Ninjas!

[GeneChing]

"Ninja Global Survey" Indicates Ninja Awareness At All-Time High
Official poll from the Japan Ninja Council quizzed people from 11 countries including Japan about their ninja knowledge
Paul Chapman
March 30, 2017 5:57pm PDT (4 days ago)



The Japan Ninja Council - an organization that promotes tourism through the study and spread of ninja culture - has released the results of its "Ninja Global Poll", an international survey that quizzed people from 11 countries around the world about their knowledge and opinions regarding the deadly art of assassination.



The survey was administered to about 200 people total from such places as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States, Australia, France, and Germany. The survey was also administered to about 300 people from Japan, for a total of 500. Of this pool, fully 98.7% indicated that they were at least passingly familiar with ninja.



Furthermore, when quizzed about whether ninja were still up to their ninja-shenanigans in the modern world, 63.1% responded in the affirmative, ranging in belief from the idea that the ninja clans were still around (but with reduced numbers) to the idea that ninja are practically everywhere. Indonesia and the U.S. proved strongest in their ninja-faith, with 78.9% and 73.7% of the respondents respectively believing that even now ninja are on the prowl.



Finally, when asked if they'd like to be a ninja, 49.6% of the respondents agreed that they wanted to ninja in the night. (Apparently just over half of the respondents were, in fact, against the ninja.) The desire to be a shinobi was especially strong in Thailand, where 80.8% of the respondents declared their affinity for the shadow arts.

For more information about the Japan Ninja Council, please check out their official English language home page here.

Source: Excite News Japan via Otakomu

Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.

But if ninjas are supposed to be invisible, doesn't this mean that today's ninjas are lousy?

[GeneChing]

Noooooooo! This explains why it's been so hard to recruit fresh ninjettes lately.

Japan is suffering from a ninja shortage amid huge demand from foreign tourists
Martial arts masters say new recruits are just not up to scratch
Caroline Mortimer @cjmortimer 5 days ago


A dying art: Modern recruits do not have the necessary skills in unarmed combat and espionage iStock
Japan's legendary ninjas are famous for their stealth and were said to possess a supernatural gift for invisibility.

But now martial arts experts are concerned they might be disappearing in real life, as practitioners of the ancient "ninjutsu" say there is a major talent shortage.

As tourism to Japan has grown, there has been an increasing demand to see the iconic warriors perform “ninja shows” to crowds - but martial arts squads are struggling to find candidates who are up to scratch.

Takatsugu Aoki, the manager of a martial arts squad in the city of Nayoga in the south of the country, told the Asahi newspaper: “With the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan on the increase, the value of ninja as tourism content has increased.

“There are more employment choices, while ninja shows across the country have become popular. I feel there is a ninja shortage.”

Those who do put themselves forwards, he said, lack the basic skills needed. This usually means being trained in unarmed combat, acrobatics, concealment and first aid while also being able to use throwing stars and fight with swords.

Invisibility and walking on water, despite the folklore, are not part of the job description.

Although they have developed a reputation as fearsome warriors over the centuries, ninjas were primarily concerned with espionage during their heyday in feudal Japan.

Ninjas prided themselves first and foremost on their skills in spying and their endurance – violence was supposedly seen as a last resort.

But they were traditionally skilled in using weapons such as shuriken, known as throwing stars in the West, and the fukiya blowpipe which was usually filled with a poisoned dart.

They first emerged as mercenaries in the 15th century during an era of civil war known as the Warring States period and were recruited to act as spies, raiders, assassins or even terrorists.

Disdained by general society, which was based on a strict hierarchy with the elite samurai class at the top, they soon formed into guilds with their own sets of rules and ranks.

These guilds had different types of ninjas, or shinobi, assigned to specific tasks and they often controlled their own individual territories.

[GeneChing]

WATCH OUT DONALD! Iranian female ‘ninja rangers’ show off their impressive lethal and gravity-defying martial arts moves
The women learn to kill silently, leap over walls and hide on the mountain side at the Jughin Castle 25 miles from Tehran
By Guy Birchall
6th June 2017, 1:26 am Updated: 6th June 2017, 8:12 am

THESE Iranian female ‘warrior ninjas’ are training in the desert to become a lethal fighting force.

They were snapped brandishing lethal weapons and practising the martial art of Ninjutsu.


