shinobi

Feudal Japanese spy

Shinobi is the Japanese word for ninja—a covert agent or mercenary trained in espionage, sabotage, and assassination in feudal Japan.

The term appears frequently in anime, video games, and martial arts contexts, often interchangeably with ninja: The shinobi moved silently across the rooftops.

Shinobi sometimes carries a more authentic or serious tone than the heavily Westernized ninja.

training

ninjutsu

Feudal Japanese espionage discipline

acrobaticsSkilled physical feats
parkourMovement discipline over obstacles
climbingAscending by physical effort

agility · endurance · discipline · meditation · survival · disguise · escape · flexibility · balance · precision

stealth

infiltration

Covert entry into organization

concealmentAct of hiding something
shadowLight blocked by object
sneakingMoving to avoid detection

silent · unseen · undetected · camouflage · evasion · ambush · hiding · ghosting · rooftop · darkness

espionage

spy

Covert information gatherer

intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects

sabotage · informant · covert · undercover · disguise · interception · deception · counterintelligence · agent · operative

weapons

kunai

Japanese multipurpose blade

katanaCurved Japanese fighting blade
wakizashiJapanese auxiliary blade
tanto"So much" in scores

blowgun · caltrops · poison · garrote · sai

japanese

kunoichi

Woman trained in espionage

geninJunior-ranked shinobi
samuraiFeudal Japanese military caste
daimyoJapanese feudal landowner

shogun · ronin · bushido · feudal · warlord · clan

shinobi

ninjutsu

infiltration

spy

kunai

kunoichi

shinobi

Opposites

Categories

Family