The ninjatō (忍者刀), ninjaken (忍者剣), or shinobigatana (忍刀),[2] are the preferred weapon that the shinobi of feudal Japan carried, usually carried on the persons back, specifically horizontally at a height of around that of the person's waist.[3][4] It is portrayed by modern ninjutsu practitioners (including Masaaki Hatsumi[5] and Stephen K. Hayes) as the weapon of the ninja, and is prominently featured in popular culture.[6] Replicas of this sword are displayed at the Ninja Museum of Igaryu,[7] established in the mid-1960s.,[8][9][10] at the Koka Ninja Village Museum in Kōka, Shiga,[11] and at the Gifu Castle Archives Museum in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan [12]
Historically, there is no physical evidence for the existence of this "katana-like short sword legendarily used by ninja" before the 20th century,[13] though it is believed that the designs demonstrated by alleged replicas are based on the design of wakizashi or chokutō swords or the swords associated with ashigaru.[1]
Because of the lack of any physical evidence or antique swords from the Sengoku to the Edo matching the description of the ninjatō,[1] the history of the weapon can only be reliably chronicled from the 20th century onwards.
1956: The first known photograph of a straight-blade ninjatō was featured in a 26-page Japanese booklet entitled Ninjutsu by Heishichirō Okuse.[14][15]
1964: The Ninja Museum of Igaryu in Japan, which houses replicas of the sword, is established.[8] That same year, the swords appeared in Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizō (忍びの者 霧隠才蔵) and Shinobi no Mono Zoku Kirigakure Saizō (忍びの者 続・霧隠才蔵), the 4th and 5th entries in the Japanese jidaigeki movie series Shinobi no Mono, released in theaters in Japan.
1973: Ads selling newly manufactured and imported ninja swords appear in the American magazine Black Belt.[16]
1981: Books containing references to the sword written by Masaaki Hatsumi, the founder of the Bujinkan,[5] and Stephen K. Hayes,[6] an American who studied under Hatsumi in 1975,[17] are published.
1981: The first Hollywood film to feature the ninjatō, Enter the Ninja, was released in theaters.
1983: The next Hollywood film to feature the ninjatō, Revenge of the Ninja, was released in theaters in September 1983.
1984: The first American television production to feature these swords, The Master, was broadcast on NBC from January to August 1984.
The ninjatō is typically depicted as being a short sword, often portrayed as having a straight blade (similar to that of a shikomizue)[18] with a square guard.[1] Usually of a length "less than 60 cm", the rest of the sword is comparatively "thick, heavy and straight". Despite the disputed historical existence of the ninjato,[13] Hayes claims to describe it in detail, and suggests that the typical description of the ninjatō could be due to ninja having to forge their own blades from slabs of steel or iron with the cutting edge being ground on a stone, with straight blades being easier to form than the much more refined curved traditional Japanese sword. His second possible reason for ninjatō being described as a straight-bladed, rather short sword could be that the ninja were emulating one of the patron Buddhist deities of ninja families, Fudo Myo-oh, who is depicted brandishing a straight-bladed short sword similar to a chokutō.[19]
Usage
Due to the lack of historical evidence regarding the existence of the ninjatō, techniques for usage in a martial context are largely speculative. When used in film and stage, ninjatō are depicted as being shorter than a katana with a straight blade but they are utilized in a "nearly identical" manner as the katana.[20] Books and other written materials have described a number of possible ways to use the sword including "fast draw techniques centered around drawing the sword and cutting as a simultaneous defensive or attacking action",[21] with "a thrust fencing technique",[22] and with a "reverse grip".[23]
The scabbards were often said to have been used for various purposes such as a respiration pipe (snorkel) in underwater activities or for secretly overhearing conversations.[22][24] The scabbard is also said to have been longer than the blade of the ninjatō in order to hide various objects such as chemicals used to blind pursuers.[25][26] The tsuba (hand guard) of the ninjato is often described as being larger than average and square instead of the much more common round tsuba. One theory on the ninjatō tsuba size and shape is that it was used as a tool, the sword would be leaned against a wall and ninja would use the tsuba as a step to extend his normal reach, the sword would then be retrieved by pulling it up by the sageo (saya cord).[27][28]
Literature
Jürgen Bieber: Ninja-to: The sword of the ninja, Verlag Autorenschmie.de, Wangen 2009, ISBN 978-3-940404-12-1
A Glossary of Arms and Armor, ed. George C. Stone, Southworth Press, 1961, p. 469
Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons, by Yamashiro Toshitora, Butokukai Press, 1986, ISBN 978-99942-913-1-1
^Lewis, Peter (1988). Art of the Ninja. Gallery Books. p. 53,122. ISBN9780831704773. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
^"Ninjato Sword:The Japanese Assassin's Sword". Sword Encyclopedia. 2022.
