga), we use the "Shinobi-Nogata". Basically a katana that has been shortened at the blade. This allows for, yes drawing in tight spaces (samurai could do the same with the wakazashi), but also for being able to draw a split second earlier than their opponent. In a duel, if you are even just a little faster on the draw/attack, most times, you won... The tsuka is also a little longer to allow for close quarter tie ups and disarming. The saya is the same size as a regular katana's, it just had room in the bottom for hiding documents or throwing blinding powder out from. What I was told and all this supports it, is that the "ninja swords" were just swords that were taken off defeated guards and samurai, then chopped off at the end, which would be considered unheard of and dishonorable by samurai. To the ninja, these were tools. Also worth mentioning... We don't carry our swords on and draw from our backs. During: climbing, crawling, and basically things that don't involve combat.. Sure (a sword in an obi would be very awkward in any of these), but in combat, carried the same way as any samurai. They both trained in Battojustu and Kenjustu
Scorpion also used a Ninjato in the Mortal Kombat series. He first wielded an ordinary Ninjato in Deadly Alliance. He wielded a modified version in Deception and Armageddon, with a sharped tsuba and a tiny spike for a pommel. He used 2 Ninjato swords in MK9, they have a similar spike pommel but also with a serrated blade. And in MKX, Scorpion's Ninjato swords adopt an almost European look for the handguard.
I'd love to hear about the difference between the Iga and Koga Ninja
ahaha, if that isn't another fellow D2 Player
@@flarbo9612 shhhhhh
I have stayed in Koga, now known as Koka. It is my “sister-city”. They have a “ninja house” museum there. The last original building I believe. The mayor also has occasional competitions against the Iga mayor. He let me wear his prize vest when I met him, which was a great honor as no one was allowed to wear it before.
@@revbladez5773 Not the other way around?
It depends the kind of anime you watch😉
In the 80's when I was going to high school, ninja was the single most talked about thing. We watched the movies, read the books, played role playing games, and tried to make the weapons in metal work class! Some time after that I found an excellent book that outlined some of the suspected tactics and history and much of it matches with what you said here. One of the theories about the sword was that it was small and straight to make it easier to conceal inside a robe. Even though I am (obviously) a lot older now, I still find these aspects of Japanese culture and history fascinating and your videos are very well presented. Arigatoo gozaimasu, sensei.
Metal work class in high school?! At my high school, there was no such thing as metalwork or blacksmithing classes.
From what I understand, shinobi/ninja was more of a function on the battlefield, that focused on scouting, espionage and diversion. Both samurai and ashigaru could act as shinobi, and the "ninja clans" that are often mentioned were simply minor samurai clans that specialised in shinobi tactics.
correct, actual ninja scrolls found and translated make no mention of assassination, or combat they make mention of nothing but spywork
You're right. I always thought they must have been samurai special forces or something, like the American black ops.
true, they were sort of like the secret police
Makes sense, specially when you consider they came to prominence during a time of civil war.
That said, there's evidence they assumed a role of "special police" of sorts during early Edo period/Tokugawa shogunate, though. But it's hard to say if they already had some expertise in this field or simply adapted to a new role.
Shinobi, as Hayes once clarified (and not just from the title of his book), simply means "teacher of the warrior ways of enlightenment".
Your explanations express one of the virtues of a Samurai: Humble.
My respects to you 🙏🏻
That's not a virtue of a samurai. Most were pos human beings without a bone of courage or respect in their body.
Bushido was as arbitrarily defined and practiced about as much as knightly chivalry...which was practically never. That nonsense was romanticized in the modern era. The real ones were just scumbags betraying people left and right and murdering unarmed civilians in the dead of night because they could.
@@thelocust619 sí gringo, sí, vete a una guerra, anda.
ironically samurai were known to be arrogant. and there are even stories of them testing the sharpness of their swords on passerby people i.e slashing at them.
@@shashankdevineni6969 like the Americans "Gringos" in all their wars and in all their schools??? I don't think so.
It is natural for a people of authority to loose sight of responsibility and lean towards authority and self appeasement. Gringo or Samurai.
The existence of ninja swords is doubtful because no spy or assassin wants to carry an item that identifies them as such.
Yeah they pick weapon depending on the mission. If its infiltrate then no sword. If its like killing a daimyo in the dark maybe then. But even there it is easier to to send a kunoichi as prostitude with a knife.
Well said.
But they did carry one lol. Maybe it wasn’t as important to ninja but they did have one.
yeah, i agree, but they could carry any weapon that fit their mission
for example if a ninja had to inflitrate enemy troops, they can pose as a samurai and obviously wear their cloths and their katana
but about training, i'm not sure if actual ninja had to fight like a samurai to assassinate or only to gather Intel
As shogo said, maybe it's just some who used it regularly while others didn't?
Shogo Sensei explains everything in a such a simple yet detailed manner. I really wish my teachers in school could teach like this.
