25 Sneakiest Facts About Ninjas

PocketEpiphany Published 10/02/2022 in ftw

Ninjas continue to appear in movies, TV shows, games, comics, and more. This has led to countless myths about these mystical warriors.

But what was being a ninja REALLY like? Keep reading as we slice into this sneaky topic!

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1.
Ninjas would carry crickets or cicadas to disguise their sound when they needed. -u/heardyoumeow
2.
Ninjas avoided garlic or any pungent food to prevent their body odor from being detected by the enemy when hiding. -u/maygamer96
3.
Ninjas didn't wear black masks. The mask associated with ninjas is actually an amalgamation of how a thief dressed in Japan. Ninjas also didn't use shuriken (throwing stars), these were used by Samurai swordsmen. -u/BillieJoHodge
4.
Japan is running out of Ninjas. -u/ben_zeen
5.
Ninjas never wore black. The darkest color they ever wore was blue (during nighttime). Mostly they wore the inconspicuous clothing of peasants, merchants, traveling priests, etc. -u/tannya7903
6.
In feudal Japan lords purposely built homes with squeaky floors as a defensive measure against ninjas. -u/jjps16
7.
A 74 year old Japanese man, dressed as a ninja and possessing great physical ability, carried out 254 break-ins worth $260,000 before he was caught by police. -u/senbei1
8.
In 1998, there was an outbreak of mass hysteria in East Java, Indonesia, in which the local population believed they were being targeted by sorcerers known as the 'ninja', who were blamed for mysterious killings of religious leaders. Over 250 people were lynched in the surrounding area. -u/Bloke22
9.
Uesugi Kenshin was a Daimyo in Feudal Japan with a controversial death. One account claims that he was assassinated when a ninja hiding in his latrine killed him when he went to relieve himself. -u/verostein
10.
Bruce Lee's cause of death is highly debated upon, the official reason being an allergic reaction to a compound in a painkiller while hypothesized reasons include murder by ninjas, heatstroke and cannabis. -u/halcyoncrystal
11.
Only the very lowest ranked ninjas actually did fieldwork and went on missions. Higher ranked ninjas, generally recruited from the upper classes, tended to keep their hands clean and acted as administrators taking contracts and meeting with clients. -u/MetaAbra
12.
The fukiya (吹き矢) is the Japanese blowgun used by ninjas originally. The ninja would have had to use special darts with poisoned tips in order for it to work, and fired from a concealed location. Most likely, it was used similarly to the shuriken (throwing star), as a distraction. -deleted user
13.
Hand signs being associated with ninjas predates Naruto. They derive from esoteric Buddhist practices that were associated with ninjutsu. -u/jurble
14.
When the Prince Charles Cinema in London got tired of disruptive moviegoers, they hired "ninjas" to wear black morph suits and wait in the back of the theater to scare anyone who is talking or texting. -u/azsportsfan
15.
After actor David Carradine's death by auto-erotic asphyxiation, his lawyer and loved ones spread the story that he was killed by a secret ninja society, in order to silence Carradine before he "uncovered" them. -u/dogrio345
16.
Ninja were required to learn the crafts of several civilian jobs in order to more easily infiltrate enemy positions. -u/jonnyah
17.
Frog summoning ninjas are a rather old part of Japanese mythology. (As are snail and snake summoning ninjas). -deleted user
18.
There is no historical evidence to suggest that Ninjas used throwing stars as throwing stars. They were certainly carried but there is nothing in written record which suggests they were used as a throwing weapon. -deleted user
19.
Ishikawa Goemon was a Japanese ninja who was a Robin Hood-like figure and was sentenced to death by being boiled alive along with his infant son. -u/JimmyPopinFresh
20.
Japan utilized Ninjas during WWII. -u/Hektik352
21.
“Ninja" and "shinobi" are not two different words, but the same word read in two different ways. -u/Soulothar
22.
Japan is Experiencing a Ninja Shortage as Martial Arts Groups Struggle to Find Qualified Ninjas to Fill Tourist Demand for "Ninja Shows." -u/lorkalz
23.
Snake Eyes, one of the 16 original G.I. Joe action figures, was designed to save Hasbro money. As a ninja, the character was completely molded from black plastic, even given a mask to prevent detailing a face. The figure wasn't even painted, but became one of the most popular G.I. Joe figures. -u/SlothSpeed
24.
Two men, Jinichi Kawakami and Masaaki Hatsumi, claim to be the last living descendants of authentic ninjutsu—in other words, they are the world’s last true ninjas. In 2012, both men stated they would not be choosing an heir, thus likely dooming the ninja to extinction. -u/flyingbyson
25.
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' was released in the UK as 'Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles' due to the man who led the British Board of Film Classification dislike of Ninjas and violence. -u/Status-Victory

