Ninjutsu, the Japanese martial art of the Ninja, has fascinated people for centuries due to its deadly combat techniques, covert operations, and unique Ninja weapons.
The Ninjas did not just use Ninjutsu weaponry for self-defense but also for espionage and sabotage. From iconic Samurai weapons such as Katana and Yumi to throwing stars and grappling hooks, these tools were essential in a Ninja’s arsenal and helped them overcome even the most difficult of obstacles.
Let’s explore the top 11 Ninja weapons of all time that were paramount to their success in battle and delve deeper into the fascinating world of Ninjutsu and the weapons that made the Ninja legendary throughout the world.
11: Bo Staff
Ninjas incorporated the practice of Bo staff under the art of Bojutsu. The Bo was made of either unfinished hardwood, red or white oak, Bambo, and sometimes Pinewood. The thicker Bo staffs were even capable of blocking the swords.
The Staff was known as Bo(1.2m/6ft), Jo(0.8m/4ft), or Hanbo(0.6m/3ft) depending upon its length.
The art of Bojutsu was extremely useful to the Ninja as it focused on a simple staff. Thereby, helping Ninjas be capable of using common everyday objects for combat when required.
10: Kusarigama
The Kusarigama is a Ninja weapon composed of a kama, a sickle-like tool, attached to a metal chain that has a weighted iron ball (fundo) at the end. This weapon was developed in the Muromachi period. The technique of managing the kusarigama is referred to as kusarigamajutsu.
The Ninja would swing the chain in circles over their head and then whip it forward to disarm their enemy by entangling their sword, spear, or limbs. Following this, he could immediately rush forward and strike with the sickle.
9: Fukiya
Fukiya, commonly known as the blowgun, was a 1.2m long tube that fired darts. It did not have a mouthpiece like its Western counterparts but instead relied on the shooter sealing it with his lips.
Ninjas utilized the blowgun as a discreet and efficient weapon for shooting poisoned darts or needles with ease to inflict harm from afar. The lightweight design made it effortless to conceal and handle, making this tool ideal for silent assassinations and other non-combat scenarios.
8: Metsubshi
Metsubushi were small containers filled with ground-up pepper, flour, dust, or ashes. Ninjas used it to throw them at adversaries to generate a veil of smoke, disorient enemies, or help them escape.
Sometimes, the Ninja would use fine ground glass or eggshells and blow it into the eyes of their opponents to temporarily or permanently blind them.
7: Yari
The Yari is a traditionally made straight-headed Japanese Spear. It was the preferred weapon of the Ninja to attack horsemen from a distance while avoiding potential injuries. Another similar weapon, which has a staff attached to a curved blade attached on one of its sides, known as Naginata, was sometimes also used by the Ninja.
6: Katana
The art of fighting with a sword in Ninjutsu is known as Kenjutsu. The most iconic sword by the Ninjas was a Katana, a single-bladed longsword with a slender, curved structure with either a squared or circular guard.
The Ninjas also carried a shorter version of the Katana called Ninjato.
5: The Rope
The use of rope is an essential component of ninjitsu, encompassing the art of Hojojutsu. The primary purpose of the rope is to ensnare and disarm adversaries, while the Kyoketsu-Shoge is a weapon that incorporates a dart with the rope. In addition, ninjitsu employs various techniques to impede or blind opponents temporarily. For generations, ninjas have relied on these tactics to evade danger.
4: Yumi
The Yumi was an asymmetric longbow commonly used while on horseback during the Feudal period. Traditionally made using wood, leather, and laminated bamboo, standing over two meters tall, the Yumi exceeded the height of the archer and fired special Japanese arrows referred to as Ya.
The art of using the Yumi is known as kyūjutsu and was a highly prized skill during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It was also a common weapon of the Samurai in Feudal Japan.
3: Tekko-Kagi
Tekko-Kagi refers to metal hand bands that have sharpened spikes. These were commonly used as a weapon in close combat for grapples and slash attacks with natural hand motions. These sharp metal claws could also be used for climbing and disarming an enemy.
It also inspired the adamantium claws of Wolverine, the epic Marvel character from the X-men franchise.
2: The Sai
Originating in Okinawa, the Sai is a traditional Japanese weapon with three prongs that can be used to block swords and disarm opponents. It consists of one long prong and two curved side prongs for trapping. It is commonly used in pairs, with one weapon in each hand.
The Sai is a versatile weapon that can be used in several ways, lethally or non-lethally. An experience Ninja would have used this weapon to block attacks from all directions, as well as for rapid strikes by swiftly changing the grip.
1: The Shuriken
Most iconic of all Ninja Weapons. There is no other weapon identified with Ninja as the Shuriken. Also known as the ninja star or the throwing star, Shuriken is a sharp and concealed throwing weapon that acted as a supplementary weapon to the sword or other weapons in the Ninja’s arsenal.
They are made in flat or star-shaped, multi-pointed designs and were primarily used to disorient foes. The targets of Shuriken were mainly the unexposed parts of the body, such as the face, hands, feet, or eyes. It is capable of disorienting enemies and also inflicting lethal puncture wounds.
The Shuriken could also be embedded in the ground like a caltrop or embedded with poison or bacteria. These compact throwing weapons are easy to hide, making them a weapon of choice for the Ninja.