ninja

Ninjas were covert agents in feudal Japan who specialized in espionage, deception, and unconventional warfare. The term ninja (nin to endure or conceal) denotes a practitioner. They operated mainly during the Sengoku period (roughly the 15th to 17th centuries) and are associated with the Iga and Koga regions in present-day Mie and Shiga prefectures.

Roles and methods: Ninjas conducted intelligence gathering, disguise, infiltration, sabotage, and ambush. They relied on stealth, deception, and local networks rather than open combat, and used tools such as shuriken, kunai, hooks, and smoke devices.

Training and organization: Ninjas did not form a single class. They came from varied backgrounds and often trained within local clans, developing skills in reconnaissance, climbing, swimming, disguise, and information gathering.

Myths and misconceptions: Legends exaggerate feats such as invisibility or walking on water. Historical ninjas were pragmatic operatives with varied levels of notoriety.

Legacy: In modern culture, ninjas are a global symbol of stealth and martial arts. Regions such as Iga and Koka preserve historical sites, and ninjutsu continues as a martial discipline and cultural motif.