^"Ninja Truth Episode 2". NHK World-Japan On Demand. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
^ abHatsumi, Masaaki (1981). Ninjutsu: History and Tradition. Unique Publications. p. 13,93,102–103. ISBN9780865680272. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
^ abHayes, Stephen K. (1981). The Ninja and their Secret Fighting Art. C.E. Tuttle Co. p. 89. ISBN9780804813747. Retrieved January 5, 2012. editions:lzi6xoPi0SAC.
^"Japan National Tourism Organization". Retrieved May 21, 2017.
^ abBlack Belt Magazine December 1966, p. 20 (1966-12-01). Photo of ninja sword display in the Iga-Ueno Ninja Museum. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
^. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
^"Gifu Castle, Gifu, Japan". Retrieved May 20, 2017.
^ abBoughn, Jenn Zuko (2006). Stage combat: fisticuffs, stunts, and swordplay for theater and film. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 192. ISBN9781581158250. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
^Black Belt Magazine November 1973, p. 61 (November 1973). Ninja Sword ad. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
^. Archived from the original on December 26, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
^Seishinkai Bujutsu. "Concealed and Trick Weapons". Retrieved January 5, 2012.
^Lore of the Shinobi Warrior, Stephen Hayes. Black Belt Communications, Nov 1, 1989P.22.
^Boughn, Jenn Zuko (2006). Stage combat: fisticuffs, stunts, and swordplay for theater and film. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 156. ISBN9781581158250. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
^ abVirtual Museum of Traditional Japanese Arts. . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
^Hayes, Stephen K. (1983). Ninja: Warrior Path of Togakure. Ohara Publications, Inc. pp. 96–97. ISBN9780897500906. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
^Scandiffio, Laura (2003). The Martial Arts Book, Laura Scandiffio, Nicolas Debon, Annick Press, Feb 1, 2003 P.40. ISBN9781550377767. Retrieved 2014-07-24 – via Google Books.
^Draeger, Donn F (1989). Ninjutsu: The Art of Invisibility, Donn F. Draeger, Tuttle Publishing, Mar 15, 1992 P.60. ISBN9780804815970. Retrieved 2014-07-24 – via Google Books.
^Levy, Joel (2008). Ninja: The Shadow Warrior, Joel Levy, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., Aug 5, 2008 P.59. ISBN9781402763137. Retrieved 2014-07-24 – via Google Books.
^Kim, Ashida (1998). Secrets of the Ninja, Ashida Kim, Citadel Press, 1981, P.60. ISBN9780806508665. Retrieved 2014-07-24 – via Google Books.
^Draeger, Donn F (1989). Ninjutsu: The Art of Invisibility, Donn F. Draeger, Tuttle Publishing, Mar 15, 1992, P.60. ISBN9780804815970. Retrieved 2014-07-24 – via Google Books.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ninjatō.
