When people think of Japanese weapons and combat, they typically focus on samurai swords. That's not all that Japan has to offer, though. A lesser-known iconic Japanese weapon is the ninjato sword. The word "ninja" likely comes from the term "shinobi no mono", which means “person who endures suffering” in Japanese. 

By extension, the term may also refer to a type of person (ninja) who endures suffering for a greater cause (for example, waiting for an opportunity to strike). In this way, ninjas were said to use deception as an art and weapons as their tools of trade. Today, we reveal all names of ninja weapons. 

The first ninja statues were found in the 14th century, and these statues showed ninjas killing other people. As time passed, these figures became more stylized. Ninja swords were specifically designed to be used in combat with other weapons of war, making them impractical for practice.

Ninjas and Their Weapons

Ninja weapons are the disguised tools used by members of the ancient Japanese martial art of ninjutsu. Despite being called "weapons," these weapons were primarily for use in unarmed combat and generally consisted of lengths of rope called shuriken, a short staff known as a nunchaku, or any number of special sticks that cause various effects on personal or external enemies. 

Ninjas have also been depicted with swords, spears, tonfas (wooden staffs with one loop), kunai knives, and other weapons. The ninja's most effective weapon is ninjutsu - their ability to use non-physical tactics like stealth and misdirection to bring about an opponent's downfall. However, ninjas may also employ a wide variety of weapons during combat: swords, spears, shuriken (throwing stars), axes, guns, etc. 

Even some animals were trained to fight on behalf of the ninja during times of war. Battles are often fast-moving and brutal with little room for strategy or tactics and the ninja must be skilled in multiple areas to be successful. The ninja's most powerful weapon is his mind - using it against his opponent before fighting hand-to-hand (or blade-to-blade).

Ninja’s Most Devastating Weapons

Ninja weapons are usually concealed in some form or another for quick access when needed. The ninja used his weapons in both offensive and defensive means. The weapons of the ninja are often made to be 'hidden' from view. 

The ninjas' choice of a weapon usually depended on whether he was fighting a close-range or longer-range opponent: those who fought closer would use a shorter weapon such as the katana or shuriken while those who were attacking from range would use daggers, blowpipes, or other weapons that attain greater distances. Here are famous weapons:

1. Ninjato

The ninjato was introduced as a fully functional weapon during the Sengoku period when samurai warriors were introduced to new and unorthodox ways of fighting. The ninjato is commonly associated with Japanese martial arts (budo), particularly Kito-ryu and its many sub-styles such as Koga-ryu and Shindo-ryu. However, there is nothing specific about the ninjato that resembles any of these styles, and the weapon is used by practitioners of a wide range of martial arts.


The ninjato is a longsword that can be used on horseback. While fighting from horseback was once considered to be an extreme measure, samurai warriors were trained to fight from atop their warhorses when any opportunity presented itself. 

The weapon was usually longer than most other swords, measuring around 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length. The blade was double-edged and broad-shouldered with a distinct curve at both the handle and the point of balance; this curve allowed for great strength without making the swing unwieldy.

2. Blowguns & Blowgun Darts

The blowgun is a simple tube that uses muscle air to shoot small projectiles including darts and even small snakes. It is compact, easy to conceal, and requires no ammunition making it a perfect tool for the ninja. It is used by the ninja to take out eavesdroppers, make noise, or scare an enemy into thinking again about his next move. Blowguns were used in several movies such as Lethal Weapon II.

3. Blowpipe

A blowpipe is a concealed weapon that can be used for the purpose of killing and espionage. These weapons use compressed air to shoot pebbles or darts. The use of these weapons may seem surprising, but the spread of them was prevalent enough during ninjas' time that their use by ninjas was likely the result of re-purposing the device or adapting it to a new application. 

A popular theory behind the ninja's adoption of these devices is that they could be used in situations where smaller weapons like shuriken and kunai would fail to penetrate a victim's armor, such as in close-quarters combat.

4. Dagger


The dagger is a weapon of the ninja. Because of their small size, they are easily hidden and removed when not in use. There are different types of daggers and they are also thrown much more easily than other weapons. During the time period in which the ninja lived, different nations used different daggers for their own use, which was an issue for any ninja who wanted to avoid a battle due to having no knowledge about his opponent's daggers.

5. Katana


The Katana Sword is the ultimate ninja sword. The katana was a weapon used in close combat and it was sharpened on both sides and made of a long handle that allowed a person to have more range when fighting.

6. Nunchaku


The nunchaku is also known as "nunchucks" because it appears to come from one side but really from the other. Nunchaku were two pieces of wood connected by rope or chain. These ninja weapons were often used by ninjas in combat. Nunchaku is popularly known as a modern martial arts weapon but its true origins are set in ancient Japan when samurai would use them to fight samurai who may not have been carrying swords.

7. Throwing Knives


The kunai is a small triangular weapon used by ninjas in combat to attack at close quarters. It is a popular weapon among ninjas and was used for many tasks. Others include shuriken, throwing stars, knives, and darts. Kunai throwing knives were cheap and easy to make. They were made from wood, metal, or stone in order to increase the weight of the pieces being thrown. The point of the weapon was sharpened on both sides so that it would be easier to pierce any target with ease.

8. Shuriken


Sets of shuriken were often used in a ninja's arsenal for multiple purposes. Shurikens were almost always designed to cause enough injury to prevent the enemy from using that body part again. 

Shuriken or ninja throwing stars were divided into types by shape: hira-shuriken (bamboo), kama-shuriken (sickle), and kunai-shuriken (dagger shuriken). Shurikens were also divided into their material: Japanese steel, Chinese steel, and Chinese iron. These ninja weapons are often seen in movies like those in the Indiana Jones series. Throwing stars can be used as a weapon or as a tool.

Ninja Weapons For Martial Arts!

Ninja weapons have been used in martial arts and espionage for centuries. They are the preferred choice of many fighters due to their sharp edges, their concealability, and the fact that they cannot be seen by adversaries when you're using them. A popular sub-category is also throwing stars which are circular blades with a ring around the middle of them to hold onto.

During a fight or altercation, this ring can grab onto objects like your clothing or skin rendering it nearly impossible to pull out. These weapons can range from knives strapped on the inside of your sleeve to throwing stars hidden in your shoes but all are capable of inflicting fatal injuries if not used carefully. 

The first use of throwing stars was in ancient India. They were made out of aluminum, a metal that was considered to be a rare find at the time. Despite the fact that metal for metal's sake is now common, throwing stars is still very uncommon in today's world. 

A small number of individuals still make them but most throwers choose to purchase their weapons online or from other sellers instead of creating them themselves. Once you have decided on how large your blade will be, you can take a look at what materials you need to create it.