Ninja Woodwind....

[Orion12]

In one of the Assassination cinematics in Shogun there is a Ninja with a basket on his head playing a woodwind instrument which also doubles as a blow pipe. I have heard this instrument in almost every Samurai-esque style song and I'm just wondering if anyone knows the name of the flute like pipe? Is it a type of flute?

Also in this same cinematic if the ninja fails there is a pause and a loud thunking noise and the ninja slumps to the ground. What happens to him? I think I play with my monitor too dark and I cannot really see what takes the ninja out, I just hear the thunking noise. I'm assuming it is an arrow from a unseen sentry.

Also I always wondered what those basket headed guys were. I had seen them in pictures and they also appear in Samurai video games. I did some researching and discovered that Ronin Samurai and also Monks would wear these baskets over their heads to signify their isolation from the world.

[Koga No Goshi]

Yeah, the basket/hat and flute was really common for recluses and beggar monks in that period of Japanese history, but for the life of me I can't remember the name of the flute. I know shamisen is what the geishas played to entertain guests with, though.



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Goshi of Koga

[Kraellin]

perhaps there is some info or a link to some info in the japanese history section of the sword dojo?

K.

[Ratta Yamamoto]

Yeah the Japnese monks wear those basket hat during that period of Japan when they travel.

[Anssi Hakkinen]

I seem to remember the basket was associated with a specific sect of Nichiren Buddhism. You are most likely correct about its symbolic significance, Koga-san.

The bamboo flute is called shakuhachi, a derivative of the earlier hitoyogiri. It is, indeed, something of a classic in Japanese music.

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"7. Chugo: devotion, loyalty."

[Shiro]

Hmm...seems an apt topic for those wierdos http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif in Japanese History to ponder.

See this topic Here (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=3&SUBMIT=Go).