Nihonto message board forum
Ninjatō at the Koka Ninja Village Museum
August 27, 2023
ninjatō, ninjatō, 忍者刀, ninjaken, 忍者剣, shinobigatana, 忍刀, preferred, weapon, that, shinobi, feudal, japan, carried, usually, carried, persons, back, specifically, horizontally, height, around, that, person, waist, portrayed, modern, ninjutsu, practitioners, inc. The ninjatō 忍者刀 ninjaken 忍者剣 or shinobigatana 忍刀 2 are the preferred weapon that the shinobi of feudal Japan carried usually carried on the persons back specifically horizontally at a height of around that of the person s waist 3 4 It is portrayed by modern ninjutsu practitioners including Masaaki Hatsumi 5 and Stephen K Hayes as the weapon of the ninja and is prominently featured in popular culture 6 Replicas of this sword are displayed at the Ninja Museum of Igaryu 7 established in the mid 1960s 8 9 10 at the Koka Ninja Village Museum in Kōka Shiga 11 and at the Gifu Castle Archives Museum in Gifu Gifu Prefecture Japan 12 Ninjatō Shinobigatana 忍者刀 忍刀 A computer image sample depiction of the ninjatōTypeShort sword single edge Place of originJapanService historyUsed byShinobi Ninjutsu practitionersSpecificationsMass 0 42 kilograms 0 93 lb 1 Length 48 centimetres 19 in 1 Blade lengthBlade length 46 centimetres 18 in 46 cm 61 centimetres 24 in Hilt typeWood metal fish skin silkHistorically there is no physical evidence for the existence of this katana like short sword legendarily used by ninja before the 20th century 13 though it is believed that the designs demonstrated by alleged replicas are based on the design of wakizashi or chokutō swords or the swords associated with ashigaru 1 Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Usage 4 Literature 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditBecause of the lack of any physical evidence or antique swords from the Sengoku to the Edo matching the description of the ninjatō 1 the history of the weapon can only be reliably chronicled from the 20th century onwards 1956 The first known photograph of a straight blade ninjatō was featured in a 26 page Japanese booklet entitled Ninjutsu by Heishichirō Okuse 14 15 1964 The Ninja Museum of Igaryu in Japan which houses replicas of the sword is established 8 That same year the swords appeared in Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizō 忍びの者 霧隠才蔵 and Shinobi no Mono Zoku Kirigakure Saizō 忍びの者 続 霧隠才蔵 the 4th and 5th entries in the Japanese jidaigeki movie series Shinobi no Mono released in theaters in Japan 1973 Ads selling newly manufactured and imported ninja swords appear in the American magazine Black Belt 16 1981 Books containing references to the sword written by Masaaki Hatsumi the founder of the Bujinkan 5 and Stephen K Hayes 6 an American who studied under Hatsumi in 1975 17 are published 1981 The first Hollywood film to feature the ninjatō Enter the Ninja was released in theaters 1983 The next Hollywood film to feature the ninjatō Revenge of the Ninja was released in theaters in September 1983 1984 The first American television production to feature these swords The Master was broadcast on NBC from January to August 1984 Appearance Edit Ninjatō wielding Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura entertainers October 2010The ninjatō is typically depicted as being a short sword often portrayed as having a straight blade similar to that of a shikomizue 18 with a square guard 1 Usually of a length less than 60 cm the rest of the sword is comparatively thick heavy and straight Despite the disputed historical existence of the ninjato 13 Hayes claims to describe it in detail and suggests that the typical description of the ninjatō could be due to ninja having to forge their own blades from slabs of steel or iron with the cutting edge being ground on a stone with straight blades being easier to form than the much more refined curved traditional Japanese sword His second possible reason for ninjatō being described as a straight bladed rather short sword could be that the ninja were emulating one of the patron Buddhist deities of ninja families Fudo Myo oh who is depicted brandishing a straight bladed short sword similar to a chokutō 19 Usage EditDue to the lack of historical evidence regarding the existence of the ninjatō techniques for usage in a martial context are largely speculative When used in film and stage ninjatō are depicted as being shorter than a katana with a straight blade but they are utilized in a nearly identical manner as the katana 20 Books and other written materials have described a number of possible ways to use the sword including