まさに変装の達人！忍者が使った『忍び装束』の秘密
忍者といえば、黒装束に身を包み、夜の闇に溶け込む姿を思い浮かべる者が多かろう。
しかし、実際の忍者は常に黒装束を着ていたわけではないのじゃ！
忍者の本質は 「敵に気づかれずに目的を果たすこと」 にある。
そのため、装束も 状況や任務に応じて変幻自在 に変えていたのじゃ。
今回は、そんな忍者の『忍び装束』の秘密について語ろうぞ！
1. 忍者の基本装束「忍び装束」
まず、一般に知られる忍者の黒い服。これを 「忍び装束（しのびしょうぞく）」 という。
なぜ黒いのか？
忍び装束は、闇夜に紛れるために黒いと思われがちじゃが、実際には 紺色や濃い茶色 が多かったという説がある。
完全な黒は、月明かりの下ではかえって目立つのじゃ。
また、忍び装束には「動きやすさ」も重要じゃ。
布地は柔らかく、衣擦れの音が立ちにくいものを使っていた。
袖口や裾は紐で締め、引っかかりにくい工夫がされておったのじゃ。
忍び装束の特徴
- 頭巾（ずきん） … 頭部を隠すフード。状況に応じて顔を覆ったり、普通の鉢巻きのように見せることも可能。
- 手甲（てこう） … 手の甲を守る布。武器を隠し持つこともでき、潜入任務で藪に潜んだ際、蚊などに食われるのを防ぐ役割もあった。
- 脚絆（きゃはん） … ふくらはぎを締める布。走りやすくし、ズボンの裾がバタつかないようにする。
- 足袋（たび） … 静かに歩くための布製の履物。滑り止めのついたものもあったとか。
まさに「機能性抜群の戦闘服」といえよう。
2. 忍者は変装の達人！ さまざまな装束
忍者の本当の強みは、「どこにでも溶け込める変装術」にある。
忍び装束だけではなく、状況に応じてさまざまな姿に変身 していたのじゃ！
農民に変装
忍者は、敵地へ潜入する際 「ただの農民」として振る舞うことがあった。
そのため、農民が着る粗末な着物をまとい、草履を履いていたのじゃ。
鍬（くわ）や鎌を持ち、「ただの農作業中の男」に見せかけることで警戒されずに情報収集ができる。
商人に変装
商人の姿になれば、堂々と敵の城下町に入り込み、情報を集めることができる。
商人の着物を着て、背中に荷物を背負い、「物売り」として敵地を歩くのじゃ。
ときには、実際に商売をしながら、さりげなく会話の中で重要な情報を聞き出すこともあったという。
僧侶に変装
僧侶は、どこでも比較的自由に移動できる身分であったため、忍者の変装としてよく使われた。
経文を持ち、念珠を首にかけ、托鉢（たくはつ）をしながら城へと潜入するのじゃ。
僧侶は人々の悩みを聞くこともあるため、自然に情報を引き出せるメリットがあった。
旅芸人に変装
ときには 旅芸人の一座に紛れ込み、城下町を渡り歩くこともあった。
踊りや歌、曲芸などを披露しながら敵地に入り込み、警戒されずに情報を集めるのじゃ。
芸の腕を見込まれれば、城に招かれることもあり、武将の宴席で情報を探ることも可能じゃった。
3. 変装を完璧にするための工夫
ただ服を変えるだけでは、すぐに正体がバレてしまう。
忍者は 「変装をよりリアルに見せるための工夫」 をしていたのじゃ！
言葉遣いを変える
忍者は、農民なら農民らしい話し方、商人なら商人らしい口調を使い分けていた。
「お武家様」になりきるなら、しっかりとした武士言葉を使わねばならぬ。
言葉の使い方一つで、正体がバレることもあるのじゃ。
持ち物を変える
服装だけでなく、小道具も重要じゃ。
例えば、農民のふりをするなら鍬を持ち、商人なら帳簿や品物を持つ。
旅芸人のふりをするなら、三味線や太鼓を持ち、芸の道具を揃えておく必要がある。
立ち居振る舞いを変える
服装が完璧でも、動き方が不自然なら怪しまれる。
商人なら、商人らしい「のんびりした歩き方」、僧侶なら「静かで落ち着いた動作」、旅芸人なら「軽やかでしなやかな動き」をしなければならぬ。
また、忍者は 変装する職業の専門技術を身につけることもあった。
商人なら計算に強く、旅芸人なら実際に芸を披露できるように訓練していたのじゃ！
4. 忍者はいつも「普通の人」に見えるようにしていた
忍者の究極の目的は、「目立たないこと」。
そのため、普段は「普通の人」に見えるように振る舞うことが最も重要だった のじゃ。
黒装束で走り回るよりも、農民や商人に変装し、敵地で情報を集める方がはるかに効果的。
また、戦闘になることは極力避け、「逃げる技術」や「気配を消す技術」も駆使 していたのじゃ。
忍者とは、「姿を見せない者」 のこと。
目立たぬことこそが、真の忍びの技よのう。
まとめ 〜忍者は変装の達人！〜
✅ 忍び装束は、実は黒より紺や茶色が多かった
✅ 忍者は変装の達人！ 商人・僧侶・農民・旅芸人になりきった
✅ 言葉遣いや持ち物、歩き方だけでなく、専門技術まで身につけた
✅ 忍者の真の武器は「目立たないこと」！
忍者の変装術を知ることで、ただの戦士ではなく、情報戦のプロフェッショナルだった ことがよくわかるじゃろう。
これからも忍びの世界を深掘りし、忍者の知恵を現代に生かしていこうぞ！
さらばじゃ！
【以下英語版】【English version below】
The True Masters of Disguise! The Secrets of the Ninja “Shinobi Garb”
When people think of ninjas, they often imagine them dressed in black, blending into the shadows of the night.
