The Ninjato?
By Brett Denison, Mizukan Dojo
Ninjutsu,
which is more accurately referred to as Shinobi-no-jutsu, is an ancient martial
art with a thousand-year tradition. Though there are presently two prominent
ryu, which focus on Ninjutsu, Togakure-ryu and Koga-ryu, many of the koryu
bujutsu ryuha (classical martial art systems/families) include shinobi-no-jutsu
within their curriculum (example ryuha that included shinobi-no-jutsu are the
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu and the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, both of which are
primarily Kenjutsu ryu [sword]). It is also a martial tradition that is
surrounded by numerous myths and legends. As with most legends, there is much
controversy as to the actual ability and skills attributed to the Ninja. Along
with the physical skills, the Ninja also developed a deep and accurate knowledge
of himself, his strengths and weaknesses, his commitments and his personal
motivation in life.
Ninjato, or shinobi-gatana,
is the sword of the ninja. It differs from the katana in being shorter, not
curved, and having a square oversized hand guard (tsuba) instead of a round one.
They seldom had the same quality of the Nippon-to, making them expendable tools,
not the soul of a warrior. The scabbard was often longer then the blade, making
a small storage space for assorted stuff.
The
scabbard of a ninjato has many uses. The end cap may be removed to use it as a
snorkel. The sageo cord may be removed to use as a garrote. The cord may be used
to pull the sword up after using the sheathed blade as a “step-up” in
climbing a wall. With the scabbard balanced on sword-tip and the cord held in
the teeth, it may be used as a probe in a darkened room.
This
serves a dual function; any enemy touched will not know the ninja’s true
location, and the ninja’s sword remains ready for action. A scabbard may be
rigged to expel a dose of powder when an iaijutsu draw is performed (the target
of the powder and the sword attack will be the same). The scabbard, with end cap
removed, may be used as a blowgun to propel darts. Darts are most useful for
introducing an internally effective compound into a victim.
So, that’s what a ninjato is,
or at least what it is supposed to be, but the question is did it really exist?
Early
Japanese swords had a straight blade (chokuto), but these were primarily
the result of Chinese and Korean influence and were quickly replaced by Japanese
curved sword after witnessing the results of the straight swords in battle.
From a historical standpoint I
can find no support of any weapon known as the ninja-to. I’ve heard and seen
the conversations turn to argument on the subject with reference to all the
reasons why there are no extant swords of the ninja--ranging from the almost
believable, to the absurd. I tend to remain extremely impartial about all this
and say if there is an original then someone can provide it and this would serve
to solidify the existence--then and only then shall I believe.
The explanations for the use of
the ninjato are that it was easier for them to make a slab of steel, that had a
dull edge, and a sharp tip with slip together furniture--it was more a tool,
then a weapon, for it served the ninja in many different ways, like leaning the
sword against a tree, and stepping on the square tsuba to climb, they often let
the sword rust, because back then there was no tetanus shot, so if the cut did
not kill you then the rust that got into your body would.
My primary concern with these
explanations of the ninjato as a utility tool or climbing aid is that it just
doesn’t make sense. Literature
portrays the ninja as a very athletic and versatile individual.
If this were the case, what good would a two or three foot long a
stepping device for climbing; surely the ninja could easily jump up or run up
and grasp the wall or tree branch as high or higher then standing on there sword
would allow, not to mention the fact that a single support point such as a sword
propped against a tree is extremely unstable…there is a reason that ladders
have supports.
Another
argument in support of the ninjato is that it was primarily used as an unity
tool. Certainly a good knife
(tanto) would be more useful and versatile then a 2-foot long, dull edged sword,
and the tanto could be concealed more easily.
One of the primary methods of operation for the ninja was concealment and
disguise, with discovery resulting in a failed mission at a minimum and death as
the more likely result. With this
being the case why would a ninja carry a weapon/implement that would immediately
identify him and his trade. Wouldn’t
it make more sense to carry a katana or wakizashi, which if discovered could be
easily explained?
If you find a straight blade that’s wasn’t made in the last 50 years or didn’t predate the evolved sword period of Japan, let me know. I’ve simply not seen many. Some chokuto were made in later years but mostly as oddities and usually because someone wanted an old sword design and paid a smith to make something different.
As indicated in the opening
paragraph of this article, it would be hard to believe that a bushi, trained
within a Koryu system that focused on Kenjutsu or Iaijutsu would abandon this
training when engaging in the practices of Shinobi-no-jutsu and take up the
ninjato.
I am more inclined to
believe that the origins of the Ninjato reside closer to Southern California
(i.e. Hollywood) then to the mountain regions of Japan.
(Please, visit the website of Denison sensei on http://mizukan.home.attbi.com/ )