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About the Film
Shinobi no Mono is the first film in a massively popular ninja series which sparked the first “ninja boom” in Japan. Award-winning director Satsuo YAMAMOTO helmed the first film of the series, immediately getting rid of the fabricated, special effects laden look of the past and moving toward a more rustic look and feel, more akin to the realities of ninja life.
In order to achieve his vision, Satsuo developed his film by focusing on a list of criteria:
- A ninja's lifestyle, specifically living in the shadows and the acceptance of dying namelessly.
- The ninja's place in the history of Japan.
- The ninja's code of behavior and power hierarchy.
- The individual life of ninja, their struggle and the sacrifice of not having a normal family life.
- Realistic ninja tricks. The use of tools, explosives, poisons, and their manipulation of animals (for example, making rats run to shift attention away from them).
- Ninja house secrets (hidden doors, escape doors, etc.).
- Espionage skills (information control skills, group collaboration skills, etc.).
- Surviving torture.
Satsuo's attempt was quite successful, critically and commercially. The realism of Shinobi no Mono created a new benchmark in the history of cinema and forever changed the public's perception of the ninja, making it much more realistic in nature.
Ninja
In Japanese culture, a ninja is a highly skilled warrior trained for dangerous stealth missions similar to those of modern day special forces like the US Navy Seals or British SAS. The exact origin of the ninja is still unknown, though they are thought to have first appeared in 14th Century feudal Japan (it could have been earlier, ninja are good at not being noticed), and they remained active from the Kamakura to the Edo period. They are known to have engaged in sabotage, espionage, scouting, and assassination missions as a means of destabilizing enemy fiefs, either in the service of their employers or as an underground ninja organization waging guerilla warfare.
The word ninja is the on'yomi (Chinese) reading of the two kanji used to write shinobi-no-mono, which is the native Japanese word for people who practice ninjutsu. The term shinobi has been traced back as far as the late 8th century and means “be patient” or “quiet acting”, while mono means “person”. These terms became popular in post-World War II Japan, while the pre-war term for ninja was ninjutsu-zukai, which means “one who uses the art of remaining unperceived.” In Japan, the word shinobi and its variants are often used instead of ninja. While ninjas were almost exclusively men, some women are known to have been ninjas as well, called kunoichi. These women specialized in espionage, sometimes of a most intimate kind.
Ninjas as a group were first written about in 15th century feudal Japan, when conflicts between smaller clans favored the use of guerrilla warfare and assassination as a necessary alternative to frontal assault. The Samurai Code of Bushido forbade such tactics as dishonorable, so ninja were hired to carry out their “dirty work”. Though typically considered to be merely assassins, in reality, they were warriors in all senses of the word. One of the most well-known ninja, Hanzo HATTORI (who ruled the ninja of central Iga), is classically depicted in armor similar to that of a samurai.
There is no evidence that historical ninja limited themselves to all-black suits. It was more probable that they wore camouflage based upon dark colors such as dark red and blue, or white suits for concealment in the snow. Some may have been dressed like samurai or peasants. The stereotypical black-garbed ninja came from the Kabuki theater, where “invisible” stage hands (kuroko) would dress in black and move props around the stage. Building on this willing suspension of disbelief, ninjas came to be portrayed in the theater in similar black suits, implying to the audience that the ninja were also invisible.
Ninja boots featured a unique split-toe design which improved gripping and climbing, and they were soft enough to be virtually silent. Ninja also attached special spikes to the bottoms of the boots called ashiko. Many ninja attached wooden pads called ashiaro to their feet to disguise their tracks as animal paws. They are also known to have worn a small ring on their finger called a shobo, which was a small notch of wood used to hit assailant's pressure points, sometimes causing temporary paralysis. Ninja used special short swords called ninjaken, which are smaller than katana but larger than wakizashi (the long and short swords of the samurai), and they also used shuriken throwing weapons commonly referred to as “throwing stars”, even though the blades took on a variety of different shapes (ranging anywhere from a basic three-point triangle design up to the more intricate eight-tipped “snowflake” designs, and also included spike-like shapes).
