(From Soke’s book Ninpo Taizen) For parts 1 through 20 please see my previous blog posts in the translations section. Enjoy!
忍長は攻撃をなす時は、目標付近に我が動き。目標の動き。
When the shinobi commander attacks, we move near the target. (Observe the) Target’s movements.
地形等を見、準備の太め一ヵ所または数ヵ所を置く事。よいな。このために右の事に心を付ける事。
Looking at the terrain, etc., make plentiful preparations at one or more places (in the area). Understood? For this, keep in mind the following points:
- 攻撃目標、またその付近の下見。便にして攻撃によき所。
Case the target of attack and its immediate vicinity. And look for the best place to attack.
- 上、中、下の敵に対して我が動きを発見されにくく、かつ警戒。敵よりの攻撃の時、よく防ぐ事のよき所。
Stay alert and undetected against enemies above, inside and below. (Find) a good place to prevent the enemy from being able to attack you.
- 退避地を三、四個設くる時は、其の全部の連絡がすぐに出来る事。場所。
When setting up 3 or 4 retreat points, be sure that all of them can be contacted immediately. (Consider) the location.
- 物、糧食、人数を隠しおくによき所。
A good place to hide things, rations, and numerous people.
- 味方より応援のよき所。また、生きるによき地。
A good place to receive support from allies. Also, a good place to live (while in hiding)
敵を攻撃するときの拠点は攻撃の期間其の地点をきめ置けば有利なり。されど敵の方も我を知るために動きあれば、第二の地点第三の地点と決めおけば、非常によし。
When attacking the enemy, it is to your advantage to designate a specific location for the duration of the attack. However, if the enemy makes a move to know (your capability, etc.), it’s best to decide on a second or third location.
- されど、その地点に動き行く時、味方の者、裏切りの時もあり、移動の時とくにこの点に気を付ける事。よいな。
But when you move to those points, (and meet up with) your allies, there are times of betrayal, so be especially aware of this when you move. Understood?
口く敵地に(一地区)忍行来、敵を攻撃を繰り返す時は、とくにとくに左の事に気を付ける事
When performing shinobi activities behind enemy lines, and repeatedly attack the enemy, be very, very cautious of the following
- 同じ動きをせぬ事。
Do not make the same moves.
- 食糧、武器、人員。口。敵地の人の裏切。攻撃地点の動き。気象。味方忍組の和。味方との連絡。
Food, weapons, and personnel. And so on. Betrayals by the people of the enemy territory. Movements of the target of our attack. The weather. The sum of the allied shinobi groups. Liaisons with allies.
攻撃のため準備が周到は攻撃成功の本なれば、絶えず敵の動きに気を付け、敵の動きを知り、味方の攻撃の時の用具及び人数を待機させ、其の時々の計画の案を立て、定め敵の動きの隙に乗じ、直ちに実行に移るをよしとす。
If the essence of a successful attack is a well prepared one, then always watch out for the enemy’s movements, know the enemy’s movements (ahead of time), and when our allies attack standby with equipment and personnel. It is good to make plans and preparations for those times, take advantage of the gaps in the enemy’s movement, and go into action immediately.
攻撃目標は御大将より決められたる動きにより、目標の緩急及び軽重の度、実行し得べき敵の数、順序等を考慮し、敵の最も苦痛とするもの、または其の弱点に決める事。攻撃目標は動かぬ物と動く物の二つあり。その気持にてよく其の口を見、攻撃の事。
The attack target is to be determined by the movements of the General, depending on the laxity and lightness (of defense) of the target and the number of enemies to be executed. Consider the order (of the attack), etc., what the enemy finds most distressing, or its weak points. There are two kinds of targets: those that do not move and those that do. Watch for your opportunity and with this in mind, attack.
- 敵の本隊(本陣) (大将。口口口台。物見組)敵の連絡口。重要なる武器。重要なる戦いの品物。(火薬。小場。渡河に利用の品。船。後方より来る色々の品物の置場。兵。
The enemy’s main forces (main camp) (The General. XXXXX. Scouts) Enemy communication XXX. Important weapons. Important battle goods. Gunpowder. Equipment used for river crossing. Boats. A place to store various goods coming from behind (up the supply chain). Soldiers.
攻撃目標が決定せば、忍長は速かに忍の行来に必要なる敵の動を収集し攻撃計画は攻撃の要領、特に手段方法。程度。攻撃後の動き。企図の秘匿。連絡。給養。補給。攻撃後はその成果を確かめ、後事の参考とすれば、一層よしとす。
Once the target of attack has been determined, the shinobi commander will quickly gather the information on the enemy’s movements that are needed for the shinobi activities. It (sets the) plan of attack, the points of attack, especially the means of attack, the extent of the attack, the movements after the attack. Concealment of the plan. Contact. Rations. Supplies. After an attack, check the results and use them as a reference for future attacks.
