The Equipment and Outfits
for Shinobi Activities
忍出立の習
Shinobu Idetachi no Narai
Natori has described what the shinobi are and what they can and cannot do. Now we enter the world of what a shinobi needs: his tools, his methods of disguise and the different methods of ninjutsu that he must learn. First, a field agent must have his six basic tools, the weapons of the ninja’s “espionage artillery.” With these in hand, the ninja must master the seven basic disguises that will allow him to move around the restrictive Japanese country with ease, allowing him to gain entry into places where he should not be and to talk to people he should not be talking to. Having the tools of the trade and the outward manifestation of other people, the shinobi soldier must now understand the weaknesses that people possess, weaknesses found through a shared liking for the five basic loves in life. Having built the ninja up to this level, Natori now sees that they are instructed on the ten ancient ways of the shinobi principles, giving them the ammunition that they need to deceive people and render them pliable to the will of the ninja.
The underlying principle of the shinobi is to not be discovered by others. Therefore, you should provide yourself with those outfits that will change the way you look. Masters of the shinobi arts in ancient times were scarcely recognizable, even between a father and son or between brothers, even more so if they were unrelated to the ninja.
Basically, there are six items of essential gear for shinobi:
1. The deep and wide straw hat called the amigasa あミ笠
2. The grappling hook known as a kaginawa かぎ縄
3. A stone pencil we call a sekihitsu 石筆
4. Field medicine called kusuri 茉り
5. A three-foot (90 cm) piece of cloth called a sanjaku tenugui 三尺手拭
6. A fire-starting implement called an uchitake 打竹 or tsuke-take 附竹
The amigasa straw hat is used to cover your face or change your appearance, while still allowing you to see other people.
The kaginawa grappling iron is used to climb up or descend from a height; to grapple or restrain and tie someone up, to lock a sliding door and for many other purposes not mentioned here. There is a thin rope called a konawa and this school has a secret technique that we use and it can also secure the saddle of a horse if needed. The methods for using this rope should be passed down in accordance with the needs for any specific situation.
The sekihitsu stone pencil is used to take notes or make marks.
The medicine is called worm’s killer* and is an essential tool. If you get sick in the field, you will not be able to accomplish your task, so you should carry it with you at all times.
The sanjaku tenugui cloth is very useful as a hachimaki head-band, you can wrap it around your head and around your face, and you may use it to extend a sash by tying them together to make a rope so that you may climb a wall or other heights. In other schools you are supposed to always keep it inside your obi sash. In my school however, you should fold it up and keep it inside your collar, even when you wear the lightweight summer katabira 帷子 kimono, it is essential that you should always keep one of these cloths about you at all times.
The tsuketake 附竹 fire starter is a tool that helps you to create fire; this can be used when you need to have a fire at night. Among the different types of fire-starting equipment the donohi 胴火 body-warming device is a most favorable asset. Also, they can be used for the skill of jiyaki 地焼, scorched earth policy. Also, you can use it for arson and other purposes.
The color of your clothes should be one of the following colors: brown, tan (this is called numerigaki), black, or navy blue. These are so common that it is hard to stand out while wearing them. You can use the amabaori, raincoat, or a cape to change your appearance and body shape. Whenever you steal up on someone you had better carry an o-wakizashi 大脇差 short-sword. Sometimes you need to cover your sword blade in ink.* Your obi sash should be black, with two garments sewn together with slip stitches, this is called waobi. This is done because it is advised that you should quickly take hold of the end without fumbling.
Shichihode 七方出
The Seven Types of Disguise a Ninja Should Use
1. Komuso Zen monks こむ僧: you will be able to wear the straw amigasa hat in this get up, which as mentioned before, it will give you good visibility while hiding your face.
2. Shukke monks 出家: this is an easy approach for both men and women to use.
3. Yamabushi mountain priests 山伏: this is an easy approach for both men or women to use and they can carry a katana or wakizashi short-sword without being questioned.
4. A merchant: This makes it easy to approach people.
5. Hokashi street entertainers ほうか師: This will make it easy to approach people as they commonly do street entertainment and people are used to them traveling.
6. Sarugaku performers さるがく: As a form of theater, people will not question why you are there.
7. Tune no katachi or street clothes つねノ形: You should dress in accordance to the type of person you wish to emulate and that will be found on the streets that you wish to travel along.
The above are the types of appearances you can successfully imitate. You should choose the identities that would best suit your personality and demeanor so that you can remain unperturbed throughout your shinobi mission.
According to Kiichi, who practiced esoteric cosmology and founded a sword school, there are five kinds of things that people like:
1. Beautiful men and women
2. Luxury palaces and mansions
3. Beautiful and quiet scenery consisting of rocks and water
4. Dengaku 田楽, which is a type of field music and folk dance
5. The fine arts, literature and calligraphy
If you come up with a plan that includes one of the above five, you will not fail to take in your enemy. It is said there would be no way for you to fail if you use these five elements.
The Following are Ten Ancient Ways of the Shinobi
1. Onsei-nin 音聲忍 ninjutsu by voice: A quietness of voice should be used in this style which includes baiboku バイ 木 mouth gags and dakko 奪口, which is the skill of using a local dialect, alongside these two there is also eaves-dropping and music.
2. Jun-nin 順忍 obedient ninjutsu: Gathering information by following people extensively, but not in a manner that will alert them or put them on their guard.
3. Mushoho-nin 無生法忍 zero attachment ninjutsu: This is done by causing disorder and taking advantage of the new situation and then acquiring an advantage from the opportunities you have made.
4. Jogen-nin 如幻忍 illusion-like ninjutsu: Taking advantage of even the smallest gap in the opponent’s defense, it is essential to be fast with this method.
5. Joei-nin 如影忍 shadow-like ninjutsu: To get close to and stay near people and objects by hiding in the shadows.
6. Joen-nin 如焰忍 flare-like ninjutsu: Getting into people’s mind when they let their guard down, and utilizing their weakness, this is also the case with houses and gaining entrance to them.
7. Jomu-nin 如夢忍 dream-like ninjutsu: You can deceive people at night with this style.
8. Jokyo-nin 如響忍 echo-like ninjutsu: To investigate the opponent’s location employing local aspects to your own benefit.
9. Joge-nin 如化忍 disguise or mutation ninjutsu: Deceiving people. You can read their thoughts by pretending to be a run-of-the-mill person, putting them off their guard by disguising your appearance and gaining information via their trust.
10. Joku-nin 如空忍 void or empty-like ninjutsu: Deceiving people without them knowing or getting a hint at what you are up to and not allowing them to realize what has happened and how they have been used.
The above principles hold true through all the chapters that make up the Shoninki. You should use everything you have learned from them and apply them to all the lessons in this book. Therefore, I have written these in the first chapter even though they are of vital importance no matter where you are in the book. A depth of mind should be kept and reason should be held elevated above all things. As a ninja you should always have an awareness of the environment around you.