Kunoichi: Difference between revisions
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* '''[[Chizu]]''' from the comic book ''[[Usagi Yojimbo]]''. |
* '''[[Chizu]]''' from the comic book ''[[Usagi Yojimbo]]''. |
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* '''[[Karai]]''', head of the Japanese branch of the ninja organization [[Foot Clan]] from the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]''. |
* '''[[Karai]]''', head of the Japanese branch of the ninja organization [[Foot Clan]] from the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]''. |
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* '''[[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender |
* '''[[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters#Major secondary characters|Mai]]''', in the [[Culture of Asia|Asian]]-influenced animated series ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. |
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* '''[[Miho (Sin City)|Miho]]''' from [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]]'s comics ''[[Sin City]]'' (later a movie). |
* '''[[Miho (Sin City)|Miho]]''' from [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]]'s comics ''[[Sin City]]'' (later a movie). |
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*'''[[List of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters|Lotus Blossom]]''', the lone female ninja-for-hire in the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)|original TMNT]] cartoon. |
*'''[[List of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters|Lotus Blossom]]''', the lone female ninja-for-hire in the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)|original TMNT]] cartoon. |
Revision as of 11:31, 14 June 2008
Kunoichi (くノ一) is the term for a female ninja[1] or practitioner of Ninpo.[2]
Derivation of the word Kunoichi
The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for woman (女, onna); said in the order they are written: ku (く) - no (ノ) - ichi (一). Early literary quotes include Enshū Senkuzuke Narabi Nihyaku In (遠舟千句附并百韵) (1680) as well as Maekuzukeshū (前句付集) (1716), which specifically associates the word with the kanji 女 supporting the etymology. This may be a modern fake etymology by Futaro Yamada[citation needed]. The "くノ一" writing requires the use of one character from each Japanese "alphabet"[3] — first hiragana, then katakana, then kanji. While hiragana and kanji can exist in the same word, katakana generally cannot appear in conjunction with the others. There are exceptions to this, e.g. "ゴミ箱", "消しゴム".
Another proposed etymology would derive the term from 九能一 (能 "nō" : talent) with Japanese numbers "ku" (九) for "nine", and "ichi" (一) for "one", meaning "nine talents in one person", though no creditable source lists these "nine talents".
Kunoichi ways
Unlike in fiction (see next section), real-life kunoichi were trained differently than male ninja. Their training focused more on disguise, poisons, and using their gender to an advantage. While they were trained in close combat, they were only to make use of this knowledge when they were caught. They would usually disguise themselves as geisha, prostitutes, entertainers, fortunetellers, and the like to get very close to the enemy. It is thought that they would generally seduce the soon-to-be victim and when they get close enough, would poison them, but it is just as possible they would be disguised as a household servant, allowing them many opportunities to overhear information or get close to said victim.
Kunoichi would hide weapons in their disguise, like poisoned needles in their hair and dirks up their sleeves. They also often would turn a previously harmless item into a weapon. For example, they would learn how to break bones with their wooden shoes, put a hidden blade on their fan, or they would use an umbrella as a momentary shield.
In popular culture
Kunoichi have appeared frequently in popular culture, often as a literally female equivalent counterpart to male ninja.
List of fictional kunoichi
Comic books and cartoons
- Chizu from the comic book Usagi Yojimbo.
- Karai, head of the Japanese branch of the ninja organization Foot Clan from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Mai, in the Asian-influenced animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- Miho from Frank Miller's comics Sin City (later a movie).
- Lotus Blossom, the lone female ninja-for-hire in the original TMNT cartoon.
- Misty from My Life as a Teenage Robot.
- Psylocke from the Marvel Comics books X-Men.
- Rose from American Dragon: Jake Long.
- Yori (Kim Possible) from Disney's television series Kim Possible.
Film and TV series
- Asuka (飛鳥) in the film Red Shadow.
- The Girl's Army/The Vixens from Uchuu Keiji Shaider/VR Troopers.
- Haruka/Yellow Mask from Hikari Sentai Maskman.
- Tsuruhime/Ninja White and the Flowery Kunoichi Team from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger
- Nanami Nono/HurricaneBlue, Furabijou and Windenu of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger.
- Shizuka of the Wind of GoGo Sentai Boukenger.
- Kei Yamachi/Emiha from Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya.
- Kunoichi: Lady Ninja is a Japanese film released in 1998.
Anime and manga
- Akeginu, Oboro, Ogen, Okoi, Kagerou and Hotarubi from Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls.
