Ninja Gear

The ninja would have had an array of weapons secreted about his person. A simple-looking Japanese folding fan might well conceal a knife blade. Heavy iron knuckle-dusters called tekagi are also known. Another fairly standard piece of ninja equipment was a hooked rope for climbing. This consisted of a three or four pronged grapnel attached to a coil of thin but very strong rope. It was most conveniently carried hanging from the belt. A utility bag might also be suspended from the belt, and this could contain small throwing weapons such as knives or the well-known shuriken (ninja stars) that were flung with a spinning motion. Tetsu bishi (caltrops) could also be carried. These consisted of iron spikes arranged in the shape of a tetrahedron so that one spike was always protruding upwards. As samurai wore thin- soled footwear, tetsu bishi could be very effective in slowing down pursuers. Poisons and their antidotes and emergency food supplies might also find their way into the utility bag when appropriate.

There was also other weird and wonderful array of specialized weapons and devices that ninja could use in appropriate circumstances.