History of the Ninja and Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu is known by many as the art of stealth or the art of the shadow.
Much of the training in the ninjutsu school centers around close range
combat and the art of invisibility and espionage. Some of the special skills
learned by ninjutsu practitioners have historically given the ninja a
reputation of possessing magical powers. Climbing walls and swimming while
clad in armor are two skills that have earned this reputation. Other skills
taught to the ninja included map making, disguise, silent entry and escape,
leaping, high endurance, sabotage, and the use of available surroundings as
weapons.
The history of the ninja is shrouded in secrecy. Ninja often hold the
incorrect reputation of having all been assassins. This was not the case.
Though no single origin can be proven, most common beliefs surrounding the
origins of ninjutsu attribute it as a fighting method taught within mountain
families as a means for self defense during feudal Japan against territory
claimants. In order to defend themselves against powerful foes such as the
samurai class of warriors who had strength in numbers, the ninja developed
stealth capabilities and unorthodox combat techniques. The fighting tactics
employed by the ninja were often seen as cowardly by the samurai.
However, they were often very effective.
www.ninjabilly.com

In many ways, the tactics employed by the ninja were very similar to techniques
adopted by the early American colonists during the war for independence from
England. Traditional British battle strategy was to line up in open fields and fire
weapons in a sequential pattern. After many brutal defeats, the heavily under-manned
colonists learned to compensate for numbers and power by using ambush and disguise
tactics. This strategy was considered to be cowardly by the British armies but, like
the similar strategies employed by the ninja, it also proved to be very effective.
Ninjutsu was banned in the 17th century but continued to be passed down in
underground circles. The art is still practiced today though not at widely as in the
days of feudal Japan.
Like the farmers of the past who fought to defend their lands, Ninja Billy and his
friends use their skills to protect others and stand for what is right in the world.

Ninja Culture and Shinobi History

Ninja and their Culture
A typical ninja village would not be any different from other medieval
Japanese villages except for few very sharp-eyed adults who would
keep a careful watch on a trespasser. Many would be tending their rice
fields and harvesting vegetables and fruits. Others would be making
craftworks and few would be blacksmiths making sickles and cooking
knives. A ninja village's purpose is to support ninja and remain
unnoticed.

As with another village, a ninja village would have an Osa (a leader),

who often was the head of ninja group. Under him would be several
jyounin (上忍), which literally means the high ninja. Under the jyounin
would be several chunin (中忍), which literally means the middle ninja.
Under chunin would be many genin (下忍), which literally means the
low ninja. Upon receiving a mission from a daimyo, an osa would give
order to the jyounin to select necessary personnel. Some ninja groups
would be smaller and may have been less structured. Other groups
may have been structured more like an army and the leader may
instead have been called a shou (general). While ninja are often
depicted as male, female were often ninja as well. A female ninja may
be called a kunoichi (くのいち or くノ一). These are actually the three
strokes that make up the kanji character for female, onna (女).
Although sometimes depicted as an experienced prostitute who gained
secrets from the enemy by seduction, they rarely used that method.
Most prostitutes in medieval Japan worked exclusively in brothels. Few
would take their chances with a freelance prostitute, especially since in
many places it was considered illegal.

Ninpo (忍法, literally 'the laws of ninja'), or simply okite (掟, literally
'rule'), are the guidelines that ninja followed. It had many stipulations,
but the most important rule was of keeping the secret of being ninja to
themselves and never revealing the daimyo who gave them orders.
The most severe crime any ninja could commit was of betraying and
killing fellow ninja. The punishment was death and, if deemed by the
council of ninja, his or her family would be executed as well. Second to
that was the crime of leaving the ninja village without authorization
and never coming back. He or she would be called nukenin (抜け忍)
and his or her family member would be tasked to bring him back, dead
or alive.

This page has been derived from the Wikipedia's articles on ninja.

http://www.kojin-rpg.com/information/ninja/culture