However, the reality is that ninjas didn’t always wear black!
The essence of a ninja lies in their ability to achieve their goals without being noticed.
For that reason, their attire was adapted to fit the situation and the mission at hand.
Today, let’s explore the secrets of the ninja’s “shinobi garb”!
1. The Basic Ninja Outfit: “Shinobi Garb”
First, let’s talk about the most well-known ninja outfit: the “shinobi garb” (忍び装束).
Why black?
While many think of ninjas wearing black, the truth is that dark blue or dark brown were often used instead.
In fact, pure black was said to stand out under moonlight!
The shinobi garb was also designed for mobility.
The fabric was soft and quiet to avoid making noise while moving.
The sleeves and hems were tightened with cords to prevent them from getting caught on anything during action.
Features of Shinobi Garb
- Hood (ずきん) – A head covering, which could either be used to cover the face or worn like a regular headband, depending on the situation.
- Handguards (手甲) – Guards for the back of the hands. They could also conceal weapons and served to protect against mosquitoes and other pests when the ninja was hiding in underbrush.
- Gaiters (脚絆) – Cloth wraps around the legs to secure the pants and prevent them from flapping when running.
- Tabi (足袋) – Traditional footwear that allowed the ninja to move quietly and securely. Some were even designed with slip-resistant soles!
This was truly a functionally perfect combat outfit.
2. Ninjas: Masters of Disguise! The Various Outfits They Used
A ninja’s real strength lay not just in their clothing, but in their ability to blend into any environment by changing their appearance.
They didn’t only wear the typical shinobi garb; they were experts in disguise, changing their appearance according to the mission.
Disguising as Farmers
Ninjas often disguised themselves as “simple farmers” to infiltrate enemy territories.
They wore humble garments and sandals, carrying farming tools like a hoe or a sickle.
By acting like a normal farmer, they could wander around towns and gather information unnoticed.
Disguising as Merchants
If a ninja needed to move freely through town, they would disguise themselves as a merchant.
By wearing merchant clothes and carrying goods, they could stroll around without arousing suspicion, conducting business while gathering vital intel.
Sometimes, they would even engage in actual trade to draw less attention!
Disguising as Monks
Monks, being respected figures with free movement rights, were often used for infiltration.
By carrying prayer beads and wearing robes, they could visit castles under the guise of a wandering monk.
While performing their rituals, they would listen to people’s troubles, gathering useful information as they went.
Disguising as Traveling Performers
In some cases, ninjas would blend in as traveling performers.
They would join a troupe of entertainers, performing music, dance, and acrobatics in exchange for information.
This disguise allowed them to move through cities and even be invited to banquets held by warlords, all while secretly gathering intel.
3. Perfecting the Disguise
Simply changing clothes was not enough to fool anyone.
Ninjas employed numerous tricks to make their disguises even more convincing.
Altering Speech
Ninjas would adapt their speech to match their disguise.
For example, a farmer would speak like a farmer, a merchant like a merchant, and a monk like a monk.
The smallest slip-up in speech could blow their cover.
Changing Equipment
Not only did they change their clothes, but they also used props that matched their disguise.
For a farmer, this meant carrying a hoe or sickle, and for a merchant, a ledger or products to sell.
A traveling performer would carry musical instruments, ensuring their disguise was realistic.
Changing Movements
Even if the clothing and props were perfect, awkward or unnatural movements would raise suspicion.
A merchant would walk in a slow, deliberate manner, a monk would move calmly and quietly, and a performer would exhibit graceful and fluid movements.
In fact, ninjas would sometimes train in the specialized skills of their disguises.
For example, if they disguised themselves as a merchant, they would study trade and mathematics; if they were performing as a musician, they would actually learn to play an instrument!
4. The Ninja’s True Weapon: “Not Being Seen”
The ninja’s ultimate goal was not to engage in battle, but to remain unnoticed.
Therefore, their skill wasn’t just in how they dressed, but in how they avoided attention.
Rather than rushing around in black garb, a ninja disguised as a farmer, merchant, or monk could move through enemy territory without raising any alarms.
In these instances, escape techniques and stealth were just as important as combat skills.
A ninja’s true power lay in “not being seen”.
To be truly stealthy meant becoming invisible in plain sight.
Conclusion – Ninjas: The Masters of Disguise
✅ Shinobi garb was often dark blue or brown, not black
✅ Ninjas could disguise themselves as farmers, merchants, monks, and traveling performers
✅ They would also master the techniques and skills of the roles they assumed
✅ The ninja’s true strength was in “not being seen”
Through this exploration of ninja disguises, we see that ninjas weren’t just warriors—they were masters of espionage and information warfare.
Let’s continue to delve deeper into the world of ninjas and apply their wisdom to modern life!
Farewell!
