1. Japan’s Silent Warrior: The Ninja

2. Origins of the Ninja
It is difficult to pin down the emergence of the first ninja, more properly called shinobi
Japanese folklore states that the ninja descended from a demon that was half man and half crow
Its more likely that the ninja evolved as an opposing force the samurai in early feudal Japan.

3. Origins of the Ninja
Most sources indicate that the skills that became ninjutsu, the ninja's art of stealth, began to develop between A.D. 
Prince Shotoku, ( ), is said to have employed Otomono Sahito as a shinobi spy.

4. The First Ninja School
While ninjutsu was already happening in Japan, it wasn’t formalised until the 12th century
A samurai known as Daisuke Togakure was losing a battle and forfeited his title instead of committing seppuku

5. The First Ninja School
In 1162 Daisuke went to the mountains where he met the warrior monk Kain Doshi
After Daisuke renounced the bushido code the two of them developed ninjitsu
Their decedents would create the first ryu (school) the Togakure ryu

6. Bushido and Ninjustsu
Because of bushido, Japanese samurai had to fight and kill with honor and dignity
Ninjas did not follow this code and could kill using stealth, poison, sneak attacks, and trickery

7. Who Were the Ninja?
Some were disgraced samurai that had lost in battle or had been renounced by their daimyo, but fled rather than committing ritual suicide.
Most ordinary ninja were villagers and farmers, who learned to fight by any means necessary for their own self-preservation
Both men and women were ninjas

8. Samurai Use of the Ninja
Samurai were not able to spy or use stealth attack due to bushido
Therefore, they hired ninjas to do all of their “dirty work”
Despite this, ninjas were hated amongst almost all samurai

9. How Did Ninjas Dress?
While most modern day ninjas are depicted in black this is untrue
This representation comes from kabuki theater
When ninjas were dressed in their traditional outfit the colour of choice was navy blue as it disguised them better at night

10. Ninja Weapons: Shinobigatana
The Shinobigata was the main weapon of ninja
This sword was short (under two feet) and weighed under a pound
Unlike the katana, this swords was both flat and straight

11. Ninja Weapons: Naganita
The naganita was a long range weapon used by both samurai and ninjas
The weapon consisted of a long wooden pole with a curved blade at the end
This weapon was relatively light and ranged from 1-3 meters long

12. Ninja Weapons: The Tessen
The tessen was a stealth weapon used by ninjas
It consisted of a regullar looking fan with hidden metal blades
This weapon was inconspicuous and could be used in assassination attempts

13. Ninja Weapons: Shuriken
Shuriken is the name given to any blade given to any concealable small bladed weapon
Shaken refers to what is now commonly known as a ninja throwing star