1.
Ninjas would carry crickets or cicadas to disguise their sound when they needed. -u/heardyoumeow
2.
Ninjas avoided garlic or any pungent food to prevent their body odor from being detected by the enemy when hiding. -u/maygamer96
3.
Ninjas didn't wear black masks. The mask associated with ninjas is actually an amalgamation of how a thief dressed in Japan. Ninjas also didn't use shuriken (throwing stars), these were used by Samurai swordsmen. -u/BillieJoHodge
4.
Japan is running out of Ninjas. -u/ben_zeen
5.
Ninjas never wore black. The darkest color they ever wore was blue (during nighttime). Mostly they wore the inconspicuous clothing of peasants, merchants, traveling priests, etc. -u/tannya7903
6.
In feudal Japan lords purposely built homes with squeaky floors as a defensive measure against ninjas. -u/jjps16
7.
A 74 year old Japanese man, dressed as a ninja and possessing great physical ability, carried out 254 break-ins worth $260,000 before he was caught by police. -u/senbei1
8.
In 1998, there was an outbreak of mass hysteria in East Java, Indonesia, in which the local population believed they were being targeted by sorcerers known as the 'ninja', who were blamed for mysterious killings of religious leaders. Over 250 people were lynched in the surrounding area. -u/Bloke22
9.
Uesugi Kenshin was a Daimyo in Feudal Japan with a controversial death. One account claims that he was assassinated when a ninja hiding in his latrine killed him when he went to relieve himself. -u/verostein
10.
Bruce Lee's cause of death is highly debated upon, the official reason being an allergic reaction to a compound in a painkiller while hypothesized reasons include murder by ninjas, heatstroke and cannabis. -u/halcyoncrystal
11.
Only the very lowest ranked ninjas actually did fieldwork and went on missions. Higher ranked ninjas, generally recruited from the upper classes, tended to keep their hands clean and acted as administrators taking contracts and meeting with clients. -u/MetaAbra
12.
The fukiya (吹き矢) is the Japanese blowgun used by ninjas originally. The ninja would have had to use special darts with poisoned tips in order for it to work, and fired from a concealed location. Most likely, it was used similarly to the shuriken (throwing star), as a distraction. -deleted user
13.
Hand signs being associated with ninjas predates Naruto. They derive from esoteric Buddhist practices that were associated with ninjutsu. -u/jurble
14.
When the Prince Charles Cinema in London got tired of disruptive moviegoers, they hired "ninjas" to wear black morph suits and wait in the back of the theater to scare anyone who is talking or texting. -u/azsportsfan
15.
After actor David Carradine's death by auto-erotic asphyxiation, his lawyer and loved ones spread the story that he was killed by a secret ninja society, in order to silence Carradine before he "uncovered" them. -u/dogrio345
16.
Ninja were required to learn the crafts of several civilian jobs in order to more easily infiltrate enemy positions. -u/jonnyah
17.
Frog summoning ninjas are a rather old part of Japanese mythology. (As are snail and snake summoning ninjas). -deleted user
18.
There is no historical evidence to suggest that Ninjas used throwing stars as throwing stars. They were certainly carried but there is nothing in written record which suggests they were used as a throwing weapon. -deleted user
19.
Ishikawa Goemon was a Japanese ninja who was a Robin Hood-like figure and was sentenced to death by being boiled alive along with his infant son. -u/JimmyPopinFresh
20.
Japan utilized Ninjas during WWII. -u/Hektik352
21.
“Ninja" and "shinobi" are not two different words, but the same word read in two different ways. -u/Soulothar
22.
Japan is Experiencing a Ninja Shortage as Martial Arts Groups Struggle to Find Qualified Ninjas to Fill Tourist Demand for "Ninja Shows." -u/lorkalz
23.
Snake Eyes, one of the 16 original G.I. Joe action figures, was designed to save Hasbro money. As a ninja, the character was completely molded from black plastic, even given a mask to prevent detailing a face. The figure wasn't even painted, but became one of the most popular G.I. Joe figures. -u/SlothSpeed
24.
Two men, Jinichi Kawakami and Masaaki Hatsumi, claim to be the last living descendants of authentic ninjutsu—in other words, they are the world’s last true ninjas. In 2012, both men stated they would not be choosing an heir, thus likely dooming the ninja to extinction. -u/flyingbyson
25.
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' was released in the UK as 'Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles' due to the man who led the British Board of Film Classification dislike of Ninjas and violence. -u/Status-Victory