The ninja's most unique and well-known types of weapons and tricks involved various uses of gunpowder. Smoke bombs and firecrackers with timed fuses were used to aid in escape or create diversions, Ozutsu (cannons) were used to launch fiery sparks or projectiles, and small bombs called metsubushi (“eye closers”) were made by filling bamboo segments or hollow eggs with sand or metal dust, then thrown at assailants to blind them. Even land mines were sometimes employed. The secrets of ninja pyrotechnics have always been strictly guarded by the hidden ninja clans.
Ninja in Pop Culture
As mentioned earlier, the ninja craze began during the 1950s and 1960s in Japan, with several films and books. Shinobi no Mono is largely credited as the film series which is responsible for the original craze in Japan, as well as the 1962 Japanese TV series called The Samurai. The ninja theme has remained popular in media around the world, expanding into countless comic books, TV shows, and video games. The first major appearance of ninja in Western pop culture was in the 1967 James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, which also borrowed many elements from Shinobi no Mono (English screenwriter Roald Dahl was shown the film during a 1960s trip to Japan). Western fascination with the ninja took off in the 1980s with a slew of ninja movies. Modern depictions show ninja as either groups of redshirts** attacking in large numbers or as almost invulnerable lone warriors. Erotic art has also been a popular medium of the ninja theme since the late 19th century, and Japanese Ninja literature and cinema still contain a powerful element of eroticism, including pornography which focuses on ninja women.
Shinobi no Mono Ninjutsu Advisors
The first two films of the series credit one Yoshiaki (Masaaki) HATSUMI as a ninjutsu consultant, but it is widely speculated that his master and trainer, Toshitsugu TAKAMATSU (“the last living true ninja”) also worked on the film. Masaaki HATSUMI is the founder and current head of the Bujinkan Dojo martial arts organization, and currently resides and teaches in Tokyo. Beginning in childhood, Masaaki studied most of the popular martial arts but began questioning modern martial arts training after instructing American soldiers in the art of judo. While studying ancient Japanese weaponry, he learned of Toshitsugu, and immediately became his student in 1957, regularly taking 15-hour train rides to study with the legendary master. He did this almost every weekend for 15 years, until Takamatsu's death in 1972. Masaaki has held training seminars for law enforcement organizations including the FBI, CIA, the Mossad, and for police in Britain, France, and Germany. Besides his role in Shinobi no Mono, he was also the martial arts advisor to several other film and TV productions, including the previously mentioned You Only Live Twice, in which he also plays a small speaking role as Tanaka's assistant on the train.
For this reason, most of the ninja technology that appears in Shinobi no Mono (stances, weaponry, and techniques) is historically accurate and fairly realistic, though it's said that after the second movie, things become a little bit more dramatic and slightly less realistic, though not as prone to exaggeration as is typical in today's portrayal of the “hollywood” ninja.
Historical Characters
Goemon ISHIKAWA (1558-1594)
Goemon was a historical figure of the Azuchi Momoyama Period (1573-1598) who became a folk hero. Though he may have just been a simple though notorious bandit, in legend he became a highly skilled ninja trained by none other than Sandayu MOMOCHI, founder of Iga style ninjutsu, and head of the southern ninja. Goemon is often called the “Japanese Robin Hood” because he is said to have indulged in the famous tactic of “stealing from the rich, and giving to the poor.”
Not much else is known about Ishikawa except that he was a thief who operated in the Kyoto area. There's evidence he may have been a member of the Akechi clan, and he was captured and executed in 1594 by being boiled alive in a kettle of oil after a failed assassination attempt on Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI.
The details of his death vary; one account says he failed because he knocked a bell off a table, awakening the guards. He was then boiled alive along with his young son, whose life he supposedly saved by holding him above the oil. Another account describes Hideyoshi's mystical incense burner as catching Goemon in the act, and his whole family was boiled in the same pot. Either way, his horrible demise has given his moniker to a type of bathtub: a large iron kettle-shaped tub is now called a Goemon-buro.
Besides being the subject of the Shinobi no Mono films, Goemon has been the subject of many Kabuki plays, and has also made appearances in several video games, including The Legend of Mystical Ninja (SNES), in which he is the main character. In the popular Lupin the Third series, Ishikawa Goemon XII is a trusted sidekick to the titular detective.
