Shinobi / Ninja

Shinobi is a Japanese term used to refer to secret agents and spies during Japan’s feudal period. They were trained in espionage, sabotage, assassination, and intelligence techniques.

The term ninja is more encompassing and refers to a set of skills and techniques used by secret agents, including shinobi. Ninjas were specialized in combat, weapons, and infiltration techniques. They were also known for their abilities in disguise, poisoning, and guerrilla tactics.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, the main difference is that shinobi refers to a specific group of secret agents, whereas ninja refers to the set of skills and techniques used by these agents.

Through historical studies, it is now known that shinobi were mostly samurai, with martial training akin to samurai, and they rarely wore black attire as portrayed in popular culture. They needed to blend into their surroundings to gather information and move freely, making it much simpler to accomplish that by wearing clothing similar to everyone else rather than distinct black attire. The mythology of the ninja as mystical assassins with their own martial art originated in the late 19th century in Japan and was further exaggerated in the following decades through literature and cinema.