Sarutobi Sasuke, One of The Legendary Ten
Sarutobi Sasuke is probably a fictional character that appeared in many children’s stories in the early 20th Century. His life and story is probably based on a Kozuki Sasuke, a famous ninja of the Meiji era. The word “Sarutobi” means “Monkey Jump”, and like many Japanese names it is actually a nickname that describes the qualities of a person. Sarutobi Sasuke was renowned for his acrobatic abilities. He could dodge the fastest warrior, ducking and jumping around a sword slash.
According to the legend, Sarutobi Sasuke began training at the age of ten. It is said that he met his sensei (teacher) when he was practicing fencing on a tree. An old man happened to come by and laughed at the child’s efforts. Sasuke got angry and rebuked the old man for having laughed at him.
“Child, practicing swordfight with a tree is like fighting a dead enemy!” the old man said.
Hearing these wise words, Sasuke was immediately alert, recognizing that the old man was probably a master swordsman. Sasuke pleaded to the old man to teach him sword fighting. The old man revealed himself to be Haakunsai Tozawa, a prominent Ninja of that time. Thus, Sasuke gained instruction as a Ninja.
After instruction, Sasuke joined the Sanada Clan, led by Yukimura who was at that time fighting against the forces of Tokugawa. Yukimura formed a group of ten Ninjas, called the Sanada Ten Braves, who took active part in the battles between the Sanada Clan and Tokugawa’s forces. During the Siege of Osaka, the Sanada Ten Braves were a crucial element of Yukimura’s strategy as they spied and brought forth instrumental information to their master.
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In one popular story, Sasuke was sent to spy Tokugawa in his castle. He made a successful entry into the castle and overheard conversations of a plan to attack his master. However, when leaving, guards caught him. Sasuke was a master of evasion, having gone through many such situations in the past. He easily jumped over a high wall.
Unfortunately, there was a bear trap on the other side. Sasuke fell right into the trap. Before the guards arrived, Sasuke amputated his leg in order to get out of the trap. Realising that escape was impossible in this condition, Sasuke committed suicide rather than being caught.
Joyce
Ishikawa Goemon, The Ninja Thief
No ninjitsu school in Japan would openly acknowledge Ishikawa Goemon as one of their students. This is because, Ishikawa Goemon is considered to be the greatest thief in Japanese history. Goemon was probably a Ninja, since many sources claim that he was born in the Iga Province, the home of the Ninjas. Yet, he perverted ninjitsu in the sense that he used the Ninja techniques to steal from others. Other sources claim that he was a samurai born to So Sekei, the chief retainer of a local warlord. He quit being a samurai after the assassination of his father and became a thief in Kyoto.
However, despite being a thief, he was well liked by the common people. Goemon was a sort of Japanese Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Goemon lived in the Edo era, in the 16th Century. The Civil War (Warring States Period) had just ended. This period was characterized by massive differences between the classes of people. Much power and wealth were in the hands of the daimyo (the leader of a province). There was a rich aristocratic class who were powerful landlords. The common people were peasants, condemned to forever work the lands of their masters for a meagre pay. Ishikawa Goemon sought to iron out these differences using his own radical method.
In 1594, Goemon entered the castle of the Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the regent of the emperor. It is not clear why he did so. Some say to steal; which does not seem to be a good reason because of the risks. Others say that he planned to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who at that time was perceived to be a despot and who oppressed the common people a lot. Still others claim that the aim was to avenge Goemon’s father who had been killed by Hideyoshi (this is the version of the popular plays by the Japanese kabuki).
Whatever the case, Geomon entered the master bedroom of the regent. According to popular legend, there was a mystical incense burner in Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s room, which sounded a shrill alarm whenever an intruder comes in. The samurai guards of the regent were quickly roused and caught Goemon in the act. A more logical explanation would be that he tripped over something that raised the alarm…but hey, who are we to challenge history?!!! When caught, Goemon was brought before the regent for interrogation, where he gave the following statement:
“It is you who are the thief, for having stolen the whole country!”