Nobunaga ODA (1534-1582)
Known to have a quick temper with sudden bursts of anger, Nobunaga was a powerful warlord during the Sengoku period who almost achieved his dream of a unified Japan.
At age 17, Nobunaga's father, Nobuhide, unexpectedly died. This incident created conflict within the clan, as Nobuhide's brother, Nobutomo, challenged his nephew for leadership in Owari province.
Over the next eight years, the Oda clan experienced internal strife, as political assassinations and broken alliances littered the province.
However, by age 25, Nobunaga had successfully eliminated all opposition within his clan and united the Owari province. A year later, in 1560, he achieved his first major victory by successfully leading 3,000 troops against Yoshimoto IMAGAWA's 25,000 troops at the Battle of Okehazama.
This battle was not only significant for bringing his name to national prominence, but also for the alliance Nobunaga forged with Ieyasu TOKUGAWA (whose name at the time was Motoyasu MATSUDAIRA).
In 1567, Nobunaga captured Inabayama Castle in the Mino province and changed the name of the castle and surrounding city to Gifu (in tribute to China's legendary Mount Gi, home of the Zhou dynasty). It was also around this time that Nobunaga publicly revealed his ambition to conquer all of Japan.
Beginning in 1568, the forces of the Asakura and Azai clans, as well as a small band of Buddhist militants (Ikko), battled against Nobunaga's grand ambitions. In the ensuing Battle of Anegawa, in 1570, the combined forces of Nobunaga and Ieyasu laid seige to the Odani and Yokoyama fortresses near Lake Biwa in the Omi province.
It was during this time that Nobunaga destroyed the Enryakuji monastery on Mt. Hiei, killing between 20,000 and 30,000 monks and their families; Shinobi no Mono is set just after this massacre, which is mentioned briefly in film by Sandayu.
In 1575, the Battle of Nagashino took place at Nagashino castle in Mikawa province. Nobunaga and Ieyasu strategically used “arquebuses” (a primitive European musket) to push Katsuyori TAKEDA out of the region. Many historians cite this as a turning point in Japanese warfare and list it as the first modern Japanese battle.
At the height of his power, Nobunaga finally destroyed the Takeda clan in 1582 and began to launch his invasion into the Echigo province.
Nobunaga was finally defeated at Honno-ji temple by Mitsuhide AKECHI, a former ally who betrayed him. Trapped with only a few dozen servants and bodyguards, Nobunaga and his men surrendered and he was forced to commit seppuku.
He is remembered for not only his dream of a unified Japan, but also his revolutionary tactics that modernized warfare. His brutality on the battlefield is infamous. However, his other contributions to Japanese society included: modernizing the economy, creating roads between castle towns, beginning international trade with Europe, donating money to support the arts, and establishing the Japanese tea ceremony.
Ieyasu TOKUGAWA(1543-1616)
Ieyasu was the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, which began in 1603 after the Battle of Sekigahara, and lasted for the next 265 years, until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu was born in the Mikawa province and originally named Takechiyo MATSUDAIRA. His life was tumultuous from the beginning, with mother and father belonging to rival clans (Oda and Imagawa, respectively), and because of this family feud, at the young age of six, he was abducted and held hostage for three years by Nobuhide ODA, leader of the Oda clan. When Ieyasu's father died of natural causes, Nobuhide agreed to let their rivals, the Imagawa clan, hold Ieyasu hostage instead. At nine years old, he was taken to Sumpu and lived as a hostage and potentially future ally of the Imagawa clan until the age of 15.
Ieyasu's rise to power came about from a series of battles against the Oda clan. In 1561, after Nobunaga ODA had just gained leadership of the Oda clan, Ieyasu “switched sides”, breaking from the Imagawa clan and allying himself with the Oda clan. He did so in order to save his wife and son, who had essentially been hostages of the Imagawa clan themselves, and whose executions were, years later, ordered by Ieyasu himself.