As I understand it, a ninja can use just about anything as a weapon. Any sword could potentially be a ninja sword.
I’ve heard the same. To my understanding, many of the ninja used modified farming implements as weapons.
The shinobi were mostly spies and sometimes assassins. Usually if ashinobi had to fight it meant they had fucked up. They were all about getting in and out quick and quiet without being caught.
Yes. Anything is a weapon if you are brave enough.
@@joebloggs5318 and yet if it serious situation thing will it going be kill or be killed.
@@deathchikorng1276 Yeah absolutely a shinobi would think nothing of killing if they had to, but they'd also try and avoid it because dead bodies with fresh sword wounds tend to attract attention which is the last thing a spy or assassin wants. They want to do their job quick and quiet then get away before anyone realises what's happened.
I’m surprised he didn’t theorize or bring up the “possibility” that ninjas might’ve broken down their swords when they weren’t used anymore to repurpose the materials for other things they might’ve needed at the time. Probably countered from other things that stuck around but repurposing gear would be believable.
Well kunai are basically a gardening tool or a metal trowel. When in combat it fair to say they went from plowshares to swords.
I think they would take their targets swords and use them as their weapon and as proof of kill!
@@Punisher_MrWick well now you’re just making stuff up
@@mkv2718 actually most of the time they would take the head as proof! Ninja would be noticed if they did that! Also no katana is the same! They are actually all unique and designed around the person that it is built for! Unlike in today's world!
SuperMan stomps Goku
I remember when I studied "Ninjutsu" 26 years ago a couple of Sensei arguing about the existence of the Ninja-to. If they did exist there may be some reasons why they disappeared. 1)The quality of a Ninja-to would have been substandard and the rusted remains would have been recycled due to a shortage of metal. 2) No swordsmith would put his stamp on an assassin's weapon and it's legality would make it something to be disposed of. 3) Quality Katanas were treasured and passed down through generations with the Honjo Masamune being like "Excalibur". 4) Ninja-to would have been used as evidence and therefore disposable. 500 years from now there may be a museum housing guns and bayonets but I doubt anyone will keep an old zip-gun or shank.
Funny you should say that because the royal armoury museum does have various examples of zip guns and other homemade firearms. Shanks are also often preserved as an example of improvised weaponry in adversities like prisons or POW.
Also, for sure most of these ninjato would've rusted away since they wouldn't have been cared for like katana, but just think about how many katanas have been found hidden away in attics, and why haven't there been even a single example of a ninjato like there are shuriken and kusarigama and etc? Given that the shuriken are even more disposable than a short sword, and are often intentionally rusted to induce tetanus in the victims, it's a wonder that there exists no ninjato to be found when shurikens are.
Mind the sword, imagine being so good of a spy/assassin that there are barely any historical documents.
We never were there....
the greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist.
@@windhelmguard5295👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Love your way of explaining things. Your daughters are lucky to have a dad who can explain stuff so clearly👍
From all my years of study and attending a Bujinkan Camp as a youth as well as personal book/historical studies. It seems like the Ninja took part in many different roles on the battlefield and warfare throughout Japans history. Very interesting history and the fact that some scholars say their (Ninjutsu) roots also come from china is very fascinating. Great Video! OSU!!!!a
As a side note, everything I have learned stated that the swords we know as Ninjato were made very cheaply because of the fact that they were used as a tool. Its easier to create a straight sword then a curved one such as a katana. I believe that if a "Ninja" had the opportunity to pick up a Katana on the battlefield they would either for Monitory gain or the fact that they perform better in combat. That being said, there is some historical data that some of the smaller Samurai family's from the Iga region actually became what we know today as ninja. And I assume that their family historical Katana's followed suit. But of course their role is so shrouded in hearsay and history. Its hard to be conclusive on some facts and if their is any historical fact or if its fiction
Shogo... Some historians believe that the shinobigatana was a mix between the Daisho. So you take the longer tsuka and saya from a uchigatana and place than into the shorterblade of wakizashi. So you have a saya that is long enough to carry medicine and blinding or burning powder a longer handle to make it more stable and a shorter blade usefull in assassination and CQB and to trick enemies in 1-on-1 combat.
There is no such a thing as Shinobigatana nor Gatana. It’s called Katana. Secondly there were no Ninja/Shinobi swords in feudal Japan. Historical fact. Most famous Shinobi’s were Samurais who used their main sidearm Katana in spy missions as in normal service. Please don’t mix up real history with fantasy from some Anime stories and such as a fact.
@@Warjah104 Calm down bro, it was just a comment. But if you have any historical register of everything you're saying, I would like to read it.
@@victorribeiro2431 So you have nothing else to say, heven't you? Didn't those transcripts had enough of "historical register" for you? Or did you really believe on those fairy tail "Anime" info you had? At least a thank for giving you something real to read on would have been respectful to have. Osu!