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was furious at this, since it was well known that he had came to power after a series of battles, intrigue and even political assassinations. He ordered that Goemon and his whole family be put to death by boiling in hot oil at the front gate of the Nazenji temple in Kyoto. While Goemon was unable to save the rest of his family, he saved his young son, Gobei, who had been put in the same cauldron as him, by holding him above the boiling oil.
Joyce
Kato Danzo, The Ninja Illusionist
All Ninjas of the olden days were attributed supernatural powers, sometimes greatly exaggerated. Many were associated with witchcraft or black magic even. The illustrious Kato Danzo was also well-known for his capabilities as an illusionist. Who else can boast of being able to swallow a whole bull in front of a crowd of over twenty persons? Who else can throw seeds onto the ground and have them sprout and flower in front of the very eyes of the onlookers? Kato Danzo mastered the techniques of illusion to such an extent that even the powerful lords of Japan were in awe of him.
Kato Danzo lived during the Sengoku period in Japan. The Sengoku period was a period of civil unrest (15th to 17th Century). This period marked the rise of the daimyo or regional lords and the erosion of centralized power. The daimyo held considerable powers and thus, like other Ninjas, Kato Danzo sought employment from one of these lords: the powerful and respected Uesugi Kenshin. Yet even Uesugi Kenshin was afraid of Kato Danzo.
Under the pretext of testing the abilities of the great Ninja, Uesugi Kenshin charged Kato Danzo of recovering a prized sword of one of his vassals that had been stolen by a rival and kept in a guarded castle. Yet, unbeknownst to Kato Danzo, the daimyo had alerted the rival of the arrival of the Ninja. There are many versions on how Kato Danzo escaped this trap.
One version is that he distracted the guards who had caught him with one of his magic tricks. Historical documents have it that he caused several little dancing dolls to spring out of a gourd. While the astonished soldiers watched, Kato Danzo leapt off the window and escaped.
The other version is that Kato Danzo had sensed the trap beforehand. He consequently sent in a dummy with his Ninjitsu outfit over the hedge of the castle instead of going in himself. The dummy was attached to a rope which he held from the other side. The soldiers, on orders from the daimyo, shot their arrows at the dummy. Kato simply pulled the rope causing the dummy to levitate in mid air. This caused much bewildered the soldiers and gave Kato enough time to escape.
In both situations, Kato Danzo became famous as tobi Kato (Flying Kato). He did eventually bring back the sword to Uesugi Kenshin but, because of the latter’s betrayal, did not continue to work as one of his vassals. Instead he went to Uesugi’s arch-enemy, Takeda Shingen. However, the latter also found Kato Danzo to be more dangerous than useful. Kato Danzo died by decapitation on the instructions of Takeda Shingen.
There is a saying among Ninjas that goes:
“A competent Ninja cannot be loved by his Master”
This is certainly true in the case of Kato Danzo.
Joyce
Tengu, The Ancestors of Ninja
According to folklore, Ninja were descents of the tengu, a being that was half man, half crow. It was also rumoured that ninja took orders from this being.
The following will reveal certain attributes of a tengu.
There are several types of Tengu, of which, here are two of them:
- Daitengu (major tengu)
- Karasu Tengu (minor tengu)
The daitengu are more human-like in appearance than the other tengus. They are tall and on their red faces, they have long noses. The daitengu carries a fan made out of bird feathers, which can cause huge storms when he swishes it. Though uncertain, some legends reveal that the daitengu were once Buddhist priests who had strayed away from their path.
The karasu tengu has the head and wings of a crow, and the body of a human. They are smaller in size and are said to serve the daitengu.
Origins of Tengu
What was the story of the Tengu then? How did they come about?
The idea of the Tengu came from China’s tien gou (heavenly dog). It is obvious, though, that these beings were different. The tengu evolved as a separate being of its own.
In the earlier days, tales about tengu potray tengu as malevolent spirits. Though, eventually, tengu were described as mischievious rather than evil. It was said during Japan’s Middle Ages, when corruption was rampant, the tengu took to fighting corruption.
