Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
Ninja operated in the shadowy corners of Japanese history. The exploits of a few ninja clans were so great that their names became known throughout the land, and the greatest in east Japan was the Fuma. Said to live in secluded ninja villages in the mountains of present-day Kanagawa Prefecture, for roughly 100 years the Fuma supported the samurai of the Hojo clan, who controlled Odawara Castle and the surrounding domain.
Experts in intelligence gathering, sneak attacks, and disruption of enemy troop movements, the Fuma served five generations of Hojo lords, but when the Hojo were wiped out at the end of the Sengoku period, the Fuma also faded away, and have been inactive for the last 400 years. Suddenly, though, there’s been a call to revive the Fuma ninja legacy, and once again, it’s the powers that be who are asking them to fight for the glory of Kanagawa.
However, since in the modern era the region is no longer under threat of invasion from covetous rival warlords, the city of Odawara is establishing a Fuma ninja training program to help promote tourism to the area The Odawara Tourist Association has put out a notice that it’s seeking “Fuma ninja applicants” for the Ninja Sword Fighting Action Performer Training Course. Over the course of 20 once-a-week training sessions with martial artist and samurai drama/ninja movie fight coordinator Yuki Yoneyama, the ninja-to-be will train in movement and combat techniques, and upon graduation will participate in live performances of shinobi skills to be held at Odawara Castle, as well as historical festivals and events in the Odawara area.
▼ An introductory video to the Fuma ninja
Considering that the clan has been inactive for the past four centuries, no prior Fuma ninja experience is necessary, but applicants with skills in martial arts, gymnastics, or parkour will have an advantage over rivals in the selection process, which will ultimately chose 15 people to take part in the training course, which will run from October to March. Japanese nationality is not a prerequisite, though those hailing from foreign realms must be able to communicate in Japanese for the sake of training and event planning. Likewise, there are no gender or age restrictions, but aspiring those under the age of 18 will require written consent from their parents (but honestly, if your parents won’t allow you to pursue your goal of becoming a ninja, it might be time to consider suing for your legal emancipation).
The first step on the path of the ninja is to submit a written application (which can be done online here) by Sept 27, from which promising candidates will be chosen to audition for the chance to become modern Fuma ninja.
Source: Kanaloco via Livedoor News, Odawara Tourist Association
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Japanese castle’s new Ninja Museum sends you on an interactive shinobi mission through history
--Time to quit your job – Company in Japan now hiring for the position of Ninja Master
-- Japanese ninja proficiency test to be held in Tokyo
© SoraNews24
10 Comments
Login to comment
Fuji Climber
They have an online ninja experience where you can learn more about the Fuma Ninja and ninja in general!
https://www.discoverjapan.guide/explore-japanese-castle-and-ninja-culture/
snowymountainhell
Hilarious @starpunk Sep. 23 12:27pm:
Aly Rustom
However, since in the modern era the region is no longer under threat of invasion from covetous rival warlords, the city of Odawara is establishing a Fuma ninja training program to help promote tourism to the area The Odawara Tourist Association has put out a notice that it’s seeking “Fuma ninja applicants” for the Ninja Sword Fighting Action Performer Training Course. Over the course of 20 once-a-week training sessions with martial artist and samurai drama/ninja movie fight coordinator Yuki Yoneyama, the ninja-to-be will train in movement and combat techniques, and upon graduation will participate in live performances of **shinobi skills to be held at Odawara Castle, as well as historical festivals and events in the Odawara area**.
Well, if its real Fuma ryu then I hope they are teaching those classes on a boat, sinceThe Fuma were Kaizoku. They basically were pirates.
Hey brother!
He's retired and passed on his Ryu-ha to his top students, so I don't think he cares. And anyway, at 90, what do U care about anyway?
Desert Tortoise
The Fuma couldn't have been all that good if they couldn't stop the Hojo from being wiped out.
ShortMemories
First lesson is free and you get a plastic ninja star engraved coke can
Limited time only
K3PO
If the myths were true, the only way you knew you had been in contact with a ninja would be a shiriken between the eyes or a dagger in back. Otherwise you wouldn't know they were there.
Tom San
20 once a week training sessions, etc. Sounds cheesy to me.
Zaphod
LOL, yes I would think so. Wonder who their teachers are.... Kim Ashida and Hatsumi?
starpunk
When I was a teenager there was this geeky neighbor I went to school with who claimed to be a 'ninja'. He had the books and everything but he only looked like a fool. He joined the Marine Corps and volunteered to be stationed in Okinawa to put his 'ninja experience' to use. When he returned to the US he had experienced a rude awakening. This was before the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles phenom exploded.
Later on when I was in college I had quite a diversity in classmates and friends. I asked this Japanese guy what the word 'ninja' really means, he said it basically means 'agent'.
There's your mystique. And lately these anarchists who go trashing things up and rioting often are clad like ninjas so nobody can see their identity.