The debate rages on.
Which is cooler – the samurai or the ninja?
Sure, the ninjas are all about the stealth, walking on water, blending into the shadows in pursuit of their prey, tossing ninja stars like Roger Clemens throwing a fastball and then slipping away from the scene before anyone even knows the victim has been killed. They always dress in black and have about as many gadgets and potions to put to use as James Bond after a visit to Q’s lab.
Now, with the samurai it’s all about the honor. You face your foe in blade-to-blade combat with the best swordsman winning. Straightforward. No dilly-dallying. It’s more of a “We’ll show up in the middle of the street or battlefield at high noon and decide this thing. See you there.” kind of thought process.
These hired professionals work for their shogun trying to increase the volume of land they control. It’s pretty strictly a business transaction, but there’s something to be said for that loyalty. If they bring shame on themselves or their feudal master, it’s harikari time.
That dedication even carried over to their pets. One leader was such an animal lover that he was referred to as “the dog shogun” for setting in place laws that prohibited the harming of canines.
While Paris Hilton may have an entire closet of tiny designer T-shirts for her dog Tinkerbell, there has only been one known, documented discovery of a suit of dog samurai armor.
The military outfit consists of a carved wooden helmet and a coat of carved black-lacquered scale mail that would drape over the dog’s back. It is thought the canine protective gear was likely used only in ceremonies and parades and not on the actual battle field.
With that dedication to man’s best friend, these professional warriors gain a few extra points in the ongoing samurai vs. ninja arguments.
