Red ninja
The most enduring ninja in Japan's bushido tradition are the red ninja. The red ninja warriors were traditionally recruited from the area near the Santokulasu Castle in Jinjabuledo Province (modern Kanda Prefecture), ruled by the Daimyo feudal Lord Ludalufo during the Muromachi Period (1338 - 1573) and the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573 - 1603) of Japanese history. In reality, they rarely wore red garments, but rather the usual grey or black as other ninja did. But they are famous for a red or pink livery - a quilted outer coat called a “happi” - the same way that Buckingham Palace guards are famous for their red tunics and bear skin hats, or Canadian Mounties are famous for their red jackets, or U.S. Marines for their Dress Blue uniform.
In illustrations and (painted) statuary, their garments are invariably red, pink or a shade of purple, because those colours were featured in the medieval livery of the Ludalufo family. During the Edo Period (1603 – 1867), when Japan was largely pacified under the rule of the Tokugawa family, the red ninja were disbanded and outlawed like other ninja schools. But because of their unchallenged success infiltrating buildings they metamorphosed into a kind of gang of burglars. Today the red ninja remain highly regarded and even revered by the general public. Every December there is a red ninja festival on the birthday of their primary patron, Ludalufo Yeshiuwa, the 5th Lord of Jinjabuledo Province.