• A while back, I was researching the SatCho Aliance and the lead-up to the Meiji Restoration in Japanese history for a historical fiction novel I was thinking of writing, and while I can't find much of anything about it, one of the key points I had in my story was that it was suspected that the bugyo of Nagasaki prefecture had a hand in forming the Alliance, mainly by introducing them to the American trader who mediated the alliance between them. Did this ever happen, or no?
• To go on the above question, I was looking into giving the main characters (who would be fighting each other in the story) distinct individual weapons. One of them, the head of the Onibawanchu that were the secondary bad guys in the story, I wanted to give a ring-like blade weapon to, and I couldn't find any real historical accounts of such a weapon being used, until I found out about the kanawa, supposedly a handheld Chakram-like weapon that was often made from part of a stove's burner. However, I can only really find 1 YouTube video of these weapons and nothing else in my research. Does such a weapon exist in Japanese ninja history, or am I being fooled again?

Im making some mtg card but im only finding the Ranks used in naruto so i dont really need a Long explanation just a little list of the ranks from highest to lowest

If you're a fan of the arcade games Shinobi (1987) and Shadow Dancer (1989), this one's for you. In 2020, Shadow Gangs delighted gaming fans worldwide. This has now led to the development of a prequel named Shadow Gangs Zero, and it'll be available for numerous platforms - Neo Geo, Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, Dreamcast, PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox, and Switch.

The crowdfunding campaign ended on September 14, 2024 and was a smashing success.  Not only was the project fully funded, but it also surpassed the stretch goal for having the female ninja included as a playable character!

Due to extremely strong demand, the developer has decided to accept Late Pledges for those who missed out during the core campaign.  Here's the exciting part... The project is less than £1,000 away from reaching the next stretch goal: 2-player co-operative gameplay.  This will be a revolutionary feature, as none of the arcade and console Shinobi games had this 2-player simultaneous gameplay.

Join the revolution: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jkmcorp/shadow-gangs-zero

Ninja food balls

Hyourougan Pills: (energy balls) 15 ml Asiatic ginseng 15 grams Japanese yam 1800 ml glutinous rice flour 15 grams lotus pips 15 grams cinnamon 15 grams coix seed 900 grams rock sugar

1. Finely chop the yam and ginseng.
2. In a mortar & pestle, grind everything together.
3. Knead in enough water for the mixture to hold together
4. Roll into tiny 10mm balls.
5. Steam balls until tender.

Suikatsugan Pills:(thirst balls) 37.5 grams umeboshi plums 3.75 grams spearmint leaves 7.5 grams rock sugar Rice Flour

1. Chop up the plums and mint.
2. Grind everything together in a mortar & pestle.
3. Knead in enough water & rice flour to bring the mixture together.
4. Form into tiny 10mm balls
5. Steam balls until tender.

Kikatsugan Pill: (hunger balls) 2-4 pieces licorice root 37.5 grams Asiatic ginseng 75 grams Japanese yam 37.5 grams coix seed 150 grams buckwheat flour 75 grams glutinous rice

1. Grind up the licorice root in a mortar & pestle.
2. Add in the ginseng, yam, and coix seed. Crush it all together.
3. Add the flour and rice to the mixture and continue to crush and combine.
4. Knead in enough water to bring the mixture together.
5. Form into tiny 10mm balls.
6. Steam balls until tender

Katayaki:(rice cracker hard tack) (Work in progress on finding a recipe for it) (If I can get enough like I'll post my updated/modernish recipe as I work on them)

Guys, I just posted a spoiler video about the new jutsu and armor that are going to be released with the Anbu Club Subcription. Please check it out and give me your feedback!

https://youtu.be/8RC0t3Elnao?si=CVp55IMNZ3bKC5X4

[Solved] The Shogun Assassins/Sanada Yukimura no bouryaku (1979)

I'd very much appreciate some assistance trying to figure out the name of a movie I saw multiple times throughout my childhood on (US) cable television.

Unfortunately the details I recall or pretty scant and possibly unreliable (I'm possibly conflating multiple films). I'll share what I can remember, and hopefully it will ring a bell with someone.

The movie in question regularly aired during the mid-to-late 1980s in the United States, and on either the TBS or WGN basic cable channels.

It was dubbed in English, and presented as a ninja movie, but I'm not positive whether it was a Japanese film, or if it was a repurposed and recut Hong Kong production.