After a long life of strong leadership and many battlefields, during one of Japan's most violently tumultuous eras, Ieyasu received the title of shogun from Emperor Go-Yozei at the age of 60. He had outlasted all of his great peers, and used his remaining years to solidify the Tokugawa shogunate, until his death at the age of 75 from either cancer or syphilis.
Ieyasu had many qualities which aided him in his rise to greatness, the most obvious being the bold and calculating strategy with which he switched alliances at just the right time. In this era of violence and betrayal, he was like no other Daimyo of his time. He was also not very well liked, or popular, but he was feared and respected, and was very loyal to his personal friends and vassals.
He had 19 wives and concubines, from whom he had 16 children, and according to some sources, he had a bad habit of biting his nails when nervous. He claimed that, throughout his life, he had fought as a warrior or general in 90 battles. In popular culture, he has made several appearances, including Akira KUROSAWA's Kagemusha, the “Shogun” miniseries starring Toshiro MIFUNE, and in the video game Samurai Warriors 2.
Note: The Tokugawa family symbol (or “mon”) can be seen in the opening and ending credits of Shogun Assassin.
Sandayu MOMOCHI (c. 1525 - c. 1585)
The founder of Iga style (Iga Shijuku-ryu) ninjitsu and leader of the southern sect of the Iga ninja, Sandayu was head of three ninja schools (Momochi-ryu, Gyokko-ryu and Koto-ryu) and is considered one of the most famous of all ninja.
Legend has it that Sadayu and Fujibayashi Nagato (leader of the northern sect) were actually the same person, as they were never seen in the same place at the same time.
Nagato FUJIBAYASHI
Very little is known of Nagato, except that he was head of the northern sect of the Iga ninja, also known as the Koga ninja. As stated earlier, many believe he and Sandayu were the same person.
Yoshikage ASAKURA (1533-1573)
The feudal lord of Echizen and head of the Asakura family, Yoshikage served under Nagamasa ASAI and lost to Nobunaga in the Battle of Anegawa.
Nagamasa ASAI (1545-1573)
The feudal lord of the Omi province and head of the Asai family, Nagamasa fought alongside the monks of Mt. Hiei and lost to Nobunaga in the Battle of Anegawa. He was married to Nobunaga's younger sister, Oichi, and, upon his defeat, committed seppuku in exchange for his daughter's lives.
Nagahide TANBA (1535-1585)
Nagahide, also known as Nagahide NIWA, was a senior retainer in the Oda Clan. He became second in command under Nobunaga's son, Nobutaka.
Junkei TSUTSUI (1549-1584)
Junkei was the son of a minor Daimyo of Yamato province, until one of the most powerful warriors of the time, Matsunaga HISAHIDE, took his castle in a surprise attack. Joining forces with Nobunaga, Junkei defeated Matsunaga in 1577, and was soon appointed Daimyo of Yamato by Nobunaga. He built a new castle in Koriyama, where he lived out the rest of his days. He died in 1584, and was succeeded by Hidenaga TOYOTOMI.
Notable Cast Members
Raizo ICHIKAWA
Making a big splash in the film was its young and handsome leading man, Raizo ICHIKAWA. Raizo was born August 29, 1931 in Kyoto, Japan, and had a highly successful film career in mostly period dramas, however his roles as Ishikawa GOEMON in the Shinobi no Mono film series and the lone samurai Nemuri KYOSHIRO in the Sleepy Eyes of Death films (also from Daiei studios) catapulted him to true stardom.
Appearing in over 150 films, Raizo worked with legendary directors Kenji MISUMI and Kon ICHIKAWA, and also co-starred with Shintaro KATSU (Zatoichi) in at least a dozen features. During his career he worked exclusively for the Daiei Motion Picture Company, and, along with Shintaro, was one of the studio's top box-office draws.
His romantic presence garnered him legions of female and male fans, and earned him the nickname of the “Japanese James Dean.” He died of cancer on July 17, 1969, at the young age of 37, cutting short what would have been an even more brilliant career.
Within two years of his death, Daiei, one of the five biggest studios in Japan, went bankrupt.