@@Warjah104 The information they got was probably not from Anime. It’s more likely from a famous unsubstantiated theory.
What they’re describing are the "official" Togakure Ryu blade dimensions. Unfortunately, said school is likely a made-up legend created by Takamatsu Toshitsugu, who claims to be a descendant of a Ninja clan but never provided evidence.
In this sense, you are right. This being said, your insistence on attacking that person and assuming something about them without proof whilst making absurd claims was unsightly. You cannot prove that something didn’t exist, and there is no need for contempt nor assumptions.
@@enough_b nicely put. I'll have to re read my many papers hiding away,. From some years ago when I used to practice and study ninjitsu,. Bujinkan I think you and the first person in this comment are very correct. Each trying to keep their own history alive. I believe both sides. And from what I meant,. There were "no ninja sword". They often recovered broken and discarded swords from battle fields,. Ninja were poor,. Couldn't afford to make, buy steel,. So use what was scaffenged
I've also heard of a theory that they would keep a short sword (curved like a uchikatana) in a standard size saya, to blend in during espionage and so they have space to effectively hide poisons in the bottom of the saya. There are so many theories and it's all super interesting!
Leaving this here to help with the algorithm. Love the channel.
Same
FAX
The ninja gattana were heavy thick blades meant for chopping and stabbing. They were made, crudely, by blacksmiths who were oriented toward producing farm implements and, many of the weapons associated with ninja were, in fact, farm tools, such as the kama. As you pointed out, most ninja carried katana, most likely taken from samurai they’d slain. These swords were sometimes customized to have shorter blades, making the draw faster, while keeping the length of the saya long to present the illusion of a longer blade.
93k Shogo... Really getting there my friend keep up the great work!
Even if it didn’t properly exist, I think the distinction in attitudes toward the swords is fascinating. The way samurai tie them to faith is something I guess I’ve noticed but haven’t put together until now. Samurai always seemed more careful but I thought it was just for the sake of being a professional. I wonder if some ninja felt there was religious significance but just didn’t have the time to respect it in the middle of a mission. That would be pretty mentally strenuous
i found this channel no long ago and i'm absolutely in love.
I think sword-canes or something like that sound quite plausible. It would be a big advantage to have a hidden blade in case of emergencies, i think. Something like zatoichi's blade seems like it would be smart use of concealment.
Your conclusion sound plausible. As an European visitor of your side it is like learning the different ways to look at the history. It is clear that there will be different views like there are different views about European history. Your channel is informative.
I agree. He speaks confidently though his knowledge in this particular area is seriously warped.
I was always under the impression that ninja primarily used a modified wakizashi that has a katana handle. The shorter wakizashi allows for close quarters use, and equipped with a longer katana handle it provides more power, better balance, and leverage.
Man, if he became my university professor I would love to take my classes regularly.His explanation was superb.
I had a Nintendo Power game guide for Ninja Gaiden 2. The first twenty or so pages were the history of ninja, their weaponry, and the uses of the ninja-to. All of this was outlined in this video, and it was great to revisit childhood memories.
I'm writing a paper for college on Seppuku and your video helped so very much! Thank you! Keep up the amazing videos
These videos are very educational and comprehensive!! It makes learning about Japanese Culture easier and less tedious 😌 Thank you so much
Love the videos. When you have information blocks come up, could you please leave the displayed a bit longer?
In fact, the ninja sword, being in the scabbard, was no different from the samurai sword. The only difference is the shorter blade - hence the straighter curve of the blade (the scabbard had the same curve, although the length of the blade was closer to the wakizashi). The intended purpose of such a sword is "work" in enclosed spaces, stabbing blows, speed of reaching, longer scabbards could be used as a case for ... A square tsuba was made only when there was a need to forge several swords as quickly as possible, usually this could occur immediately before some task, although in the future the same swords could be used (but only during sorties). Using a tsuba as a step, if desired and dexterity, could not only be square. So we can talk about at least four types of swords (in terms of the blade) that the ninja used: samurai katana, wakizashi, samurai katana with a shortened blade and ninjato for special tasks ... As for whether a ninja could carry a sword behind his back - then yes, they could (of course, this mainly applies to a short sword). There were special techniques for drawing the sword from behind the back in different positions, also under certain circumstances the sword could be displaced, for example, when somersaulting, the sword could be pulled to the chest and stomach ...
I did not know Ninja were related to swords. I thought they just used Shuriken, Nunchaku, small throwing knives and kunai. I quite like the idea of Ninja more than Samurai from anime and video games. Wakizashi reminds me of Yojimbo in FFX
Nunchaku were Okinawan. Ninja did not use them.
Because some people say that a ninja isn't just a samurai or former samurai engaged in syping or guerrilla warfare. Some people say a ninja could be a word used to describe a common person engaged in the same activities, using improvised weapons or civilian tools to take people out/defend themselves against enemies.
