Ninja！

消える！水の上を歩く！壁を自由自在にかけあがる！
暗殺、侵入、破壊、スパイ活動などを仕事とするプロフェッショナル、忍者。海外での人気も高い。
昔、忍者は「志能備（しのび）＝忍」と呼ばれていた。
古くは飛鳥時代、あの聖徳太子も、この「志能備（しのび）」を使っており、書物にも、その記録が記されている。

They could become invisible on a whim,
walk on water, leap walls like a cat and
possessed superhuman powers.
They used poisons and potions, were covert
masters of sabotage, espionage, infiltration
and assassination.

They were the mercenaries of old Japan、
scouts, spies, agitators, specializing in all
kinds of weaponry. They were Shinobi,
or the more modern, better known title,
Ninja! According to ancient manuscripts,
the semi legendary Prince Shotoku
(574-622) was  said to have employed such
spies on his many political missions.

もっとも有名な忍者の流派は、伊賀（現在の
三重県）と甲賀（現在の滋賀県）。この2つの
場所は、山一つを隔てた隣同士に存在しており、
忍術発祥の地とも言われる場所だ。京都からも
近く、四方を山に囲まれた盆地であり身を隠す
のに適切な場所であったことも、その理由の一つ
なのかもしれない。

In the unrest of Japan’s period of Civil War (15th to17th Century) clans of mercenary spies arose across the nation, but in particular, the provinces of Iga, modern day Mie Prefecture, and around Koga in contemporary Shiga Prefecture were known as the birthplaces of the art. These regions, separated by mountains, were in close vicinity to the capital, Kyoto. Here were warriors specializing in unorthodox warfare, who devoted their energies to honing their skills. Their feats and actions become legendary.

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