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NEXT GALLERY 11 Pics From the Darker Side of Life

1. Ninjas would carry crickets or cicadas to disguise their sound when they needed. -u/heardyoumeow

2. Ninjas avoided garlic or any pungent food to prevent their body odor from being detected by the enemy when hiding. -u/maygamer96

3. Ninjas didn't wear black masks. The mask associated with ninjas is actually an amalgamation of how a thief dressed in Japan. Ninjas also didn't use shuriken (throwing stars), these were used by Samurai swordsmen. -u/BillieJoHodge

4. Japan is running out of Ninjas. -u/ben_zeen

5. Ninjas never wore black. The darkest color they ever wore was blue (during nighttime). Mostly they wore the inconspicuous clothing of peasants, merchants, traveling priests, etc. -u/tannya7903

6. In feudal Japan lords purposely built homes with squeaky floors as a defensive measure against ninjas. -u/jjps16

7. A 74 year old Japanese man, dressed as a ninja and possessing great physical ability, carried out 254 break-ins worth $260,000 before he was caught by police. -u/senbei1

9. Uesugi Kenshin was a Daimyo in Feudal Japan with a controversial death. One account claims that he was assassinated when a ninja hiding in his latrine killed him when he went to relieve himself. -u/verostein

10. Bruce Lee's cause of death is highly debated upon, the official reason being an allergic reaction to a compound in a painkiller while hypothesized reasons include murder by ninjas, heatstroke and cannabis. -u/halcyoncrystal

11. Only the very lowest ranked ninjas actually did fieldwork and went on missions. Higher ranked ninjas, generally recruited from the upper classes, tended to keep their hands clean and acted as administrators taking contracts and meeting with clients. -u/MetaAbra

13. Hand signs being associated with ninjas predates Naruto. They derive from esoteric Buddhist practices that were associated with ninjutsu. -u/jurble

14. When the Prince Charles Cinema in London got tired of disruptive moviegoers, they hired "ninjas" to wear black morph suits and wait in the back of the theater to scare anyone who is talking or texting. -u/azsportsfan

15. After actor David Carradine's death by auto-erotic asphyxiation, his lawyer and loved ones spread the story that he was killed by a secret ninja society, in order to silence Carradine before he "uncovered" them. -u/dogrio345

16. Ninja were required to learn the crafts of several civilian jobs in order to more easily infiltrate enemy positions. -u/jonnyah

17. Frog summoning ninjas are a rather old part of Japanese mythology. (As are snail and snake summoning ninjas). -deleted user

18. There is no historical evidence to suggest that Ninjas used throwing stars as throwing stars. They were certainly carried but there is nothing in written record which suggests they were used as a throwing weapon. -deleted user

19. Ishikawa Goemon was a Japanese ninja who was a Robin Hood-like figure and was sentenced to death by being boiled alive along with his infant son. -u/JimmyPopinFresh

20. Japan utilized Ninjas during WWII. -u/Hektik352

21. “Ninja" and "shinobi" are not two different words, but the same word read in two different ways. -u/Soulothar

22. Japan is Experiencing a Ninja Shortage as Martial Arts Groups Struggle to Find Qualified Ninjas to Fill Tourist Demand for "Ninja Shows." -u/lorkalz