Movies
Shogo, I appreciate your balanced approach on any topics I've heard you talk about! Very enjoyable. Here's a thought that I heard once from a martial arts teacher of mine: at certain times in Japanese history, only samurai were allowed to carry katana. If a ninja was not also a samurai (some were), he would have to either steal or scavenge a sword. So he theorized that the idea of straight swords used by ninja came because of scavenging bad quality or failed swords form swordsmiths (who he theorized would have thrown away blades that ended up being straight at the end of forging). It's an interesting theory at least.
Greay video. Would love a video about a few differant katana styles, every time you mention your training i wonder what style you study.
This video was actually really cool and informative. I'm subscribed.
It’s so well organized and didactical, awesome work!!
The non-curve of the blade is the main thing that makes ninja swords look like fiction
The curve of the katana is a natural byproduct of its forging...
I find it very unlikely that people would develop a new forging process for such a small part of a ninja's kit
If I had to put money on it, i'd say that ninja used normal wakizashi with modified shieths
well, there are many things that were invented by ninjas and not revealed to anyone else, you could call those "ninja technologies" wich they kept to themselves, also straight katana were invented eventually, so its not unreasonable to assume that ninjas might have invented them sooner but not revealed the secret of its production to outsiders.
Finally got a chance to be the third commenter. Shogo I love your casual way of conveying topics 😍
Wait a minute, am I mistaken? The seven types of katana you mentioned aren't actually katana. They are the weapons of the samurai.
Technically, they are... but also aren't (well except the yari, sorry Shogo but this should be substitued for nodachi or tsurugi). The kanji for katana is present in all of these weapons; they can also be built through some derivation of the katana (naginata is literally katana + pole for example).
Just a note - straight Japanese swords were the norm before 980AD. Straight bladed Japanese swords are referred to as chokutō. There are quite a few ancient blades surviving in the museums and shrines to this day and they look exactly, especially the later ones, as the "ninja sword" blades (not sure about the fittings: guards, sheaths and etc.) Curved bladed swords in Japan did not come into popular use until somewhere around the middle of Kamakura period around 1100s.
A katana, only one particular and quite specific style of a Japanese sword out of many, usually worn tucked in a belt with the edge facing up, is actually quite a late development. It was initially used only by ashigaru (common folk light infantry) and later adopted as a more practical style of sword by samurai class who had mostly used a longer more curved tachi swords, that were worn with the edge facing down suspended from a belt and quite well adapted for horseback fighting but not as practical on foot as a katana.
Japanese spies - historically known as shinobi, probably used whatever they needed and had depending on their class, including samurai. For certain spy jobs you needed an actual samurai for other spying jobs an actual monk, as pretending to be one would not always do, while for others merchants, peasants and prostitutes and even criminals. They were all known as shinobi. Spying was a task not a social class, though some clans like Koga and Iga later started to hyper-specialize in spying task specific skills.
A stereotypical "ninja" character clad all in black is an invention of a Japanese entertainment and popular fiction of Edo period and aesthetically is modelled more on kuroko { 黒衣 }, traditional Japanese stagehands, not the real shinobi.
Can you make a video about the 47 Ronin?
The real story is kinda lame
@@dayman161172 indeed. ( Nothing to do with the movie whatsoever)However it makes total sense regarding the ideals of respect and honor.
Missed about to mention that some samurai are also ninja. And they commonly used shorter katana (ninjato) on a regular saya as a disguise to walk under the streets, or between other samurai. Great video!
Only 6.9k subs to go! Sending positive energy to Kyoto.
First, wonderful information Shogo. Second, in modern "Ninjitsu" training most ninja were disguised as gardeners and peasants to obtain information and the "weapons" used were literally garden tools....like hedge clippers. As a Combat/Survival instructor I have even incorporated this concept into my training program and I teach and recommend students to purchase/practice fighting with hedge clippers. A preferred set of clippers I've purchased from Lowe's home improvement that has forged blades 20" to 24" blades and an extendable handle giving a combat reach of over 36". The clippers are excellent for thrusting attacks both closed or open and excellent for blocks and to parry oncoming attacks. Another weapon that gave Ninja "supernatural" were scaling or climbing claws that they doubled as a measure to block sword strikes. I've only known hollowed out bamboo or reeds as as snorkel...sorry about that. Ninja were also proficient chemists and in documentation I've studied they even developed gas weapons derived from yellow cow poo and flamethrowers. Swords by my understanding were rarely used the straight sword w/square hilt doubling as a step ladder, as you described was the same as I understand it to be used for stabbing and hacking. The Ninja would also use a fallen adversaries weapon as well as Ninja were trained to capitalize on any opportunities presented. Amphibious attacks were also devised w/flotation devices allowing Ninja to cross lakes and bogs. Undoubtedly, swords were weapons utilized by Ninja and adaptability is the key trait that Ninja embraced the most and everything the Ninja used were multifunction tools allowing for them to complete their mission. In my research it was said that the last Emperor of Japan hired all Ninja clans as secret bodyguards posing as gardeners and attacking any would be insurrectionists that might threaten the Emperor. Finally, Ninja were adaptable and to avoid being wiped out, by outlawing them, they are said to have either gone silent or immigrated to other nations i.e. USA. Again thank you for your sharing your information and your study to the Combat Arts.
