5 Ninja Trials

Let's take on the challenge of reviewing what you have learned so far in a practical format! Overcome the challenges that stand in your way and aim for the Ninja Certification Exam venue!

"Trials of the Shinobi" (How to Play)

Now it's time for the practical part! You will need to infiltrate the enemy mansion ahead and steal information. To reach the mansion, you must overcome several trials. If you utilize the ninja skills you've learned so far, you should be able to navigate through them with ease. Best of luck!

Trial 1: "Stepping Stones Jump"

First, to reach the mansion, you must cross this river. Use your jumping ability like a ninja to leap across the stepping stones!

Trial 2: "Roof Jumping"

Quickly traverse across the roof to reach the mansion! Be careful, as the tiles can be slippery, and maintain your focus!

Trial 3: "Gaze Trap"

Once you pass through this path, the enemy's mansion will come into view! However, this path is always monitored by enemy guards. Move stealthily like a ninja to quietly slip past without being noticed!

Trial 4: "Attic Infiltration"

You've finally infiltrated the enemy's mansion! Sneak into the attic and observe and steal the enemy's information. Be careful not to make any noise!

Trial 5: "Throwing the 'Tori no Ko'"

You're just one step away, but you've been spotted by the enemy! Throw the "Tori no Ko" to conceal yourself from them. Aim carefully before you throw! Each person is allowed only one throw!

"To the Ninja Certification Exam!"

I'm relieved to see that you've made it back safely. Now, the only thing left is to take the "Ninja Certification Exam." Remember everything you've learned so far as you prepare to pass the test. Now, hurry to the examination venue!

1:"Female Ninja: Kunoichi"

2:Female ninjas, known as "kunoichi," infiltrated places that were difficult for men to access. Disguised as servants, they would enter targeted houses, gather information on the inner workings, and report back to their comrades regularly.

3:"Kunoichi Information Gathering"

The gossip circulating among the servants was a valuable source of information. They would sometimes pretend to clean a room while stealing glances at documents.
"Kakuremino no Jutsu" (Hidden Cloak Technique): This method involved a female ninja who infiltrated the enemy's mansion by hiding a male ninja in a false bottom of a parcel she had obtained. This technique took advantage of the fact that inspections of women's belongings were generally less stringent than those for men.

4:"Walking Miko"

These were women who traveled from place to place performing prayers while gathering information. It is said that Takeda Shingen frequently employed female ninjas and trained a "Walking Miko Unit," centered around Mochizuki Chiyome, who was born into the Mochizuki family in Kōga.

5:"Did Kunoichi Really Exist?"

There is a theory that "female ninjas did not exist at all." While the ninja manual Bansenshukai contains descriptions of methods for women to infiltrate in place of men, some argue that it was merely "a technique employing women, not an indication that female ninjas actively participated." In other words, the female ninjas depicted in movies and manga are likely to be fictional creations.

6:Headmaster's Note:

In other words, the female ninjas depicted in movies and manga are likely to be fictional creations.

1:Communication Skills Are Essential for Ninjas

2:Ninjas Were Also "Psychologists"

Ninjas analyzed the psychology of others, interpreting their thoughts to extract secret information through conversation. They skillfully discerned when and what people wanted to talk about, cleverly eliciting important information through seemingly natural dialogue.

3:"How to Open the Door to the Heart"

If you show too much eagerness to hear what someone has to say, they may become wary. It's important to start with small talk to ease the tension and gradually approach the core of the matter.

4:"Principle of the Five Emotions and Five Desires"

Ninjas skillfully manipulated people by utilizing the "five emotions" (joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, and fear) along with the "five desires" (appetite, sexual desire, sleep, desire for wealth, and desire for honor). This allowed them to advance situations to their advantage or even incite discord among allies.

5:"Do Not Conquer the Opponent in Argument"

If you defeat someone in an argument, their pride is hurt, and they are less likely to listen to you. Instead, ninjas would feign surrender, encouraging the other person to speak freely and become more talkative.

6:"Read the Opponent's Psychology from Their Position"

This principle is recorded in the ninja manual Shōninki.
• "Become the Enemy": Stand in the opponent's shoes to understand their psychology.
• "Capture the Enemy's Heart": Anticipate the reactions to your actions from the opponent's perspective.
• "Distance from the Enemy": Forget your own thoughts and focus solely on the other person to read their psychology.

1:Are Ninjas Weather Forecasters!?

2:Proverb About Weather: "Kanten Bōki"

Kanten Bōki refers to the proverb of predicting the weather based on accumulated empirical knowledge, observing the sky, and the behavior of living creatures. Knowing the weather was crucial for the success of ninja missions.

