How to be a Ninja - Equipment Guide

Ninjas are the absolute best, aren’t they? Thanks to the Shinobi of Feudal Japan, we now have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Ninja Air Fryers (other Air Fryer Brands are available) to enjoy in the modern world. But who was the absolute best Ninja of them all? The top Ninja in all of Japanese history? Well, that would be a fella by the name of Hattori Hanzo.

Born in Japan in 1557 AD, during the Sengoku Era, Hattori Hanzo experienced his first battle at the tender age of 15. That’s right, whilst most of us were sat on bins, drinking cans of Relentless and trying to look cool, Hanzo was clambering over the battlements of Uto Castle during a night-time raid.

So, what did it take to be a Shinobi like Hattori Hanzo? If you wanted to be a Ninja, how would you go about it?

We’ll be answering all these questions – and probably questioning some answers - in our ‘How to be a Ninja’ series, a two-part guide that will tell you everything you need to know about being a Japanese Ninja.

This is 'How to be a Ninja – Part 2 - Equipment.' There are five bits of gear every Ninja needs:

How to be a Ninja - Pack a Packet of Crickets

A Cricket was a surprisingly handy tool for a Ninja to have.

In order to remain undiscovered whilst on the move, Ninjas had a cunning plan to ensure their footsteps remained undetected. They brought a box stuffed full of crickets with them wherever they went. These chirp-chirping chappies are heard throughout Japan, so a roaming Samurai wouldn’t be alerted by hearing their familiar chirping. An experienced Ninja could release the crickets from their containment to cover the sounds of their footsteps as they continue with their sneaking, safe in the knowledge that they will not be heard.

How to be a Ninja - Wear Fake Feet

The last thing a Ninja would want is to leave a trail of footprints in their wake. After all, if they’re trying to sneak up on someone, that’s a sure way to be rumbled. To avoid this, Ninja footwear would have 'ashiaro' (fake footprints) stuck to their soles, making it appear that the feet belonged to an elderly woman or an animal, rather than a trained Ninja carrying a deadly Kusarigama.

How to be a Ninja - Dress the Part

These brightly coloured Ninjas would definitely stand out in a crowd

When you imagine a Ninja, you probably see a person cloaked in shadow, clad in the distinctive Shinobi Shizoku; dressed from head to toe in an awesome looking black onesie of death. With a mask that obscures a Ninja's entire face, other than their eyes which reveal nothing more than steely determination and deadly efficiency. Or you just think of a giant mutant turtle. Either or.

Thing is, a secretive Ninja wouldn't want to look like a secretive Ninja. Instead a Ninja would have looked like everyone else.

What would a Ninja have most likely worn then? A loose fitting Gappa travel cape that conceals light armour worn in layers beneath it would be ideal. Flexible clothing to aid in movement. Perhaps a disguise that helps them hide in plain sight, tricking people into thinking they were a harmless monk, farmer, or travelling performer. The loose parts of the Ninja’s clothing would be tied with a rope though, in order to prevent the total embarrassment of tripping over their own feet and ending up face first in front of a startled would-be victim. They'd still wear dark colours though, likes browns or blues, as pure black would stand out at night, rather than blend.

How to be a Ninja - Use Shuko

Shuko, hand claws, were definitely a Ninja's best friend.

Shuko are handy claws that fit over the owner’s hands like deadly mittens. An essential part of any Ninja’s tool kit, they were easy to hide and enabled a Ninja to make a quick getaway up a tree - or to rescue a stranded cat. A skilled Ninja could even use the Shuko to block an opponent’s blade. The advantage of using the Shuko was that it gave the appearance that they were blocking the blade with only their bare hands. This served only to further the Ninjas' reputations as powerful magical warriors with rock-hard hands.

How to be a Ninja - Bring an Egg

Yes dear reader, it's an egg.

We’re not talking an ostrich egg here. Ninjas would carry a freshly spouted out of a chicken egg. The yolk would have been removed from the inside of the shell by a small hole gently drilled into the surface. Then the newly created void would be filled with Metsubushi, a powder made from toxic materials. It’s difficult to know exactly what Metsubushi powder is made of, because the combination of toxins was the choice of each individual Ninja. But one particular variety consisted of dirt, ground-up pepper, mud, flour, and ashes. The powder could be removed from the egg and then hurled at a foes’ eyes whilst the Ninja made a quick getaway. The eggshell was a brilliant disguise, hiding the Metsubushi from prying eyes until the Ninja was ready to strike.