The curve of a samurai's sward is imparted during the heat treating process. The differential hardening employed causes the blade to curve. This method of hardening makes for a very complex blade. But it has the down side of causing a higher rejection rate due to warping or cracking. A blade that is not differentially heat treated is easier and less likely to have issues during the heat treatment. This would make a blade that was not differentially hardened much less expensive. It would also make for a blade that isn't as strong or perhaps is as strong but not as sharp or that dulls more quickly. Depending on how the blade was tempered after the heat treatment. So, it isn't just that a straight blade is straight it is about why the blade doesn't curve. I would imagine given the low quality of steel available to smiths in Japan. That both blades would have been made of layers of forge welded steel. Unless a trade route form the main land brought in other steel. I am not an expert in Japanese history or swards but I am a smith.
i take it it is easier to mold a straight blade than a curved katana ...this in itself would give a little credulity to the idea of a straight-bladed 'ninja' weapon ...-make a lot easier for the "peasants" to come by anyway ....
@@krishnan-resurrection714 Swords are not molded they are forged. Molds are used in casting. Casting isn't usually used to make blades. Parts of a weapon are often cast but I don't know of any cast blades.
As far as I know all japanese blades are forged. It isn't about the difficulty of forging a straight blade vs curved. All katanas start their lives as straight blades. It is the differential hardening that imparts a curve to the blade. The differential hardening imparts a Hamon line as well.
If you differentially harden a long blade like a katana. You have a higher risk of warping and cracking the blade. But you get a better quality, more complex blade. The alternative is edge hardening. Where you heat just the cutting edge up and quench it. Edge hardening does not curve the blade.
One advantage to edge quenching is you can have a lower rejection rate due to cracking and bending. I've only made a few blades, about 1 in 3 will crack or twist to the point of being unusable and me having to start over.
Again I don't know why ninja swords were straight. But that is was straight might reveal differences in how it was made. Also that it is straight might come from cost savings from differences in production. But both of those are inferences.
Hi shogo,
I find your videos sometimes really entertaining and sometimes real useful,
Thanks for that!!
Modern depictions of "ninja" is purely a creation of 19th/ 20th century entertainment
Jup the real ninja where just sone peasants in the forest who used advance Guerilla tactics until Nobunaga annihilated them with his army
I honestly didn't even know there were that many differences so this was very informative. I also didn't know that samurai used anything other than katana, that shocked me a but but it's actually really cool. Thank you so much for this video, I really enjoyed it
Oh, and I’d love to see a video about my namesake, Musashi. Maybe about the fictional version of him and his effect on Japanese culture, or perhaps the true story. Kyoto is one of the great places where many of his important life events occured.
Nice, glad to see you mentioned the Iga and Koga
I have discovered you channel recently, thanks to some intricate algorithm mechanism. Although I did not have a particular interest in Japan and Japanese culture, I really enjoy your content. It is well made, informative and aesthetically pleasing. You seem like a genuine and heartfelt person and I hope you get the success you deserve.
Salutes from Italy!
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-What are the differences between Katana & Tachi? About naginata, tanto, wakizashi, ＆ odachi!
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Ninja swords= Stab, pierce, mostly from behind. Through a paper wall or floor for extra exp.
I read some where that some ninja swords were just wakizashi blades with katana handles and scabbards. This was supposed to give them a faster draw and surprise their opponents.
Turtles - the most famous katana wielding icon!!!!
Absolute loved the video! I will never claim to know as much about katana and other Japanese swords, I have loved the katana since I was a boy and it always surprised me how many people didn't know the difference. Can't wait to watch more!
I think you missing out something. There's a long Katana called, Nodachi.
the only example of nodachi that i am aware of was considered to be too unwieldy to use in any sense of combat. it falls under the same issue great swords like claymores fall under. too big to be effective in combat.
@@signolias100 Dude, claymores were effective; moreso than the nodachi.
The nodachi is more a polearm than a sword due to the long size and requirement for a servant assistant to unsheathe it; but it, and variants such as the zhanmadao, did work as options of the field. But of course, the naginata was a better choice overall.
@@blazinkid5178 while I understand that claymore swords varied in length by a great deal and while shorter versions were viable, the longest ones were impractical
In the 60's in Hi. On Saturday morning we watched the White Samurai. He was blind,and never lost a battle with any bad guy's. Thanks for the update and entertainment.