Ninjas and Tengu
The tengu were experts in martial arts and magic (kuji-in). This was perhaps why ninjas were associated with the tengu. Due to the tengu’s association with fighting, a ninja’s mask was called the tengu-gui.
Logen L.
Yamato Takeru The First 'Ninja'
Prince Yamato was the brave prince who set out to win over the evil rebellions of Southern Island of Kiushiu at the age of sixteen. He was very intelligent and courageous that his father had complete faith on him. It took him a long time to reach the destination and gradually he started towards the head quarters of the evils.
But the place was covered with steep mountains and dark and dangerous valleys. He felt that this is almost impossible for him and his men to reach the rebellions and win over them. This is why he took the help of the trick of disguise.
His aunt had given him a robe and his wife helped him to dress like a woman in that robe. His disguise was simply perfect with the black traces, silk gown and jewellery. He hid a dagger under his dress.
Then he proceeded towards to tents of the enemies all alone and reached the place where Takeru and Kumaso were sitting. They were overwhelmed with the beauty of the young lady who was actually the prince in women’s attire. He sat with them and pleased them with his charming behavior.
He poured wine for Kumaso and he kept on drinking till the time he was completely drunk. This was the opportunity for the prince and he used it to stab the enemy to death. The other one tried to escape but Prince Yamato caught hold of him and killed him.
This is how he succeeded to ruin the evils and was awarded with the title of the bravest man of the country. He is considered to be the first Ninja as he used the trick of disguise to conquer his adversaries.
CWS
Kumawaka, The Teenage Ninja
The story of Kumawaka, a teenage ninja, is one of the most interesting stories known about the ninja. Young Kumawaka, who was 13 year-old boy traveled miles and miles to meet his father on his death bed. But a cruel monk who had imprisoned his father forbade them from meeting.
As he was denied of hearing the last words of his father, young Kumawaka took a vow to kill the monk. However, the monk was supported by his family and guards. Being physically weak and too little, the boy hatched a plan. He pretended to become ill and the monk’s family took him to their house.
While everyone was fast asleep, he collected information about the security of the house and when the guards patrolled.
One night when he had gathered sufficient information, he snuck into the room of the monk. From his reconaissance trips, he knew that the monk slept with a lighted lamp in the room. Therefore, clever Kumawaka opened the windows.
Attracted by the lamp, the moths flew into the room and gathered around the lamp, their wings effectively covered the light. In the darkness he stole the sword of the monk and killed him in his sleep.
Upon being discovered by the guards, he ran away and reached the bank of a river. The clever Kumawaka escaped by walking on a slender bamboo tree, which bent from his weight to reach accross the river.
CWS (edited by Logen L.)
Tale of The Gallant Jiraiya
All you fans of Japanese ninja folklores must have heard the name of “Jiraiya”. He was the main protagonist of this exciting story. Long ago there was a brave Ninja called Jiraiya. The meaning of his name is “Young thunder”. The name suited him perfectly as he was a swift fighter and the hero of the tale ‘Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari’.
He became so famous because of his bravery and the exciting aspects of his story that the film and television show makers have given a lot of importance in making shows and animated films on him. You can also get some games that feature the story of the Ninja ‘Jiraiya’.
Jiraiya, the young thunder mastered the techniques of “Shapeshifting magic”. This is the art of changing the shape, gender or age of a person and transforming completely into other animal or being. He changed himself into a gargantuan toad. He fell in love with a ninja girl who did not belong to his clan.
Her name was Tsunade. She was a beautiful princess who was the master of snail magic. She became the wife of Jiraiya. But the greatest villain in their love story was Orochimaru. He used to be the follower of Jiraiya at one point of time but gradually he was overwhelmed by the influence of snake magic.
He turned into an enormous serpent to attack the couple, Jiraiya and Tsunade and tried to kill them with his poison. But finally another follower of Jiraiya saved him and his wife.
CWS