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Katana swords are also used in the Japanese style of training


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Archery is another skill these women warriors hone at the camp


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A ninja poses with a Japanese Naginata


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Iran has conscription for men aged 18, but it is limited to 18 months service, so these kunoichi could prove vital


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The ninjas showed off their extraordinary flexibility stretching into a raft of poses


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A spear glints in the sun as another ninja can be seen between the legs of a fighter


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Pupils at the school are taught to use weapons – including the bow, swords, nunchucks and shurikens


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A woman leaps between rocks at the training camp

continued next post

[GeneChing]

Headscarf-wearing women can be seen in a raft of gravity defying poses as they train for battle.

At a club based 25 miles out of Tehran 4,000 ladies train to become kunoichi.

The women learn to kill silently, leap over walls and hide on the mountain side at the Jughin Castle.

The club has been open since 1989.

Iran has conscription for men aged 18, but it is limited to 18 months service, so these kunoichi could prove vital.

Pupils at the school are taught to use weapons – including the bow, swords, nunchucks and shurikens – small traditional Japanese implements known as “swords in the hand”.


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They use nunchucks as part of their training in the desert


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These Iranian female ninjas are training in martial arts in the desert


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A woman launches herself through the air during her training


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A ninja clothed in white poses on one leg as she learns the art or kunoichi

continued next post

[GeneChing]

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Camouflaged women practice high kicks at the Junghin Castle


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Two fighters do the splits in the air during an intense training session


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Some of the martial arts moves almost look like break dancing as the women train 25 miles outside Tehran


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A pair do battle in the Persian desert as they perfect their fighting skills


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Weapons are also used in the intensive training programme


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A troop of ninjas pose for the camera at the site which has been open since 1989


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A ninja brandishes a weapon during her training


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A camouflaged ninja launches a flying kick in the training camp

Ninja Kwan Dao.

[Oso]

lmao

you beat me to the 'naginata' clarification.

[GeneChing]

Iga Mayor Sakae Okamoto (left) and Mie University president Yoshihiro Komada (center) show off a sign for the international ninja research center in Iga, Mie Prefecture, on July 1. | KYODO

NATIONAL

Mie University, Iga open ninja research center
KYODO
JUL 13, 2017

TSU, MIE PREF. – A state-run university and a municipal government in Mie Prefecture are trying to dig deeper into the lives and history of the ninja, the warriors and mercenaries of feudal Japan, with academic and scientific approaches.

Mie University and the city of Iga, the birthplace of a prominent school for teaching stealth ninja skills used in espionage, guerilla warfare and combat, opened an “international ninja research center” on July 1.

After five years of studies and preparation in collaboration with the local chamber of commerce, the center is collecting and creating a database on a broad spectrum of ninja-related materials ranging from old manuscripts to films and cartoons.

Its activities also include a dietary analysis of the light but nutritious ninja rations that helped them ensure mobility while on a mission, with an eye on developing and, if successful, commercializing emergency or functional foods with support from the science faculties at the university.

The people involved hope the research center will disseminate the information in conjunction with the city’s name within Japan and abroad.

“Ninja wisdom tells us a lot about how to coexist with nature at a time when we are surrounded by machines and the artificial materials of the modern age,” said deputy center chief Yuji Yamada, a professor at Mie University.

“Hopefully our research and studies will shed new light on what ninja were like and how they changed as times went by through investigations into and the deciphering of historical materials,” the website of Yamada’s faculty said.

“Ninja have become widely known beyond our country’s borders, but they have not been seriously dealt with from an academic viewpoint,” it said.

The notion of 'nutritious ninja rations' has me weirdly curious.

[GeneChing]

Mie University may require its own indie thread soon.

Mie University to add “ninja section” on entrance exams
Master Blaster 16 hours ago



If you don’t know your mizugumo from your kunai, then I’m afraid you might not be Mie University material.


It has been reported that Mie University will be adding ninja and ninjutsu-related material to their entrance exam, which judges whether students can enroll in their university. The very thought of that is sure to make imaginations run wild of a Naruto-style exam in which applicants must pull off a Demon Black Flare Jutsu to gain admission to this institute of higher learning.

▼ Bubbles?! Man, take that crap over to Waseda University.


However, Professor Yuji Yamada throws a wet blanket on everything by saying it will mainly involve an understanding of Japanese history, ability to read historical documents, and overall communication skills. That being said, he is open to some sort of physical requirements if the demand is there.

Reaction to the news was a mixture of amusement, embarrassment, and interest.