The similarity is that both swords will make me a weeb.
I love your videos. They are so friendly and welcoming. It's such a vibe!
Shogo-san, very nice and informative videos. I like the objectivity, and the fact you destingush the myth from historical fact.
Glad to see this channel . I have several Japanese friends and I think this channel will help people understand and be closer together. Just being friends can bring cultures so closer together. And see we're all different and we're all alike.
I have a lot of historical doubts about this. Historical ninjas pract more yo-nin than in-nin and were dressed like samurai, yamabushi and normal people.
Normally in in-nin the sword was just a kodachi.
Yo-nin and In-nin?
@@brandon2559 there are videos that talk abo it those two
@@whateverwhatever4476 Also, these supposed Japanese martial arts historians you see all over UA-cam are complete boneheads. I've come across a ton of historical records (not densho) that refute most of the nonsense they claim. I have studied Takamatsu's claim that all samurai bujutsu traditions stem from the Tendai temples of Shingon Buddhism and it appears to be completely legit. They were called Sohei. These warriors were those mysterious bodyguards that they claim eventually became samurai. I can further break down this history, but it will get very long-winded..
I must clarify. Katanas don't use sheaths. They are all use scabbards. Sheaths are flimsy and made of leather and cloth. Scabbards are rigid and provide substantially more protection to the the blade
The ninja sword that we know today was born in Hollywood in the 1950’s.
How do you know, can you give some examples of this movies ?
@@shredder1799 well my post was based on there are no historical documents on anything but katana swords. There are no documents in Asia that mentioned a straight sword.
Yep, the modern depiction of "ninja" is entirely based in the entertainment industry.
The sneaky ninja all garbed in black, with short straight swords, simply never existed in real history.
Actual Shinobi were just samurai dedicated to scouting/information gathering roles
@@joshballesteros22 In Asia? That is a huge generalisation. Tibetan swords and its offshoots that exist in North-East India are straight swords - called Ryokce or Yoksa.
Read my other post below.
I found your channel on one of your shorts you gain attraction from those yt shorts. Keep up the content👍
Theres nothing like ninja sword or any weapon just for ninja its just myth.
Radoslav is correct.
The modern concept of Ninja (Shinobi/Shinobi-no-mono) is a myth while we're at it.
I’m so happy for you and your family, sensei! When I first sub to you, it was 50k something…. Now you almost hit 1M sub!!
I love to get a lot of Japanese‘s history lessons from you, sensei! 😇😇😇
Also there are some straight uchigatana in existence today but most of them are like that because of them getting lost in a fire like for example the uchigatana of sakamoto ryouma
did u mean mutsunokami yoshiyuki? / yeh i' m a touken ranbu fans
@@DraceEmpressa yes mutsunokami Yoshiyuki and I am a tourabu fan aswell
I love the explanations buddy, I've been a fan of Japanese History since I was a kid. This was around the time I watched anime and read Manga based off of Samurai and Ninja and I'm learning alot from your explanations 😁 You should do a movie documentary buddy.
Great video, I always thought ninja swords were just for killing people now I know they were more like swiss knifes 😄😄
Thank you. Domo. It's very interesting and a big honor to watch this video. Many information are this which we did not known in Germany. Big respect for this.
What's the point of having a weapon specially made for undercover spies? In this case ninja🤔... It's just make it obvious that they are spies...
Which is also a solid argument against shuriken. A kunai, however, is plausible because it is more of an agricultural tool.
@@revbladez5773 No one used it. Fantasy weapon. Any “real shinobi” weapons that actually were used in real life, are all improvised farming weapons. But a throwing star is a custom built battlefield weapon. It has no main non combat use like a kunai. So it’s practical existence is not likely
The sword would most likely be for battlefield recon and "surgical strike" missions, rather than undercover espionage.
Well I'm watching this in January 2022 and it seems you absolutely smashed that sub goal! Bit late but I've subbed too. Great video, very clear and informative and I will definitely be watching your other content to learn more about Japanese history and culture :)
Hello, it's Tristan, I been a martial artist my whole life and been deep into japanese as well as other asian cultures. I believe that the ninjatos would be fine at slashing with no problem, I like seeing leonardo tmnt with ninjatos instead of katana, my favorite sword was johnny's in Surf Ninjas it was a long handled philipino style sword. I'm going to recreate TMNT in my own better style, I want Leonardo to use an average length Ninjato and also have a companion sword, a twin if you will, but with the blade about only slightly less than half the length of the other but with the hilts the same everything, and he will wear bolth sheeths on his back with the smaller on top . Thanks remember NINJATO'S are the future whahahahah
I read a book a long time ago that explained that all ninja weapons were actually refurbished farming tools. In the case of ninja sword the book proposed that they were katana of samurai taken from battlefields and reshaped the blade more straight for stabbing, as stabbing is more in line with assassination that direct battle. If you look at the wide range of their tools though, most of then are refurbished farming tools.
