18th century wood block print illustration of Hojo's invasion of Izu Overview The Lego Ninja theme has a definite basis in the history of feudal Japan. Although there are slight anachronisms, the theme is consistent on a basic level with the characteristics of the late Momoyama Period early Edo Period. The Momoyama Period, classified by scholars as the "Age of the Country at War", marked the revolution of samurai warfare and the consolidation of the power of the daimyo (supreme military commander). Prior to that era, combat was based on a ritual of individual contests of skill. As time went on, increases in troop sizes and rivalry between neighboring provinces grew, the skill of the individual warrior was de-emphasized. Warring between houses, assassination, and murder was quite common, and generals commanded staggering troop sizes in epic battles over political power and territory. Invasion followed invasion and only the strongest and most resourceful daimyo was able to stay in power for long periods of time. Starting in 1570, this period marked the rise of the military genius Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga was a fierce warrior and shrewd statesman and politician who quickly expanded his territory through warfare, political manipulation, and cunning. He helped to revolutionize warfare by his clever use of firearms in large numbers in conjunction with coordinated use of spearmen and archers. This proved to be a deadly combination, and quickly became the defacto standard for organizing troops. This unstable climate necessitated the widespread construction of castles to protect the daimyos' domains. Wood and earth were the primary construction materials, but stone was used for towers, gateways. During this period, massive castles such as the colossal fortress of Osaka set a new standard for castle-building, incorporating stone walls and parapets. The early Edo (or Tokugawa) period saw the power of the Shogun rise, and bitter feuding among the daimyos. Despite constant warring between houses, the Tokugawa family continued to rule as the title of Shogun passed from generation to generation. Soldier with arquebus in full samurai armor Weaponry The samurai were fierce warriors who followed a strict discipline of warefare. The bow was a weapon of great prestiege among the samurai and was relegated to specially trained men who were used as sharpshooters. The most skilled of the elite were capable of firing from horseback and practiced an art called the way of the bow. Samurai were capable of extreme feats of accuracy. Ancient texts tell of a style of battle where two armies would meet and their leaders would face each other in individual combat- the outcome of which would determine a victor. "Then fitting arrows with forked heads to their bows, they urged their horses toward each other, and each let off his first arrow at the the other. Intending that his next arrow would hit his rival without fail, each drew his bow and released the arrow as he galloped past. Then they drew up their horses and turned…" Even in large battles, groups of archers fought individually on the battlefield using a rigid set of traditional rules. But these ways changed as a result of the influence of the fighting styles of the warrior monks who fought against imperial rule and the sudden invasion of the Mongols under the command of Kublai Khan. Bowmen were legendary for their skill as well as their courage in battle. Ancient texts describe a young warrior who boasted of epic feats of bravery when annoucing himself to his enemy: "Ho! I am Kajiwara Heizo Katetoki, descended in the fifth generation from Gongoro Kagemasa of Kamakura, renowed warrior of the East country and match for any thousand men! At the age of sixteen, I rode in the van[guard] of Hachiman-taro Yoshiie at the siege of Sembuku Kanezawa in Dewa and, receiving an arrow in my left eye through the helmet, I plucked it forth and with it shot down the marksman who sent it, thereby gaining honours and leaving a name to posterity!" Lower ranked and less-skilled soldiers acted as foot spearmen. These warriors made up the bulk of the standing army and as time progressed, became valuable assets with the growing popularity of the firearm. Nabunaga is credited as one of the first generals to recognize the worth of the arquebus (firearm). Although the weapon was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in 1542, is was not used effectively until the battle of Nagashino in 1575. During this campaign, Nobunaga employed 3000 arquebuses in a field battle, protected by field fortifications, and used a rotational firing system to excellent effect- overwhelming a much larger army and emerging victorious. During this time period, bows were still in use, however the arquebus became a prized weapon since it could be used effectively with very little training. This preference is reflected in the current Lego Ninja theme designs. The samurai sword was the preferred weapon in hand to hand combat. A good sword, the katana, was highly valued and has become legendary for its fine quality. It was the privilege and right of a samurai to wear a sword. The Japanese were fine crafstman, and the master swordscraftsman had metalurgy knowledge that produced steel of exceptional quality. Katana were not the only bladed weapons used. Samurai warriors also carried a smaller version called the wazikashi. There was also a huge two-handed sword called the nodachi which was swung in huge circles. Ancient texts describe the wielding of this weapon as follows: An enemy warrior called Saji Magoro, a resident of the province of Tamba, brought his horse up sideways in front of the west gate and easity slashed the bellies of the three enemies with his five-shaku [1.7m] sword, such a long sword has never been seen before. Then this warrior struck his sword against the door of the gate, straightening it where it had bent a little, and he turned his horse's head to face the enemy. Warrior monks wielded a weapon called the naginata, a large polearm weapon in the form of a claive. The blade was similar to a sword blade, but it was much wider and fixed on a polearm handle between 3 and 7 feet long. Long slashing strokes were the primary method of fighting, and these weapons could produce really nasty wounds. These weapons were used both in hand to hand combat and against mounted warriors.

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