- Akira Okuzaki (尾久崎 晶), in the anime My-HiME and My-Otome.
- Ayame Sarutobi, a shortsighted kunoichi from the manga/anime series, Gintama.
- E-91 in Episode 17 of the anime Sonic X.
- Ran Fan in the manga Fullmetal Alchemist.
- Himawari, the female-lead in Himawari!, a harem anime featuring kunoichi exclusively.
- Honey transforms into Kunoichi Honey in episode 24 in the anime Cutey Honey.
- Kaede Nagase in Negima!: Magister Negi Magi.
- Kagero (陽炎) in the anime film Ninja Scroll.
- Konatsu, a male kunoichi from the manga Ranma 1/2.
- Koyuki Azumaya in the anime Sgt. Frog.
- Mahiro in the anime Samurai Deeper Kyo.
- Megumi Oka (岡めぐみ) from the anime Voltes V.
- Makimachi Misao in the manga and anime Rurouni Kenshin.
- Miko Mido and other female ninja are depicted in the La Blue Girl series.
- Minky Momo transforms into Kunoichi Momo in episode 15 in the 1991 version of the anime Magical Princess Minky Momo.
- Sakura Haruno, Hinata Hyuga, Tenten, Ino Yamanaka, Temari, Kurenai Yuhi, Konan, Anko Mitarashi and Tsunade are the primary kunoichi in the ninja anime and manga series Naruto.
- Yamame and Hotaru from Kage Kara Mamoru!, another harem anime featuring many kunoichi and ninja.
- Shinobu, the heroine of the comedy anime Ninin Ga Shinobuden
- Usagi Momochi, from the manga Tail of the Moon.
Computer and video games
- Akane from the video game Shining the Holy Ark.
- Ayame (彩女) and Rin (凛) in the video game series Tenchu. There is also another Ayame in Power Stone, and yet another Ayame in the video game Suikoden III.
- Hibana (緋花), in the video game Nightshade (Kunoichi in Japan).
- Ibuki in the video game series Street Fighter.
- Izuna, the title character from the video game Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja.
- Kaede in the video game Onimusha.
- Tsuki-Kage, Kage-Maru's mother from Virtua Fighter.
- Kasumi and Ayane in the video game series Dead or Alive.
- Kat and Ana from the WarioWare series.
- Kinu "The Canary" a member of the Asuka Ninja clan featured in Shinobido: Way of the Ninja.
- Kitana, Mileena and Jade in the video game series Mortal Kombat.
- Kunimitsu in the game series Tekken.
- Kunoichi in the video game Samurai Warriors.
- Kurenai in the video game Red Ninja.
- Mai Shiranui in the game series Fatal Fury.
- Maki Genryusai from Final Fight 2, Capcom vs. SNK 2, and the GBA and PlayStation Portable versions of Street Fighter Alpha 3.
- Mosu Ninja clan, a group of female mercenary kunoichi lead by the twin sisters Ageha and Usuba in Shinobido: Way of the Ninja.
- Sheena Fujibayashi in the game Tales of Symphonia.
- Suzu Fujibayashi in the game Tales of Phantasia.
- Taki in the game series Soul.
- Yae in the video game series Ganbare Goemon
- Yuffie Kisaragi in Final Fantasy VII.
- Yukimaru (雪丸), as well as a character class, in Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories
Others
- Shigure Kōsaka, weapons master at Ryōzanpaku and one of Kenichi's masters in the manga Shijō Saikyō no Deshi Kenichi
- A character class and an encountered enemy in Valhalla Knights.
- Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland features a community of kunoichi in California.
Real-life influences
- A women's football (soccer) team in Iga, Mie, Japan is called the Iga Kunoichi and plays in the Nadeshiko League, the national women's top flight.
References
- ^ Hayes, Stephen K. (1991). Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art. Tuttle Publishing. pp. Page 16. ISBN 0804816565.
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(help) - ^ Morris, Glenn (1996). Shadow Strategies of an American Ninja Master. Frog. pp. page 70. ISBN 1883319293.
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(help) - ^ 語源由来辞典
- Hatsumi, Masaaki (1981). "Kunoichi (Female Ninja)". In Daniel M. Furuya (ed.). Ninjutsu: History and Tradition. Hollywood: Unique Publications. p. 224. ISBN 0-86568-027-2.
"The psychic and intuitive powers of female ninja were also relied upon when determining plans for future action based on the most likely developments in the enemy's strategy.