ABOUT Basilisk

The History of the Story
Basilisk was based on the novel 'The Kouga Ninja Scrolls' written by Futaro Yamada in 1958.  Yamada based his story on actual events that took place in Japan's history.

The Sengoku era marks a century of warfare in Japan, during the latter half of which there were three powerful daimyo (feudal lords) who struggled for dominance.  Sometimes they allied together, sometimes dramatically opposed.  Until at last Tokugawa Ieyasu was named Shogun in 1603, following his decisive victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, and Japan was united once again.

During this time, documented ninja activity was at its peak. Ninja raids, attempted assassinations, reconnaissance missions, and other military operations. There were two large ninja clans, the Iga and Kouga, that were the dominate force behind this.

In a move to keep better control over the two clans the Shogun pitted each one against the other from time to time hoping that their numbers would decrease to a manageable size or they would kill each other off entirely.

Many of the characters in Basilisk actual existed and played a large role in Japanese history.

The History of the Ninja
One of the most mysterious and misunderstood figures in popular culture, the truth about the ancient Ninja is far more interesting than the one-dimensional reputation that flourishes today.

Ninjutsu is a term used to reference the methods used by Ninja that developed over many years. The mountainous Iga and Kouga areas of Japan are argued to be the birthplaces of Ninjutsu. These regions were constantly blanketed in fog, and provided the perfect training grounds for ordinary farming families to develop the special skills required to survive in feudal Japan. A spiritual lot, they took factors that guided their everyday existence and turned them into integral parts of Ninjutsu. A strong spiritual influence was Shinto, "the way of the Kami." Kami is the Japanese word for "god" and rather than referring to a being, Kami refers to a sacred force that runs through the entire world. Another influence was a group of people that coexisted in the mountains with the Ninja, the Shugenja. The Shugenja subjected themselves to harsh environments in order to draw strength from the Earth. They would walk through fire, or stand beneath frigid waterfalls, all in an effort to overcome fear and gain the powers of nature. Some of the roots of Ninjutsu are found outside of Japan. Many warriors and philosophers escaped from China after the fall of the T'ang Dynasty. Over centuries, the insight of these exiles ingrained itself into those that dwelled in the mountains.

The peak of Ninja activity was just before 1603, when many feudal lords struggled for dominance. Occasionally, a Ninja family would pick sides in these battles if they felt it was to their advantage. A Ninja family could also use its resources to protect its members from becoming pawns in a power play among these factions. Many documents of the era reveal tales of daring Ninja raids. Some facets of the Ninja battle technique include siege warfare. Ninja would enter a castle using stealth, launching a surprise attack from within the castle walls. They would not wear black, but the costume of the castle defenders. If Ninjas were defending during a siege, they would often sneak to the opposing camp and steal their enemy's banner or harass them as they slept, demoralizing the opponent and depriving them of rest. Ninjas were also employed as scouts, and occasionally as assassins, though there are few reports of successful attempts. It can be argued that the Ninja's main work was to investigate the strengths of one's enemy and to destroy weapons and castles that stood in opposition to their lord.

Over hundreds of years, Ninja families practiced their esoteric methods of enlightenment and war. History taught them they must be prepared to protect their way of life. They perfected a system of martial arts and philosophy that earned them a reputation for being some of the most amazing warriors the world has ever known. Today, the Ninja captures our imagination like very few in history can.