To be fair though, said book also proposed that the original ninja clans were made up of farmers, who were considered some of the lowest classes.
I understand that feeling when you start collecting Katanas. Got 7 Katanas, a Wakizashi and a Tanto and I still want to get an Odachi, a Yari, a Naginata and a Kanabo
Interesting fact about shuriken, shurikens are apart of samurai martial arts and where not used by ninjas at all. The reason can be found on the youtube video on Asian boss youtube channel interviewing the last real ninja jinichi kawakami.
That sword seems too well designed to have existed during the time of the ninja. It's been suggested that the curve of the katana was NOT a design choice, but a byproduct of the cooling process due to the forging options available during the age of their creation. As such, it seems likely that a straight katana for a ninja would be a literal impossibility.
It was always my understanding that ninja used the tools available to them. Things like the kama and sai, while great for farming, were terrible in combat. However, these are what the average peasant had available, and in a time of necessity would surely figure out a way to use it somewhat effectively. That said, it was more guerilla tactics they employed to catch the samurai off guard as that was the best chance they had at defeating them. As such, any katana a ninja had would have been taken off of a samurai, and considering how sacred the katana is to the samurai, it was most likely taken off a dead samurai.
As I understand it, "ninja" basically translates to "spy" which not only suggest they can still be active today (similar to the American CIA or Russian KGB), but even at the time they'd do their best to blend in and look like everyone around them. To this effect, the outfit we associate with the "ninja" did exist, almost. Rather, the "modern ninja garb" is based off of what the ninja wore in the period, which is what everyone else wore around them. If the ninja was the only one wearing that garb (including the face covering) they'd stand out, but if 90% of the populace is wearing the same, then they look like everyone else.
I don't know how much (if any) of the above is true, but it does feel like most of "ninja weapons" are only used by the "modern medieval ninja" which is to say modern weapons optimized for use by feudal "ninja" in anime, manga, and video games.
Yes, I would like to hear about the origins of both iga and koga! They sound really interesting, and I love how you explain these topics in your show;) I hope you make 1M subs!
First of all: there were NO Ninja swords in feudal Japan period. Historical fact. End of story.
This is a brilliant video man, easy to understand and very factual. The most I learned about Samurai n Ninja swords on UA-cam.
Ninja sword never existed
yep
yeah, if they need to use katana, they would just use a regular one.
they do now, and that's all that matters
Ive always thought they used wazkashi
@@jashardwallington They did use wakizashi. And katana.
Thank you for your very special kind of explaining things of the historical stories about Japan and Japanese traditional culture. And this in a very good pronunciation....very good to understand for me ;-)...and now I`m a subscriber too. Regards from germany and stay healthy.
Domo Arigato gozaimasu (think I got that right 🤔)
Great video 👍 and definitely showed the difference between the two types and the styles of combat. My hypothesis of the "Ninja sword" would be practical, if you can get hold of a well made katana then use that! The Ninja by trade were practical and resourceful. A identifiable and task specific "Ninjato" would make the user identifiable and jeopardize the covert operations. Maybe simple and rudimentary swords were made that were meant to be disposable and that's why none have survived.
Loved the video and will be watching more of your channel.
Best wishes
@3:26 the weapon shown is a kama which are normally used in pairs. A kusarigama is an individual kama with a weighted chain fastened to the base of the handle.
Amazing video my friend.
Not only is it more than likely that the ninja-to never existed back then, but ninjas themselves probably never existed.
I believe that a shorter straight sword would have been an exception rather than the norm. As true Ninja, like modern spies, blended into their surroundings, they would dress the same, move the same, and act the same as the people around them. In cases where a sword would be needed, a short straight one is easier to hide in loose traditional clothing. Also, as the swords would be limited in use over more common weapons like Tanto, there would be little chance of one being lost or confiscated, and therefore later turning up in the historical record. My understanding is the Ninja swords were also of a lower quality than Katana, so it was no great loss to break or dispose of one. A straight piece plain steel sword could quickly be hammered out in a foundry into a block, without the distinctive layering of a katana. I believe the real Ninja were in all appearances just everyday people, with an incredible skill set that didn’t require large weapons. Sneak in, steal secrets or execute a target, get out, and be long gone as someone else in different clothes by the time someone realised. I once read a story, which may have been made up, but was given as historically correct, where a Ninja snuck into a Shogun’s home, snuck under the floor, and when the Shogun was asleep, pushed a dagger through the floor and tatami, silently killing the Shogun. The Ninja then left, and was many miles away before anyone realised the Shogun was dead.
The whole point of layering was to get more flexible steel out of pure iron (soft) and carbon rich steel (brittle). A "straight piece of plain steel" did not really exist in Japan. You could remodel a broken sword, or use less layers. The folding of layers of steel and iron was a method of mixing without melting and stirring, a lot of work but can be done in a relatively simple workshop.