Raizo's awards include:
1958 Blue Ribbon Award - Best Actor (Enjo)
1958 Kinema Junpo Award - Best Actor (Enjo)
1967 Kinema Junpo Award - Best Actor (The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka)
Tribute to Yunosuke Ito
Born in Tokyo on August 3, 1919, Yunosuke was one of most famous character actors in Japanese history. He employed his trademark scowl for some of cinema's greatest directors: Akira Kurosawa (Stray Dog, Ikiru, Sanjuro, High and Low), Kihachi Okamoto (Samurai Assassin, Red Lion, Japan's Longest Day) and Kon Ichikawa (The Burmese Harp, Sanshiro at Ginza, Pursuit at Dawn).
His roles leaned towards playing the “heavy” or corrupt officials, but parts such as the “novelist” in Ikiru and Mutsutu, the falsely accused chamberlain, in Sanjuro showed his softer side.
Yunosuke may best be known for his role as Retsudo Yagyu in the first installment of the Lone Wolf and Cub film series (Sword of Vengeance), which was later edited into Shogun Assassin.
He received his most prestigious award, the 1962 Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his dual portrayal of Sandayu Momochi and Nagato Fujibayashi in Shinobi no Mono.
He passed away on March 11, 1980 leaving behind a library of over 75 film appearances.
Film Notes
The first year of the Tensho period (1573), summer: Oda Nobunaga, burning with ambition to dominate the entire nation, attacked the allied forces of Asakura Yoshikage and Asai Nagamasa at northern Oomi.
The film begins with the downfall of Yoshikage and Nagamasa's armies in the Battle of Anegawa.
“Ever since he annihilated Imagawa's army at Okehazama, Oda Nobunaga has risen to unparalleled power in merely thirteen years.”
The Battle of Okehazama is considered Nobunaga's first significant victory and one which established him as a major warlord of the Sengoku period.
The actual battle took place in the early summer of 1560 as a powerful daiymo named Yoshimoto IMAGAWA led a troop of 25,000 men towards Kyoto.
After several victories along the way, Imagawa's men reached the Owari province, the stronghold of Nobunaga. On the night of June 12, while Imagawa's troops were celebrating their victories, Nobunaga's army launched a surprise attack with only 3,000 men. The outcome of the battle gave Oda the reputation of being a strategic genius and was a huge first step towards his dream of unifying Japan.
“A couple years ago he had sacrilegiously set fire to Mount Hiei.”
Mount Hiei has served as the sacred home of Tendai esoteric Buddhism since the eight century. When Sandayu refers to the carnage at Mount Hiei, he is specifically talking about the Enraku-ji temple and its surrounding buildings, which Nobunaga destroyed in 1571.
“It is an art whose inception by the Yamabushi of Tendai and Shingon Mikkyo was to advance and protect the Buddha-dharma.”
The term “mikkyo” (literally “secret teachings”) pertains to the esoteric practices of syncretistic Buddhism, a mystical practice of acquiring the powers of nature, mastering incantations, magical rites, and ultimately to find union with the ultimate reality that is the adi-buddha of the cosmos (attaining Buddhahood in one's own lifetime).
“The mudras and mantras of the Ninja are all the legacy of Tendai and Shingon...”
“Mudra” is a Sanskrit term that refers to magical hand-gestures that are formed while simultaneously reciting incantations (mantras); it is believed the right combination channels energy for paranormal purposes.
Tendai and Shingon are the two major esoteric-Tantric Buddhist sects of Japan.
“He's on a roll. I think he'll invade Echu and attack Uesugi.”
Kenshin UESUGI (1530-1578) was daiymo of the Echigo province and one of the most famous leaders during the Sengoku period.
His rivalry with fellow daiymo Shingen TAKEDA, which consisted of five battles during the years 1553 to 1564, are legendary in Japan history.
Note: In the film Samurai Banners, Kenshin is played by the late Japanese film legend, Ishihara Yujiro.
“Yes sir. He'll attack Tokugawa Ieyasu of Mikawa, even before Uesugi; Ieyasu is a thorn in Nobunaga's side.”
