Ninja Tools and Weapons

Book excerpt: Warriors of myth and legend, ninja are a fascinating, mysterious presence in our world. Through generations of disinformation and, more recently, their place in popular culture, the origins, tools, and methodology of the ninja have been shrouded in secrecy to alternately terrify or entertain the populace. The weapons of Ninjutsu are unusual and unorthodox. Though they have been popularized by the public's expanding interest in the Ninja arts, they remain poorly understood. Glamorization of this method of defense has led to a publicly perceived disassociation from its origins as a "peasant art." Ninja Tools and Weapons provides a reframing of the skills of Ninjutsu closer to the discipline's lower-class roots. Dr. Michel Farivar clarifies the origins of the weapons as well as supplies indepth insight into the mindset that developed them. As Ninjutsu moves into the modern age, this clarification remains relevant to those interested in the history of the ninja as well as the anatomy and evolution of conflict.