culture corner: Deadly Flowers

You've probably heard of ninjas. From the mutant-turtle types to the pseudo-realistic black-clad assassins featured in a rash of movies during the ‘80s, Americans are pretty familiar with the general concept of a ninja. But, most have probably never heard of the kunoichi.

These deadly flowers (that’s what kunoichi means, by the way) were every bit as highly trained as their male counterparts. These ladies were experts in deception, master spies, ruthless assassins, and skilled escape artists. The kunoichis’ main advantage was their element of surprise—who would expect a fragile, helpless concubine of committing murder or an unobtrusive servant of stealing political secrets?

The kunoichi reached their heyday in the mid-1500s under the influence of an enterprising medieval lady by the name of Chiyome. After being widowed by her husband, Lord Mochizuki Moritoki, Chiyome decided to go into business for herself—by turning her large home and expansive grounds into a clandestine school for female ninjas and then renting them out to nobles in need.

Under the guise of running a halfway house of sorts, Chiyome invited orphans, runaways and the like to live with her and learn some life skills. And, they probably got a whole lot more than they bargained for. Under Chiyome’s tutelage, these young girls learned how to pose as shrine attendants, geisha, and servants. They were taught how to pour tea, dance, look their best, and converse with wealthy lords. They also learned how to defend themselves and kill others with an interesting assortment of weapons.

Since the kunoichi were essentially undercover agents, their weaponry had to be kept hidden in plain sight. The deadly tools of the kunoichi were incorporated into their everyday attire. Their senssu (folding fans) had wickedly sharp edges, perfect for throat-cutting. Their obi (sashes) were versatile accessories that could be used either to entangle their enemy, strangle their enemy, or make a quick getaway down a wall. Their kakute (spiked ring) looked like ordinary rings until they were reversed and small spikes popped out— great for slashing the flesh of enemies. And, forget manicures, deadly flowers could turn their fingers into razor sharp blades with their nekote (steel claws), which they kept in pretty little pouches for easy access. In another ornamental pouch, the kunoichi hid their metsubishi (blinding powder), which could be hurled in an enemy’s face, causing blurred vision and breathing difficulties. (Don’t mix this one up with the blush!)

In addition to having a dazzling arsenal of discreet weaponry, the kunoichi could kick some serious butt. They were rigorously trained in the martial arts, learning how to protect themselves and disable enemies. These multi-talented young women spent countless hours in training, climbing trees, hiding under water, and even learning to dislocate various joints so they could escape if they were all tied up or if they needed to squeeze out of some very tight spaces. James Bond could probably have taken a few lessons from the kunoichi.

So, the next time you think about martial arts virtuosos, don’t forget about the deadly flowers. These women were every bit as dangerous as the testosterone-laden ninjas, if not more so. Many men in the annals of Japanese history discovered that these poor defenseless females were anything but.

—Regena Kowitz