攻撃が決まれば組の者の場所を定め、御大将の命のごとく動き、我が組の者の人数及び忍攻撃に入用の品物を入手し、またありし品を利用し、目標の種類及び其の状態。行動地の地形等を考えに入れ口成を期し、組者を重点に使用の事。よいか。
Once the attack has been decided, set the designated locations of the members of the unit, and make your moves as per orders of the General. Gather the number of men in your group and obtain the things needed for the shinobi attack. Make use of the items available. (Know) the type of target and its condition. The topography of the action site and other factors should be taken into account to ensure the success of the attack. The emphasis is on the use of members of the unit. Understood?
それ忍組の者及びその動きは、御大将を秘密裡に口利用なれば攻撃実施の方法は行動軽快且敵及び住民に対する動きの秘匿を主眼として、組者を分散使用するをよしとす。されど、あくまで組者は本隊(忍組外の者)の補助的の者なれば、忍組の動きにて我が方に大勝利を口事。思いもしない事。よいか。
If the shinobi and their movements are to be useful to the General in secrecy, the methods of attack should be quick and nimble, and must be kept secret from the local people. It is good to distribute the members of the unit (over an area). However, if the shinobi are auxiliary to the main forces, their movements can provide a great victory for us. In ways unthought of. Understood?
忍組の長は御大将よりの攻撃を命ぜられせば、其の日まで時あれば組者に其の事を話し、速かに準備に着手する事。よいな。
If the shinobi commander receives an order to attack from the General, he should tell his unit about it before the end of the day if there is time and quickly make preparations. Understood?
- 敵地の地形、特に進入帰り、其の整理をし、それによって我が動きをきめ、入用なる物を入手の事。時あれば、我が動きを忍は行来者全員にて二度、三度と動き見るをよしとする。
Organize (the information) of the enemy’s territory, especially the routes in and out. We will determine our movements and obtain the things we need. It is good, if there is time, for all the members of the shinobi unit go over the (planned) movements two or three times.
出来れば、忍の長は我が組の者の動きの前、其の時の動の者をつれ、忍路を通り其の所所に忍道具。糧食。武器。薬等を目標付近に隠し置けば、非常によし。この際、敵に我が動きを知られぬ事を第一と思い、動く事。よいな。雨。しつけ。食糧の腐敗口の事を考えおく事。よいか。
When possible, the shinobi commander should take the men involved in the mission on a pre-attack check along the planned clandestine routes and place their shinobi equipment in several (hidden) spots. The best thing you can do is to hide your food, weapons, and medicines near the target. At these times, the most important thing is not let the enemy discovery our actions. Understood? (Keep in mind) Rain and humidity. Remember that food can go bad. OK?
忍長は御大将の命の日時が来れば、我が組の者の動き、また敵の動きをよく見聞き、忍組の動き、後の行動をよくよく考え、御大将の命でありし時に間にあわすため、組の者を敵の忍に口行かす事。よいか。
When the day the General’s orders do come, carefully observe our group’s movements and the movements of the enemy, as well as the movements of the shinobi, then carefully consider the actions to come. In order to execute the General’s orders in time, use the men in the group to confuse the enemy’s shinobi. Understood?
それ忍の組長は忍行来に入用の品。物を入手後は組の者を確実に掌握し先出の者右、左、後と警戒を出しきめた太道を通り行来攻撃決行のため、忍行来拠点に向い忍ぶ事。
The shinobi commander obtains the covert entry equipment. Once he has it he ensures all the members of the team are ready and are vigilant in all directions while proceeding in secret along the predetermined route, stealthily head towards the mission’s objective.
目標に近づけば、捜索警戒をとくに強く口り地形。夜間、天候等をうまく利用し欺騙及び偽装をうまくし出来れば、一地区より一地区に忍進す。よいか。
If you get close to the goal, strongly XXX the topography to avoid the search alerts. Make good use of the night, the weather, etc. If you pull off the deception and disguises, you will be able to stealthily creep from one district to another. OK?
忍行間敵に対し口ゆいし動き、また敵住人の土地及びその近傍を通る時、味方は少人数にて忍行来事。この際、集合場所及び本隊または組の者との連絡の手段は隔日に決めおく事。よいか。
During times of stealth, nag the enemy with your movements. Also, when passing through dwelling areas in the land of enemy and their vicinity, a small number of allies should execute the shinobi activities. In this case, the meeting place and the means of communication with the main group or members of the group should be decided every other day. Understood?
されど味方の者が不幸にして敵に捕らわれ、この事を話す時ままあれば、其の時の事もよいな。
Yet, if an ally unfortunately gets captured, if you have time to discuss these things, it would be good to do so.
味方の忍組の者により敵を襲う時は、目標付近の適当の所に忍び攻撃の機を窺う忍地点は目標の姿。地形。忍は攻撃の時、味方の動きをよくよく考え、なるべく目標に近づき、味方の動きを敵に発見される事も考え、味方の忍入りやすき所をよいな。
When a member of an allied shinobi group attacks the enemy, sneak into a suitable place near the target, the goal is to find stealthy locations from which to look for opportunities to attack. The terrain. When a shinobi attacks, think carefully about the movements of the allies, and get as close to the goal as possible, consider that the ally’s movements may be detected by the enemy. Places that allies can easily sneak into are best.
Ninpo Ichizoku!!!
Sean Askew – 導冬 – Doto
Bujinkan Kokusai Renkoumyo
November 19th, 2020
