Customer Reviews

Real Ninja

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"Real Ninja" is a historical account of ninjutsu. The book begins with a discussion of the ninja clans, their employment by the Shogunate, and famous individual ninja such as `Fuuma' and `Tobikatoo'. We also get to read of associated groups such as the `Oniwaban' - Garden Security Samurai, and the `Negoru Group' - the Matchlock Gunner Group.

Dr. Hirohisa Oda then reviews various ninja tools. We learn of the `Rokugu' or the six items always carried by a ninja whenever he stepped out of his house. Of course we read of weapons such as the ninja sword and the shuriken, but careful reading also reveals tips such as employing `metsubushi' (Blinding Powder) by rolling it in a narrow strip of cloth and then snapping that cloth toward the enemy's face to cast the metsubushi into his eyes.

Reading about the `ninja arts' we learn about `yamabiko' (employment of double agents), ninja codes (angoo), and various poisons such as trychnos, balloon fish, and moonlight mushroom.

A brief explanation of the ninja nine signs of concentration is given with photographs showing each hand position.

Next we get a description of ninja houses and the secrets that were built into them, along with a list of still-existing ninja houses in Japan.

Although we tend to see the ninja as spies and assassins in the popular press, Dr, Hirohisa Oda shows us how the ninja were often associated with physicians, and how physicians became ninja.

Finally we see modern day ninja, such as the Nakano School, established in 1938, and used to train the Japanese military in ninjutsu techniques.

The student of ninjutsu should have an understanding of the history of the ninja, and that is just what one gets with `Real Ninja". I recommend this book for any serious student of ninjutsu.

This is an extremely informative book about the real Ninja of history -- as opposed to what we've picked up from the movies. There's plenty of information about the actual history of actual men who were Ninja, about their training and their use as spies, about the tools of their trade (weapons, poisons, disguises, incredible getaways), and about their importance in Japanese military events. Neat drawings, and photos too.

This book is very informative. It goes into more detail than most of the other publications on the market. As a new student in the bujinkan, I find that the more I understand the history and lineage behind the art, the more intrigued I become. This book, like the art, is riveting.

The subject matter of this book is fascinating, but it is so poorly written (bad grammar, repetitive) that it's hard to read.