The several hundreds of layers you hear of start out as for instance 7, four iron and three steel, fold it and weld the iron with the fire an anvil, makes 13 (one less than dubble because two are fused), repeat, 25, 49, 97, 193, 385, 769. Sevenfold, so to say. Still a lot of heating and hammering. Would be advertised as having 896 layers.
Friend of me made a sword this way and dug up all that information.
I have it, shinken katana and ninjato as collection. And now from you i can practice about the historical of this weapon. Thank you. Greet from Indonesia.
The information I found on katana's and ninja swords when I researched the topic in the 90's was that the ninjas would disguise a wakazashi blade in a katana tsuka and a katana saya. This was done to fool an opponent with a much faster sword than a standard katana.
I really enjoyed your video and how you explained things so eloquently.
Wow Ninja has been part of my life growing up in the 80s .Sho Kosugi still in my head after all these years
Couple of.questions: As I understand it, the method of creating a Katana causes a natural curve to occur in the blade during the tempering process. The folding of the metal in creating the billet also made a Katana incredibly strong.
Since the Ninja were considered lower class citizens, could the fact that the swords were straight and that none exist pre-meiji era mean that they were made using less durable materials and methods closer to those used in making western straightswords?
Second, in the 80's, an anime called Kamui no Ken was released in theaters. Directed by Rintaro, It features, among other things, a heavily stylized version of the Ninja (referred to as Shinobi in the movie, which based on one of your other videos indicated a specific region of origin.)
The Shinobi in the movie wear straight blades that, if I am judging scale correctly, would have been at the minimum length for a Wakizashi (30 cm) at most, but could also have been a longer Tanto, since they had no Tsuba. These blades were worn behind the waist as opposed to over the shoulder the way ninja swords are depicted, and used for quick draw slashes and stabbing techniques.
Is there historical prescident for this, or is it just made up for the movie?
Thanks for your time. I very much enjoy your videos.
I am really enjoying your videos Shogo! I have practiced Ninjutsu since 2008 and what I have learned is this. There are a number of plausible theories all of which could be true. The idea of the "Ninja" sword both in appearance and association may come from the Togakure Ryu style sword which has a longer Tsuka and shorter blade which appears straight but is slightly curved, this is still held in a full size Saya giving the impression of a long sword but allows a quicker draw against an opponent due to the shorter blade. Another theory and style is that the ninja clans were not set up to make refined blades and therefore the finished Katana would have had a different, perhaps less of a curve and duller edge. Within the sword school there is a method of actually using your body weight to push/drag the sword across the opponent as they are not as efficient when cutting. The Ninja also armed themselves with what ever they could find/take from opponents, shuriken were derived from the wheel hubs of carts for example, their swords may have equally been taken, modified or repaired which would change their appearance.
Just my thoughts on what I have experienced so far but as you say, who really knows and could we ever really know for sure....
Teach mean
That you my friend. These videos are just amazing.
I just happen to come across your videos and I am very happy that I did.
In Bujinkan Ninpo (passed down from the clans of Iga), we use the "Shinobi-Nogata". Basically a katana that has been shortened at the blade. This allows for, yes drawing in tight spaces (samurai could do the same with the wakazashi), but also for being able to draw a split second earlier than their opponent. In a duel, if you are even just a little faster on the draw/attack, most times, you won... The tsuka is also a little longer to allow for close quarter tie ups and disarming. The saya is the same size as a regular katana's, it just had room in the bottom for hiding documents or throwing blinding powder out from. What I was told and all this supports it, is that the "ninja swords" were just swords that were taken off defeated guards and samurai, then chopped off at the end, which would be considered unheard of and dishonorable by samurai. To the ninja, these were tools. Also worth mentioning... We don't carry our swords on and draw from our backs. During: climbing, crawling, and basically things that don't involve combat.. Sure (a sword in an obi would be very awkward in any of these), but in combat, carried the same way as any samurai. They both trained in Battojustu and Kenjustu
No such thing as ninja sword exist. And bujikan is nonsence since shinobi no jutsu has nothing to do with matrial arts
Your videos are very clear. I appreciate them 🙏
Very informative and entertaining.
Thank you 🙏🏽
That was a very practical lesson and makes a lot of sense...take care always
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9:28 Peko Pekoyama knowed this very well
A man of culture i see
I entered a rabbit hole of japanese culture and I'm glad I found your channel
Very INTERESTING theory. Very compelling argument.
Scorpion also used a Ninjato in the Mortal Kombat series.
He first wielded an ordinary Ninjato in Deadly Alliance. He wielded a modified version in Deception and Armageddon, with a sharped tsuba and a tiny spike for a pommel. He used 2 Ninjato swords in MK9, they have a similar spike pommel but also with a serrated blade. And in MKX, Scorpion's Ninjato swords adopt an almost European look for the handguard.