24. Two men, Jinichi Kawakami and Masaaki Hatsumi, claim to be the last living descendants of authentic ninjutsu—in other words, they are the world’s last true ninjas. In 2012, both men stated they would not be choosing an heir, thus likely dooming the ninja to extinction. -u/flyingbyson

25. 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' was released in the UK as 'Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles' due to the man who led the British Board of Film Classification dislike of Ninjas and violence. -u/Status-Victory

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eBaum's Picks

1.
Ninjas would carry crickets or cicadas to disguise their sound when they needed. -u/heardyoumeow

2.
Ninjas avoided garlic or any pungent food to prevent their body odor from being detected by the enemy when hiding. -u/maygamer96

3.
Ninjas didn't wear black masks. The mask associated with ninjas is actually an amalgamation of how a thief dressed in Japan. Ninjas also didn't use shuriken (throwing stars), these were used by Samurai swordsmen. -u/BillieJoHodge

4.
Japan is running out of Ninjas. -u/ben_zeen

5.
Ninjas never wore black. The darkest color they ever wore was blue (during nighttime). Mostly they wore the inconspicuous clothing of peasants, merchants, traveling priests, etc. -u/tannya7903

6.
In feudal Japan lords purposely built homes with squeaky floors as a defensive measure against ninjas. -u/jjps16

7.
A 74 year old Japanese man, dressed as a ninja and possessing great physical ability, carried out 254 break-ins worth $260,000 before he was caught by police. -u/senbei1

9.
Uesugi Kenshin was a Daimyo in Feudal Japan with a controversial death. One account claims that he was assassinated when a ninja hiding in his latrine killed him when he went to relieve himself. -u/verostein

10.
Bruce Lee's cause of death is highly debated upon, the official reason being an allergic reaction to a compound in a painkiller while hypothesized reasons include murder by ninjas, heatstroke and cannabis. -u/halcyoncrystal

11.
Only the very lowest ranked ninjas actually did fieldwork and went on missions. Higher ranked ninjas, generally recruited from the upper classes, tended to keep their hands clean and acted as administrators taking contracts and meeting with clients. -u/MetaAbra

13.
Hand signs being associated with ninjas predates Naruto. They derive from esoteric Buddhist practices that were associated with ninjutsu. -u/jurble

14.
When the Prince Charles Cinema in London got tired of disruptive moviegoers, they hired "ninjas" to wear black morph suits and wait in the back of the theater to scare anyone who is talking or texting. -u/azsportsfan

15.
After actor David Carradine's death by auto-erotic asphyxiation, his lawyer and loved ones spread the story that he was killed by a secret ninja society, in order to silence Carradine before he "uncovered" them. -u/dogrio345

16.
Ninja were required to learn the crafts of several civilian jobs in order to more easily infiltrate enemy positions. -u/jonnyah

17.
Frog summoning ninjas are a rather old part of Japanese mythology. (As are snail and snake summoning ninjas). -deleted user

18.
There is no historical evidence to suggest that Ninjas used throwing stars as throwing stars. They were certainly carried but there is nothing in written record which suggests they were used as a throwing weapon. -deleted user

19.
Ishikawa Goemon was a Japanese ninja who was a Robin Hood-like figure and was sentenced to death by being boiled alive along with his infant son. -u/JimmyPopinFresh

20.
Japan utilized Ninjas during WWII. -u/Hektik352

21.
“Ninja" and "shinobi" are not two different words, but the same word read in two different ways. -u/Soulothar

22.
Japan is Experiencing a Ninja Shortage as Martial Arts Groups Struggle to Find Qualified Ninjas to Fill Tourist Demand for "Ninja Shows." -u/lorkalz

24.
Two men, Jinichi Kawakami and Masaaki Hatsumi, claim to be the last living descendants of authentic ninjutsu—in other words, they are the world’s last true ninjas. In 2012, both men stated they would not be choosing an heir, thus likely dooming the ninja to extinction. -u/flyingbyson

25.
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' was released in the UK as 'Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles' due to the man who led the British Board of Film Classification dislike of Ninjas and violence. -u/Status-Victory