Shinobi Keiko Gi
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The Shinobi warriors did not wear a black suit on a daily basis. Their tactics and techniques were successful because of their ability to blend into enemy lines, allowing them to use surprise as their primary tool to accomplish their goals.
Shinobi warriors wore ordinary clothing, assumed different identities when necessary, performed everyday jobs, and even adopted regional accents to better blend into their surroundings.
Komusō (虚無僧) Angya Sō (行脚僧) Hyakushō (百姓) Shugenja (修験者) Bushi (武士)
Shinobi Commando operations outfit
Historically, Shinobi shōzoku (忍び装束) refers to the traditional attire used by the shinobi (ninja) during night operations, it was a modular and practical clothing system designed for stealth, mobility, and adaptability. Pure black fabrics were rarely used because it created a stark silhouette against the night sky. Instead, garments were often dyed dark indigo, charcoal gray, or earth brown to blend into shadows and rural environments.
The iconic black-suited ninja image originates from stagehands called kuroko, who wore black to be "invisible" while moving props or acting as stealthy assassins, a convention later adopted for ninja characters to signify their hidden nature, despite real ninjas usually wearing common disguises.
The Shinobi shōzoku consisted of several specialized pieces designed for silence and utility:
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Uwagi (上衣): Jacket that had many pockets to conceal small weapons or tools.
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Tekkō (手甲): These were like gloves that protected the hands and hid the paleness of the skin, and also served to keep insects away in the summer and keep warm in the winter.
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Kukuri Hakama (くくり袴): These are a type of hakama that feature ties (cords) at the bottom hem of each leg, which are drawn tight around the ankle. Are also known as Iga-bakama or Shinobi-bakama.
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Zukin (頭巾) & Fukumen (覆面): A hood and face mask used to conceal personal identity. It is done with two tenugui or with one sanjaku tenugui (三尺手拭).
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Tabi (足袋) & Waraji (わらじ): Split-toe socks that had thick cotton in the soles to prevent footsteps from making noise, paired with straw sandals for silent walking dyed black so that they would not stand out at night.
Modern Shinobi Keiko Gi
Under the Bujinkan Association of Japan, the training uniform Keikogi is a plain black uniform similar to a karate gi, often featuring patches. It consists of a jacket, pants and tabi for indoor use. Three to four color belts are only used: Solid white for beginners, solid green MALES or solid red FEMALES for ranks 9th to 1st kyu, and black for shodan (first degree black belt) and above. Hood and mask are not required during training but may be wear during Enbu (演武 - demonstrations)
North Jersey Bujinkan students with a black belt degree are also required to wear hakama during ceremonies and/or training.
The Bujinkan system is recognized worldwide as an authentic Ninjutsu (忍術) school, but the style is generally called Budō Taijutsu (武道体術), because the training is focus on the combat skills from 6 of the 9 ancient lineages (流派 - Ryūha) under Sōke (宗家 - Head of the family) Hatsumi Masaaki.