A substantial part of the film's first half involved introducing the audience to a bunch of ninja characters, each with their own unique flavor and skillset. Each one would receive a freeze frame where they are named with a line beginning with "The ninja..."

There was definitely a heist movie or Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven vibe to the cast of ninja characters being assembled.

At some point in the movie I remember a noble and/or ninja master and/or key character is assassinated via a domestic cat that has had its claws envenomed with a very fast acting poison.

Unfortunately, that is the majority of details I recall.

I'm not certain, but I think one of the ninja introduced had red hair, and I recall being surprised to see a period Japanese character portrayed with such prominently red hair color.

I'm not sure at all how old the film was outside the time frame I watched it (1980's).

I'm happy to try and answer any questions to try and narrow this down, and I appreciate any assistance you can offer.

Just say what know about caltrops HISTORICALLY (modern media's cool to just thought I'd specify Id prefer historical accuracy)

Title says it all, you find out your friend or best friend is a ninja, and it has been kept a secret from you for Christ knows how long. You somehow stumble into the secret, and you are now faced with this question:

How would you react to this new information, and what would you do?

I'm very much aware that ninja and shinobi technically mean same thing, just that the former is modern for "shinobi no mono". I also know that shinobi in real life weren't dressed in a uniform, used weaponry that was exotic or improvised (like farming tools such as nunchucks), worn swords on their backs, or did parkour. It's also true that they weren't distinct from samurai as it was merely another job for that class. That being said, the pop culture idea of a ninja still makes for entertaining stories. One thing I've been wondering, though, is if they could coexist in a fantasy or historical-fiction setting with actual shinobi.

They could be a distinct class like in pop culture. Perhaps the peasants are fed up with how cruel samurai and other higher ups are so they separate and fight in their own style. Or maybe they are a distinct job or faction in samurai clans, formed to add another layer of unpredictability and fear to enemies. I mean, imagine a dark clad figure stealthily killing enemies in the night while the enemies were expecting a disguise. Once they see a shadowy sihiloutte, they are caught off-guard. Then another group expects that break in, only to be taken out by a disguised fellow. Imagine the paranoia of guessing what the enemy will do.

And trust me: when done right, old school ninja can be scary. Just look at Mark of the Ninja or the infiltration scene in Ninja 2: Shadow of a tear. Both ninjas take out enemies quickly, efficiently, and brutally. The former even psychologically manipulates his foes to go from calm to cowering wrecks to the point of accidentally shooting their comrades.

Sorry if I rambled. What do you think of this? Could the fantasty ninja (with or without magical powers. I don't care about the supernatural stuff and prefer physical) coexist in a setting with history-based shinobi?

So, I'm throwing myself headfirst into the ultimate showdown—VIKINGS vs SAMURAI—but let me tell you, I knew squat about samurai beyond a few flicks. Then I stumble upon Antony Cummins and his killer book, Samurai Arms, Armour & the Tactics of Warfare. This isn’t just any samurai book—it’s a deep dive into the Natori-Ryū school, with scrolls that crack open the mind of these legendary warriors. We’re talking tactics, strategy, gear—the whole shebang. It’s like getting schooled by a 17th-century sensei himself, Natori Sanjūrō Masazumi. Think you know samurai? Think again. Whether you’re writing, practicing martial arts, or just fascinated by warriors, this book will blow your mind. https://vikingsvssamurai.com/samurai-arms-armour-the-tactics-of-warfare/ #SamuraiSecrets #WarriorWisdom #VikingsVsSamurai #MartialArtsHistory

I mean, I get the concept of a kunoichi being alluring to seduce foes. It would make sense for one to approach or wait for a target, lure them in with a false sense of security, and either kill them or gain intel. But Mai just straight up challenges enemies whilst wearing a skimpy garb. By putting her enemies in a fight or flight situation, she defeats the purpose of dressing provocatively (worse, she's fighting in an unprotective attire (and with long tail ends that can be grabbed)). In other words, she's not stealthy or subtle.

Also, her primary goal is to thirst after a guy named Andy, who's not reciprocal. Aren't shinobi, historical or mythical, supposed to be focussed on missions and not be obsessed with superficialand shallow goals?

And I'm not eveb counting non-game material like the anime films, where she's woefully incompetent in getting caught (seriously, during a mission with Andy, she walks away to do shopping, gets led away by Laurence Blood into a trap, and while she puts up a fight, she's rather easily subdued and tied up).

What's your take?