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During the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries in Japan, ninjas were the shadow warriors – deadly combatants, assassins and spies for hire. Ninjas could go where armored warriors could not; they could accomplish in secret what greater numbers could not achieve in the open. They were consummate fighters preferring deception to outright violence, charisma to belligerence, night to day.
Ninjitsu training began in childhood. By five or six, play took the form of training exercises, which taught balance and agility. They learned how to walk without making noise, to assume disguises that allowed them to blend in with a crowd, and to scamper across trees and roofs with ease. As they grew older, these future ninjas began hand-to-hand combat and eventually weapons training.
When most of us picture a stereotypical image of a ninja, we envision a male combatant; in fact, a large majority probably thinks that this secret world was reserved for men. However, woman were also indoctrinated into this culture and contributed greatly to the success of many missions.
Female ninja’s were known as a kunoichi. Just like the men, they were spies and helped with the fight (in various different ways) against the samurai. The kunoichi was a spy, messenger and observer, focussing on psychological techniques including manipulation, disguise, feminine charm and the use of female intuition. They were also taught how to not only play with the emotions of others, but to keep their own emotions in check; they were not allowed to fall in love with their targets. Kunoichi were taught to manipulate men high-up in the enemy hierarchy. They were known to conceal blades inside musical instruments and sex toys. One of the favourite weapons for a kunoichi was the neko-te (cat hand). The weapon was made of strong iron fingernails that were fastened into leather bands fitted on the fingers, resembling claws and dipped in poisons.
The modern female ninja is still prevalent, working alongside her male counterpart in security and law enforcement.
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