Many anime characters seem to think that in order to sneak anywhere, it is necessary to at least tie a handkerchief (known as a tenugui) around one's head, with one set of adjacent corners tied under one's nose and the other two knotted to make it into something like a skullcap. (It looks like a variation on the handkerchief-headgear of Monty Python's "Gumbies".) Many fans throw around theories like "tying the handkerchief under the nose is supposed to help dampen the sound of breathing".
In fact, it is derived from ancient Japanese romantic practices. Young unmarried women were not to be too friendly with young men, and home visits at night were right out! So the young man would wear a handkerchief in the aforementioned manner. That way, if the lady liked the gentleman, she could honestly say that she did not see his face clearly (and if she did not like him, he could be identified easily). Over time, the classically-tied handkerchief became comic shorthand for "Incompetent Sneaky Person".
Sometimes this is supplemented with a full Ninja suit, but many characters think the handkerchief alone is sufficient. It usually isn't (but that probably doesn't stop it working as a Paper-Thin Disguise).
Click here
◊ for an example.
A possible version in the proto-trope stage at the moment may be Solid Snake/John Rambo's long bandana.
For the Western equivalent, see Blatant Burglar. If you're looking for the other kind of Stealth Clothes, try Spy Catsuit.
Examples:
- In the Pokémon anime, Team Rocket use these a couple of times. And it ALWAYS fools the heroes.
- Happosai, Genma and Soun use the full ninja-suit variation on several of Happosai's "raids" in Ranma ˝.
- In the first film, Akane wore one while sneaking into the room of pickling vats.
- Ranma himself has worn the mask in at least one manga story.
- Both Tenchi and Ryoko (at different times) in Tenchi Muyo!
- During the (first) Hot Springs Episode in Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, Nobuyuki put one on before trying to look over the wall.
- Haru from Reborn! (2004) has done this on occasion, although she stopped doing it in the manga once the series became a battle manga.
- Keitaro during one particularly explosive scene in Love Hina.
- My-Otome has Arika explaining that her grandmother taught her that this was the appropriate apparel for when sneaking around. (Her grandma taught her some interesting things.) The others make her take it off.
- Sakuragi used this in one scene of Slam Dunk early in the first match against Ryonan - he supposedly tries to eavesdrop on Ryonan coach Taoka as he gives instructions to his players.
- In the manga of El-Hazard: The Magnificent World, the villain Jinnai explains to one of his Evil Minions that since they're sneaking around, they have to wear "Burglar Clothes." Said minion did not understand how that helped camouflage at all.
- In Mahoromatic, Suguru and his grandfather use this to spy on Mahoro and Minawa taking a bath.
- In Cosplay Complex resident paedophile Jenny wore this combined with a cat's tail when she tried to sneak into the bed of Token Mini-Moe Athena— however she accidentally ended up in bed with the main character's mother instead... which she did not seem to mind that much.
- Togano of the Huh-Huh Bros. of Eyeshield 21 wears one as he and Kuroki attempt to run away from the Death March.
- Usagi of Sailor Moon once wore this while trying to steal her mother's curtains to make a dress. She got caught.
- Lampshaded in and SBS One Piece: when the crew is getting their treasure evaluated, a sneaky guy wearing a traditional sneak handkerchief can be seen outside the door, apparently in wait. Oda admitted that yes, he's a burglar, and yes, he was planning to rob the Strawhats, but, wisely, opted out at the last second.
- Karakuri Circus: The Nakamichi family encounters the heroes as they wear stealth clothes; they were broke and desperate enough to resort to stealing. It becomes a Brick Joke when, after a long and dangerous action sequence ending with a car crash, they're arrested by a policeman who rebuffs their claims of innocence by asking why they're wearing those handkerchieves.
- In Cutey Honey The Live Cutey Honey does this while sneaking around
- Seth Cohen wears these in the "Model Home" episode of Season 1 of The O.C..
- The anime-themed CCG Ani-Mayhem acknowledged this trope with the card Sneaking Disguise, which actually DID make the character using it harder to detect.
- Available on Gaia Online, as seen here.
It's part of a "Panty Raider" item.
- In the Animal Crossing series, there is a cranky mouse villager by the name of Rizzo, appearing in all games apart from Wild World and Pocket Camp. He has the bandana around his face, suspicious-looking half-closed eyes, and raised eyebrows. Even his New Leaf picture quotes in the different languages reference his appearance. (Though of course, given that this is the Animal Crossing series we're talking about, he isn't actually a thief; he just resembles one.)
- English quote: Evil lurks everywhere.Japanese quote: 家に鼠、国に盗人Translation
- It's subtle in 16-bit sprites, but Galuf in Final Fantasy V (old-fashioned guy that he is) wears the handkerchief mask if using the Thief job.
- In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: Teacher wears one when he goes searching for Zelda. He doesn't want to be recognized in order to avoid panicking the citizens.
- An integral part of Ebisumaru's clothing in Ganbare Goemon (aka Legend of the Mystical Ninja.)
- Alolan Rattata, introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, have round whiskers that are meant to evoke this look, emphasizing their newly-acquired Dark type and contrasting the detective motif of their predator Gumshoos.