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) was the first Shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603-1868. During the time of Oda Nobunaga's reign, Ieyasu (originally named Matsudaira Motoyasu) became allies with Imagawa Yoshimoto and won several key battles against the Oda Clan. However, after Oda's victory over Imagawa in the Battle of Okehazama, Ieyasu allied himself with Oda.
Note: The Tokugawa family symbol (or “mon”) can be seen in the opening and ending credits of Shogun Assassin.
“Endeavor, endeavor, perseverance is difficult, we must be ready to immediately sever even our love of parents and spouse.”
The term “Shinobi” was translated as “perseverance” here with respect to the Ten Paramitas of Mikkyo, of which “perseverance” = “Shinobi,” but the term “Shinobi” also refers to the art of Ninjutsu and those who are Ninjas.
“Thus the word Shinobi puts heart beneath the sword.”
The group response-recitation is with regard to the logogram “Shinobi” in Sino-japanese; it is a composite of two irreducible logogram-singletons, that is to say, of the logogram “sword” written above the logogram “heart” on the bottom.
“That's ridiculous. Venerable chief has gone to Ryuguchi, remember?”
Ryuguchi, located in the Iga province, was thought to have been Sandayu's main residence.
“Nobunaga's going back to Gifu tomorrow.”
Gifu city is located in the southern part of present-day Gifu prefecture.
Kawachi
Kawachi was an old province of Japan which is part of present-day Osaka prefecture.
“You can't just linger about; Nobunaga is coming here to Sakai tomorrow.”
Sakai is a port city located in the present-day Osaka perfecture. During the Sengoku period, Nobunaga purchased many European firearms in the city.
“There, that's the Yamato river. Come on, why are you so slow?”
The Yamato river is located in the former Yamato province, now the present-day Nara prefecture. The river originally flowed north from Kashiwara city and joined with the Shirinashi and Kizu rivers. In 1704 the river was diverted to put an end to flooding problems in the region.
The Ishiyama Hongan-ji War
Oda Nobunaga spent eleven years on a campaign to destroy the cathedral fortress Hongan-ji of Ishiyama, which is now the city of Osaka. Ishiyama Hongan-ji was the primary fortification of the Ikko sect of Bhuddism, who were mobs of warrior monks and peasants that opposed samurai rule, and were among the last to stand in the way of Nobunaga's mission to conquer all of Japan. This extensive siege began in 1570 and consisted of countless attacks and strategies, but even though Nobunaga had twice as many men, the resilient Ikko rebels steadfastly defended their fortress.
After several attempts to cut off supplies to Ishiyama Hongan-ji, the defenders finally ran out of ammunition and food in 1580, and surrendered shortly after. Contrary to the quote in the film, Nobunaga actually spared the lives of many defenders, including Nakayuki SHIMOTSUMA, but still burned the fortress to the ground. Three years later, Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI began construction on the same site, building the famous Osaka Castle, which still stands today.
Azuchi Castle
Built from 1576 to 1579 on the shores of Lake Biwa, in Omi Province, the massive Azuchi Castle was one of Nobunaga's main castles. It was intentionally built close enough to Kyoto so that he could watch over the capital, and keep a safe distance from any conflicts that occasionally arose. It was also an advantageous location because it lay astride the communication and transportation routes between his three greatest enemies--the Uesugi clan to the north, the Takeda clan to the east, and the Mori clan to the west.
Nobunaga intended the castle to be a lavish mansion which would impress and intimidate his foes, so Azuchi was one of the first Japanese castles with a tower keep, an enormous seven-story structure that resembled a royal palace. It also featured an outside facade colorfully decorated with tigers and dragons, instead of the usual solid white or black of other castles.
In the summer of 1582, shortly after Nobunaga's death, the castle was attacked and set aflame by the forces of Nobunaga's betrayer, Mitsuhide AKECHI. All that remains of the castle today is the stone base, though a reproduction of Azuchi stands in Ise Sengoku Village, a samurai theme park near Ise.
Footnotes
** This is a cheap reference to Star Trek; when Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Ensign Doofus (wearing a red security shirt) beamed down to the planet, you knew which one wasn't coming back. In reality, ninjas only wore red shirts after battles, when they were drenching in the blood of their samurai victims.
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