3:"The Day After a Sunset Will Be Clear"

In Japan, due to the influence of the westerlies, weather patterns move from west to east, making the western sky a predictor of future weather.

4:"When Clouds Cover the Sun or Moon, It Will Rain Within Three Days"

The "stratus clouds," which cover the sun or moon like an umbrella, often occur with low pressure systems, indicating that rain is likely to follow after some time.

5:"Morning Glow Indicates Rain Within Three Days"

In Japan, as low pressure systems and rain clouds often move from west to east, the likelihood of rain increases within three days after a morning glow.

6:"When the Light of the Stars Shimmers, Strong Winds Will Blow Within Three Days"

When the wind is strong, the atmosphere becomes turbulent, causing the light of the stars to shimmer. Subsequently, as the upper air circulates downwards, strong winds will blow at the surface.

1:"Those Who Master Nature Control Their Missions!?"

2:"Survival Techniques for Ninjas in Unknown Territories"

3:"Look for Paths Near Human Settlements"

Ninjas developed keen observational skills to predict the locations of human settlements by assessing factors such as the hardness of the ground, the presence or absence of animal droppings, whether vegetation had been cut, and if animals appeared accustomed to humans.

4:"Avoid Getting Lost in the Snowy Mountains"

In unfamiliar snowy mountains, ninjas would walk while observing the back of a guide or a horse. When the path was obscured by snow, they would let the horse lead the way, using a staff to probe the ground and determine if a path existed.

5:"Camp Using Only the Items at Hand"

Ninjas would stretch a cord attached to their swords between the trees and use items like their haori to create a makeshift tent to shield themselves from rain. To prepare for potential attacks from enemies or dangerous beasts, they would rest with their heart side (left side) facing the ground and take measures such as keeping a fire burning all day long.

6:"Water is a Treasure Trove of Information"

When water ran out in the mountains, ninjas relied on clues such as ant and cricket holes or areas where plants like omodaka and kakitubata grew to search for water. They would also place a cloth on the ground of a cave and use its dampness to infer the presence of a water source.

1:"Only Believe in Good Results!? The Relationship Between Ninjas and Divination"

2:"The Reason Ninjas Practiced Divination Was to 'Cut Through Doubt'!?

Divination is mentioned in many ninja manuals, but it is believed that ninjas interpreted it as something to be used only in times of favorable outcomes. It is speculated that for ninjas, divination served as a means to eliminate hesitation and act decisively.

3:"Try to Predict Personal Danger"

Upon waking or before going out, measure the pulse rate on your left wrist with the thumb of your right hand, and check the pulse on both sides of your neck with the thumb and index finger of your left hand. If all pulse rates match, you can feel safe; if they do not match, it is predicted that personal danger may arise.

4:Headmaster's Note:

In addition to this, there is a method called "Sanmyaku Goshin-hō" recorded in the Naishi Musha Shugyō no Maki, which is considered a ninja training manual. It might be interesting for everyone to try practicing it as a form of wish-making.

1:"The Face Holds a Wealth of Information! Ninja Observation Techniques"

2:Focus on the Posture, Actions, Manner of Speaking, Voice Quality, Complexion, and Changes in Attitude

The key is to pay attention to these aspects while observing. By analyzing the position of facial features, one can assess personality traits, and by interpreting the other person's demeanor, insights into their psychology can be gleaned.

3:"Reading Information from Facial Features"

• Nose: A refined and large nose is associated with longevity and wealth. Those with a long philtrum are also considered favorable.
• Ears: People with large, long, drooping ears are said to live long lives.
• Moles: Having many moles is considered a sign of bad luck.
• Face: A round, short vertical face is indicative of wealth and high status.
• Eyes: Slender, deep, moist, and sparkling eyes are traits of nobility. Eyes that are cast down are thought to indicate disloyalty and thievery.
• Eyebrows: Long, sweeping eyebrows are seen as a sign of abundant wisdom. Straight eyebrows indicate loyalty to one's lord, while drooping eyebrows suggest weakness of heart.
• Mouth: A large, stable mouth is a sign of nobility and longevity. Thick lips are associated with wealth.
• Teeth: Teeth that are gapless and shiny suggest wealth. Poorly aligned teeth are seen as a sign of bad luck.
Note: The Shōninki, a ninja manual written during the Edo period, states that "these are merely general images and it is unwise to judge solely based on facial features."

4:"Reading Information from the Heart's Expression"

If a person cannot maintain direct eye contact, it is often due to a sense of guilt, leading to the inference that they are likely lying. Interestingly, it is said that ninjas tend to look someone straight in the eye when they are lying.