Dwarf Ninja Ukifune Jinnai’s Toilet Assassination Of Uesugi Kenshin

Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Being small-sized does occasionally have advantages, especially if you are a Ninja who has been sent on a deadly mission. Sometimes referred to as the Dwarf toilet Ninja, Ukifune Jinnai did not let his height prevent him from achieving his goals. As a matter of fact, he succeeded where others had failed.

Ukifune Jinnai may today not be as famous as the Ninja Hattori “the Demon” Hanzo, Shinobi no Mono, but he was an extraordinary personality nevertheless.

Uesugi Kenshin Was A Rival Of Oda Nobunaga

Standing less than 3.28 feet (0,9 m), Ukifune Jinnai could perform deeds impossible to other Ninjas. His specialty was to squeeze himself into clay jars. This unusual ability gave him the opportunity to remain completely still in small hiding places for longer periods. This is the method Ukifune Jinnai took advantage of when he committed the toilet assassination of Uesugi Kenshin.

Left: A Ninja. Image source - Right: Uesugi Kenshin. Credit: Public Domain

Uesugi Kenshin was protected by Samurai and his own Ninjas. Previous attempts to murder him had failed, and Uesugi Kenshin was on his guard fearing Ninjas sent by his enemy may try a new assassination.

This event happened in the year 1578. The Sengoku Jidai (Warring States period) was a turbulent and violent epoch in Japanese history. Rivalries and civil war among powerful Japanese families led to the creation of the shogunate. Japan had an emperor, but he was merely a figure. It was the Shogun who held supreme power.

Oda Nobunaga (1534 – 1582) who attempted to unify Japan during the late Sengoku period was a rival of Uesugi Kenshin (1530 -1578). Nobunaga was determined to eliminate Kenshin, but this was easier said than done.

Ninjas who were masters of stealth warfare and espionage were regularly employed by warlords. The name Ninja refers to a profession. Unlike the Samurai, it did not give the warrior a place in any of the different Japanese societal classes. It was a role or job. A member of any class could join the Ninja.

The Ninjas were masters of espionage and "all warfare is based on deception. Therefore when capable of attacking, feign incapacity; when active in moving troops, feign inactivity. When near the enemy,  make it seem that you are far away; when far away, make it seem that you are near. Hold out baits to lure the enemy. Strike the enemy when he is in disorder.

Prepare against the enemy when he is secure at all points. Avoid the enemy for the time being when he is stronger.

Kasugayama Castle was Kenshin's primary fortress. Credit: Public Domain

Only in this way can you gain the essential—speedy victory. Of all the weapons vital for a speedy victory, the most vital is information." ¹

Nobunaga had sent several Ninjas to kill Kenshin, but they were unsuccessful. Nobunaga realized he needed something special and he came up with a cunning plan. He decided to take advantage of Ukifune Jinnai’s small size and unusual abilities.

Jinnai's Toilet Assassination

Nobunaga sent the dwarf Ninja to infiltrate Kenshin’s castle. Mini Ninja, Ukifune Jinnai successfully, “avoided all the guards, and climbed up the INSIDE of his toilet (old-style Japanese toilets were basically holes with chutes leading down) and waited until Kenshin came to use the toilet, upon which he stabbed him with a spear.

Now, try and imagine what Jinnai must have felt, and had to overcome, to achieve this act. Jinnai would not have known when Kenshin would use the toilet (the castle had many toilets, obviously) and would have to prop himself in mid-air against the walls of the chute and hold on until Kenshin came, the fear that someone might discover him and he would not be able to escape, being wedged in a toilet chute… self-control over his mind, his body, his emotions, Jinnai had them all. And as a result, he succeeded in the assassination.” ²

When guards came, Kenshin was already dead and no one could understand how and by whom he had been assassinated.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

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