“This sounds like a good way to become Hokage.”
“No thanks, I don’t want ‘Phd (Ninja)’ next to my name.”
“Wow, that sounds exciting!”
“Is this that ‘fake news’ I keep hearing about?”
“Mie University, what are you doing?”
“Well, it looks like we’re heading for WWIII anyway. This might be a viable career path.”
“Meh, I didn’t like Naruto. Let me know when they offer Soul Reaping courses.”

By the way, in Japan high school students advancing to university must fist take a nationally standardized test covering the essentials of education like language and math, but after passing that they take further tests which each school offers and are more tailored to the courses students plan to take.

In the case of Mie University ninja knowledge is an merely an optional part of their entrance exam. So for anyone planning to attend there, don’t worry if you don’t know how to blend in with your surroundings. You still have a chance.



Mie University has offered ninja-related elective courses for years such as Ninja in Film and Ninjutsu (ninja techniques). In 2012 they even hired Jinichi Kawakami, the 21st head of the Koga Ninja Clan, as a lecturer.

This may all sound like a joke, but ninjas mean serious business in Mie Prefecture where Iga City resides. With its tight connection to ninja history, Iga is a major tourist destination and enjoys all the revenue that comes along with it. So believe it or not, knowing a thing or two about ninjutsu is actually a valuable job skill around these parts.

It can be hard work as well. The ninjas we all know and love are works of fiction based on exaggerated legends, but the truth about how ninjas really operated back then is still largely unknown and very little of it is recorded.

▼ We’re still trying to figure out how those water shoe things really worked.

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So a large part of ninja research is scouring old texts written in archaic dialects and characters and interpreting them accurately for even the slightest references to ninjas. Mie University remains at the forefront of this effort having established the International Ninja Research Center in July of this year. It was nice of them to make it international, but I have to imagine the lion’s share of the work on this topic is being done domestically.

So there you have it — ninja school does exist. And while mom and pop might have a hard time boasting that their child is minoring in ninjutsu, it actually is a worthwhile program for anyone looking for a job in the Mie tourism industry that is also helps preserve this history of the country.

Source: Livedoor News, My Game News Flash
Images: SoraNews24

[GeneChing]

Parkour & Ninjas

[GeneChing]

Japanese ninja proficiency test to be held in Tokyo
Oona McGee 5 days ago



Do you have what it takes to become a certified shadow warrior?

Shiga prefecture’s city of Koka, whose kanji can also be read as “Koga“, has one of the most prestigious ninja connections in all of Japan. Often referred to as the birthplace of ninjutsu, the Koga clan who once resided here five centuries ago were known for their elite shadow warrior skills, and today they’re one of only two clans (along with Iga in Mie Prefecture) which are still widely remembered.

▼ Koka Station pays homage to their ninja heritage
with a shuriken throwing star motif.



Koka City takes pride in keeping their ninja roots alive, with the local tourism association conducting annual testing of clan knowledge with an examination that people can sit for in Shiga Prefecture each year.

Now, to commemorate the association’s tenth test, the exam will be held in Tokyo for the first time ever, at the famous Zojoji Temple, which is one of two family temples of the Tokugawa Shogun. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), who founded the shogunate, is said to have escaped an incident in Kyoto in 1582, with the help of the Iga and Koga ninja clans.

▼ With its ninja connection, Zojoji is an apt location
for the first clan test outside of Shiga.



The exam itself is designed to measure knowledge of the Koga clan, including their activities from the 15th to 16th centuries, as well as fictional ninja works. The test is 30 minutes long and consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Sitting the exam in ninja cosplay and showing off your shuriken throwing star skills will add an extra ten points to a test-taker’s score, with a total of 60 points required to pass the test.

Following the test, talks are scheduled to be held by Naoya Inoue, a ninja researcher, and Toshinobu Watanabe, a Koga ninja descendent. A variety of other ninja-related events will be held at the venue on the day, including a performance by a shadow warrior group at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., which is open to all members of the public.

Pre-registration for the test is required, with the tourism association accepting the first 200 applicants who fax or email the application form found on the official site. Applicants are required to pay the 3,000 yen (US$26.50) fee via bank transfer before the examination day.

The test will be held on 22 October, and the reception opens from 9 a.m. If you’re unable to test your shadow warrior skills this time around, don’t worry – there are plenty more crazy certification tests you can take in Japan!

Source: @Press
Featured image: @Press
Insert images: Wikipedia/go.biwako, Flickr/redlegsfan21 (edited by SoreaNews24), @Press

This is bad ass. Ninjas rock.

