Hi there!
My name is Senku.
I absolutely love ninjas and am currently training at a ninjutsu dojo while also participating in ninja performance activities.
Do you know what a ninja is?
For those who do, what kind of image do you have of ninjas?
Someone dressed entirely in black, wearing a mask, throwing shuriken, effortlessly leaping from high places, running across water, and doing superhuman feats?
Or maybe someone like the characters in Naruto, who use mysterious and fantastical techniques that seem unreal?
So, do you think ninjas ever existed in real life?
What?
You don’t think they could possibly exist?
Hehehe…
Well, actually…
Ninjas really did exist in Japan!
For those of you who’ve secretly admired ninjas, rejoice!
Although there aren’t as many historical records about ninjas compared to samurai, evidence of their existence can still be found in Japan’s historical documents.
They’re often referred to as shinobi or shinobi no mono rather than “ninja.”
If ninjas existed historically, what about today?
Do they exist?
Sadly, by the academic definition of ninjas, no such ninjas exist in Japan today.
Some of you might now be thinking, “Oh, so there aren’t any ninjas today…” while others might be wondering, “Wait, what do you mean by an academic definition of ninjas?”
Ninja studies
That’s right—there’s actually an academic field called Ninja Studies!
You can even pursue ninja-related research at Mie University, a national university in Japan.
(Mie is the region where the Iga ninjas once lived.)
I earned a master’s degree in ninja studies from Mie University in March 2024.
Does that make me a Ninja Master?
Not at all—there’s still so much I don’t know about ninjas, so I can’t claim to be a Ninja Master! Hehehe.
However, I probably know more about ninjas and have more ninja-related experiences than most Japanese people.
What?
Ninja-related experiences?
Does that pique your interest?
Ninja-rerated experiences
Well, while ninjas as defined by Ninja Studies no longer exist, you can still experience what it was like to be a ninja in modern Japan!
Right now, I’m training at a ninjutsu dojo.
I’m also practicing and performing as a Fuma ninja with a ninja performance group specializing in choreographed fight scenes.
Because I love ninjas so much, I want more people to discover their charm and enjoy learning about them.
Through this blog, I’ll share my journey as I work to acquire the skills and knowledge that historical ninjas once had, and as I strive to master the kinds of movements people today imagine when they think of ninjas.
I’ll also introduce fascinating facts about ninjas, historical texts on ninja techniques available online, and recommended books about ninjas.
For those who, like me, dream of becoming like a ninja, I hope this blog provides some helpful tips on how to follow that path.
And for those who aren’t as serious about ninjas, I’ll aim to write posts that you can enjoy with a smile and a laugh.
Whether you’re a ninja enthusiast or not, I hope you’ll look forward to my posts!
Thank you, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you!
