Ninja

An Assassin of Japanese origin

OK, so this one will be kind of short but it is totally fascinating. As we know them from the movies, black clad, using throwing stars and katanas most likely never existed. Though “ninjas” were real their myth sort of evolved over time. You see the actual term “ninja” is not of Japanese origin. It was coined by Westerners in Japan during the mid-19th century. The actual phrase used to describe these shadow warriors was Shinobo no mono, “person of stealth”. Westerners being the kind of people they were decided they needed a shorter term, so the borrowed on from the Chinese. Nin (stealth) and ja (person). Put together and we have nin-ja. (stealth person). So yes, it is actually a Chinese word.

Interestingly enough, the first time the word “ninja” appeared in print? 1964 in You Only Live Twice by Mr. Ian Flemming.  So maybe it should be Ja, Nin Ja… (See? Bond. James Bond. Get it? Nevermind.)