fast draw techniques centered around drawing the sword and cutting as a simultaneous defensive or attacking action 21 with a thrust fencing technique 22 and with a reverse grip 23 The scabbards were often said to have been used for various purposes such as a respiration pipe snorkel in underwater activities or for secretly overhearing conversations 22 24 The scabbard is also said to have been longer than the blade of the ninjatō in order to hide various objects such as chemicals used to blind pursuers 25 26 The tsuba hand guard of the ninjato is often described as being larger than average and square instead of the much more common round tsuba One theory on the ninjatō tsuba size and shape is that it was used as a tool the sword would be leaned against a wall and ninja would use the tsuba as a step to extend his normal reach the sword would then be retrieved by pulling it up by the sageo saya cord 27 28 Literature EditJurgen Bieber Ninja to The sword of the ninja Verlag Autorenschmie de Wangen 2009 ISBN 978 3 940404 12 1 A Glossary of Arms and Armor ed George C Stone Southworth Press 1961 p 469 Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons by Yamashiro Toshitora Butokukai Press 1986 ISBN 978 99942 913 1 1References Edit a b c d e Dorling Kindersley 2010 03 15 Knives and Swords Penguin Books p 281 ISBN 9780756663308 Retrieved December 22 2011 Lewis Peter 1988 Art of the Ninja Gallery Books p 53 122 ISBN 9780831704773 Retrieved December 26 2011 Ninjato Sword The Japanese Assassin s Sword Sword Encyclopedia 2022 Ninja Truth Episode 2 NHK World Japan On Demand Retrieved 2021 08 19 a b Hatsumi Masaaki 1981 Ninjutsu History and Tradition Unique Publications p 13 93 102 103 ISBN 9780865680272 Retrieved December 27 2011 a b Hayes Stephen K 1981 The Ninja and their Secret Fighting Art C E Tuttle Co p 89 ISBN 9780804813747 Retrieved January 5 2012 editions lzi6xoPi0SAC Japan National Tourism Organization Retrieved May 21 2017 a b Black Belt Magazine December 1966 p 20 1966 12 01 Photo of ninja sword display in the Iga Ueno Ninja Museum Retrieved January 6 2012 Ueno City Tourist Association Archived from the original on December 9 2018 Retrieved May 20 2017 Tour of Iga Retrieved May 20 2017 Tour of Koka Retrieved May 20 2017 Gifu Castle Gifu Japan Retrieved May 20 2017 a b Boughn Jenn Zuko 2006 Stage combat fisticuffs stunts and swordplay for theater and film Skyhorse Publishing p 192 ISBN 9781581158250 Retrieved January 5 2012 Okuse Heishichirō 1956 Ninjutsu Osaka Kinki Nippon Tetsudō a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Turnbull Stephen 2018 Ninja Unmasking the Myth Frontline Books ISBN 978 1473850422 Black Belt Magazine November 1973 p 61 November 1973 Ninja Sword ad Retrieved January 6 2012 Stephen K Hayes Biography Archived from the original on December 26 2011 Retrieved January 6 2012 Seishinkai Bujutsu Concealed and Trick Weapons Retrieved January 5 2012 Lore of the Shinobi Warrior Stephen Hayes Black Belt Communications Nov 1 1989P 22 Boughn Jenn Zuko 2006 Stage combat fisticuffs stunts and swordplay for theater and film Skyhorse Publishing p 156 ISBN 9781581158250 Retrieved December 22 2011 Hatsumi Masaaki 1981 Ninjutsu History and Tradition Unique Publications p 13 ISBN 9780865680272 Retrieved January 11 2012 a b Virtual Museum of Traditional Japanese Arts Shinobi Gatana Ninja swords Archived from the original on December 9 2018 Retrieved December 29 2011 Hayes Stephen K 1983 Ninja Warrior Path of Togakure Ohara Publications Inc pp 96 97 ISBN 9780897500906 Retrieved January 11 2012 Scandiffio Laura 2003 The Martial Arts Book Laura Scandiffio Nicolas Debon Annick Press Feb 1 2003 P 40 ISBN 9781550377767 Retrieved 2014 07 24 via Google Books Draeger Donn F 1989 Ninjutsu The Art of Invisibility Donn F Draeger Tuttle Publishing Mar 15 1992 P 60 ISBN 9780804815970 Retrieved 2014 07 24 via Google Books Levy Joel 2008 Ninja The Shadow Warrior Joel Levy Sterling Publishing Company Inc Aug 5 2008 P 59 ISBN 9781402763137 Retrieved 2014 07 24 via Google Books Kim Ashida 1998 Secrets of the Ninja Ashida Kim Citadel Press 1981 P 60 ISBN 9780806508665 Retrieved 2014 07 24 via Google Books Draeger Donn F 1989 Ninjutsu The Art of Invisibility Donn F Draeger Tuttle Publishing Mar 15 1992 P 60 ISBN 9780804815970 Retrieved 2014 07 24 via Google Books External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ninjatō Nihonto message board forum Ninjatō at the Koka Ninja Village Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ninjatō amp oldid 1139950013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