[Oso]

ninja's suck.

[GeneChing]

Not quite a Kung Fu Restaurant, but next time you're in Japan and you want to do the ninja thing: Ninja Cafe Kunoichi

One-day ninja experience
be taught by a real ninja
8,000 JPY(120min)
Options
500JPY -
The original costume is rent for free, but you may pay for renting additional items and take a photo looking like an actual ninja!



Sayaka Ohguri Profile
With over 20 years of combat martial arts training, our licensed instructor will pass his wisdom and knowledge on to the next generation so that they may learn the traditional fighting techniques and ways of the ninja at our Kunoichi dojo in Shibuya.

[GeneChing]

MartialArtsMart.com carries Tabi Boots, but not Tabi socks.

Luv the bit about 50 year old sewing machines. I should add that into my sales schtick.

Traditional tabi socks let you sneak around like a modern ninja while providing maximum comfort
Koh Ruide 2 days ago



Made by a well-established Japanese company, these authentic socks are sure to give your ninja career a head start.

The Japanese ninja proficiency test has just wrapped up this year, churning out more shadow warriors and keeping the art of stealth alive.

Those who missed the annual examination might want to prepare for the next one with the help of Japanese company Kuruwa, and their traditional ninja tabi socks. Melding into shadows requires proper attire after all.

▼ Remain cloaked in darkness effortlessly with a pair of these, priced at 3,000 yen (US$26.44).



Kuruwa boasts a long history — 135 years to be exact — of creating tabi, which are specialized ankle-high Japanese socks that come with a split separating the big toe from other toes, and are ideal when worn with traditional Japanese thonged footwear like geta.

The Japanese company claims that modern day sewing machines aren’t able to recreate a tabi’s three-dimensional feel, and thus uses machines which are well over 50 years old to produce them. Prospective shadow warriors will truly be wearing stealthy footwear filled with history and tradition.

The ninja tabi’s nylon exterior provides maximum flexibility, while the cotton interior keeps your feet comfortable and warm on cold nights.

▼ Handy velcro straps at the rear allow shadow warriors
to slip into them easily and swiftly.



Perfect for ninja cosplays and comfortable enough for everyday use, invest in a pair of these to make risky midnight raids on fridges a walk in the park. With that said, we’re pretty sure police caught the 74-year-old Japanese ninja simply because he wasn’t wearing them.

Source, images: @Press

[Orion Paximus]

Apparently just over half of the respondents were, in fact, against the ninja.)

I hate that i missed the Miami Connection joke in this article from months ago. Hey Gene isn't the only one that can post in zombie threads.

[GeneChing]

For realz!

Japanese security firm finds success with guards dressed as ninja
KYODO
JAN 7, 2018


Maya Miyoshi, who heads SCC Co. based in Koka, famous for its ninja history, wears a female ninja outfit in the city in Shiga Prefecture in November. | KYODO

OTSU, SHIGA PREF. – A security firm in a city known as the birthplace of a prominent ninja school is enjoying success by providing guards dressed as the medieval warriors and assassins.

SCC Co., in Koka, first tried to tap the city’s growing fame for ninja tourism in 2016, when it introduced security guards dressed as ninja to provide traffic control services for the opening of a coffee franchise.

Its special ninja squad has worked steadily since. The head of the firm, Maya Miyoshi, now hopes to win a contract for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo.

“Ninja are world-class icons and we want people to feel familiar with security at sports facilities,” said Miyoshi, who was dressed in the guise of a kunoichi, or female ninja.

Wearing a dark red judo-style uniform and armed with toy shuriken (throwing stars) and a sword-shaped truncheon, the 36-year-old executive said, “I’ve always liked to do something different. I want to make a change in the security industry, which appears to be old-fashioned and sober.”

Miyoshi has surprised many in the industry since taking over SSC, a spinoff from a security unit of her husband’s company, in 2011. Her experience studying design in high school has inspired unorthodox ideas, such as dressing the security guards in yellow uniforms.

SCC’s business model has also proven popular with the public, including high school students and foreign visitors who have asked to take photos with the security guards.

Miyoshi’s dream is to take her security ninja to the 2020 Games. “We want to contribute to the Tokyo Olympics. If we draw attention, it will energize the industry as well.”

The All Japan Security Service Association said the industry bloomed as a result of its success during 1964 Tokyo Olympics, when its work guarding the athletes’ village was widely acknowledged by the public and in the business sphere.