Part 19 of the Yasuda Ryu Ninjutsu Densho

(From Soke’s book Ninpo Taizen)

For parts 1 through 18 please see my previous blog posts in the translations section.

Enjoy!

During shinobi activities, in the case that the movement of the enemy’s attack is large, depending on the number of people and the use of the terrain for vigilance and defense, we must limit their movements. Shinobi should not focus on attacking the enemy first, avoid this as much as possible. The first priority is to not be attacked by the enemy. Moreover, in the event of a retreat, the scouts should decide the preliminary reserve locations in advance. It is good to take measures for times like this. (There are times when the scouts are captured by the enemy, and this is to be discussed. Take this into consideration and prepare countermeasures for this. Understood?)

The wind speed near the ground on flat ground is maximum from early afternoon to around 4 pm. On the other hand, in an area of hilly terrain, or up in the mountains, the wind speed is higher at night.  So, on the plains in the daytime and on the high ground at night, be careful of fire.

During shinobi activities (the scouts), in order to make it easy for (our) shinobi to infiltrate, be careful of the enemy, especially the enemy’s shinobi. Regarding the scouts, their specific main objective is to hide or conceal the main forces. For this, send the scouts out far, in four laps, and be sure the scouts thoroughly communicate with the main forces. Especially even in the forest, do not let your guard down. Understood?  In the case of the enemy cannot see me and I cannot see the enemy, once noticed, there is a big risk that the discovered main forces will be attacked. You should make your movements keeping in mind the thought that the first one to find the enemy will win. Understood? If someone who seems to be an enemy discovers or knows about our troops, arrest them and investigate them thoroughly, like the roots of a blade of grass. Do the best you can to not kill them.

To be continued…

忍行来の際、敵の攻撃の動き大の場合、警戒及び防御のため地形の利用及び我が人数により、其の動きも限定されるも、それ忍の者は敵を攻撃するを第一とせず、出来るだけこれを避け、敵の奇襲を受けぬ事とするを第一とし、かつ其の時の引上げの予備地点を先出の者はあらかじめ決めおき。其の時の対策をしておくをよしとす。（先出の者敵につかまり、この事を話す時あり。其の時の事をも考慮して対策を立ておく事。よいな）

平地で地面に近い所の風速は昼過ぎから午後四時頃までが最大一方小高い丘陵地帯や山の上は反対に風速は夜間に大きい。だから平地は昼高台は夜に特に火の用心を。

忍行来（先出の者は）本隊の敵地に忍が出やすくするためには敵方に注意し特に敵の忍。または物見に対して、とくにとくに本隊を隠すを本とし、此のためには四周に対し、遠くまで先出の者を出し、その者より本隊への連絡を完全にし。とくに森といえども、油断を禁ず。よいな。我も見えず敵も見えず、気が付いた時は本隊襲われるおそれる事大なれば、早く見つけし方が勝ちと思い、動く事。よいな。敵の者と思える者が我を発見または知れば、其の者を草の根をさがしても見付出し、逮捕する事。出来るだけ殺さぬがよし。

Sean Askew – 導冬 Doto

Bujinkan Kokusai Renkoumyo

BKRBUDO.com

June 8th, 2020