Shinobi no Buki (忍びの武器) – Weapons of the Shinobi (1967 First Edition)

An exceptional, collector-grade first edition copy of the definitive 1967 reference manual on traditional Japanese hidden weaponry (kakushi buki) and tactical tools, authored by legendary martial arts master and NHK historical authority Nawa Yumio.

Unlike modern pop-culture popups, this volume serves as an authentic technical inventory of over 100 historical self-defense tools and concealed ninja implements (ningu) sourced directly from the author’s renowned private archive. Richly illustrated with rare archival photographs and original mechanical schematics, this classic work provides a serious, academic look into the practical tools of survival, deception, and law enforcement used during the Edo period.

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Official Cover Summary (Translated from the Integrated Obi)

The text printed seamlessly across the front black band delivers the publisher’s core focus for this inventory:

“From shuriken, caltrops, concealed canes, eye-blinding tools, and iron fists, all the way to tear-gas pistols—introducing over 100 varieties of concealed self-defense weapons born from Japanese martial arts to defeat your enemies.”

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Deep Technical Content & Weapon Chapters

This volume features comprehensive sub-chapters dedicated to specific, highly sought-after combat categories:

• Concealed Striking & Hand Weapons: Spiked knuckle rings (Kakute / 角手), iron fists (Tekken / 鉄拳), palm-sticks (Tenouchi / 手の内), pocket truncheons (Suntetsu / 寸鉄), and iron-reinforced combat gauntlets (Tekkō / 鉄手甲).
• Concealed Blades & Everyday Item Disguises: Hidden cane-swords (Shikomizue / 仕込み杖), combat tobacco pipes (Kiseru / 煙管の仕込み), hidden-blade writing brushes (Yatate / 矢立), combat fans, reinforced umbrellas, and tactical hairpins (Kanzashi / かんざし).
• Chain & Flexible Systems: The complete tactical stances of the weighted chain (Manriki-kusari / 万力鎖), the complex telescopic tube-chain (Hiehei / 掘平), and triple-weighted combat systems (Mijin / 微塵).
• Blinding, Projectile & Escape Arts: Hand-thrown caltrops (Makibishi / 撒き菱), throwing stars (Shuriken / 手裏剣), pocket blow-darts (Fukidya / 吹き矢), smoke/fire tools, and specialized eye-blinding powders (Metsubushi / 目潰具).
• Obscure Shinobi & Edo Hardware: Specialized lockpicks, pocket firearms, tactical cords, hidden armor variations, and early historical pocket sundials/clocks used for timed operations.

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Essential Collector Highlights

Unique Integrated Faux-Obi Design: Collectors will appreciate that the distinctive black promotional band (obi) at the bottom is not a separate loose strip of paper that can get lost, but was purposefully printed directly into the permanent design layout of the original 1967 dust jacket by the publisher.

Authored by a True Master: Nawa Yumio (1912–2006) was the direct 10th Sōke (Grandmaster) of Masaki-ryū Manrikikusari-jutsu, making him the world’s foremost authentic authority on traditional Japanese chain warfare.

The Andy Adams Connection: Features the identical, rare martial arts instructional sequences on pages 126–127 that Nawa personally provided to Western writer Andy Adams for his seminal 1970 publication, Ninja: The Invisible Assassins.

Guarded Stances Unveiled: Documents the historically forbidden “Five Fighting Stances” (Gohō no Kamae) of Masaki-ryū chain combat, published specifically to preserve the authentic art during the global 1960s martial arts boom.