2 ninja cities join hands to boost tourism

Iga actually needs to merge with Nabari city as both cities were part of ancient Iga province. In fact, Ishikawa Goemon, an Iga ninja came from Nabari and was taught ninjutsu by Momochi Sandayu (Tanba), where his decendent (Momochi's) still lives.

There are actual ninja schools still around that teach martial arts that came out of these 2 regions. They could hire people to go there and set up schools to teach the martial arts that were indigenous to these 2 regions as a means of going back to their roots...

in japan, martial arts as a fighting art is illegal. the loophole is to brand it as a sport. ninjitsu doesn't have many students. but all foreigners are interested in japan and ninja. i think it is a good idea to keep the knowledge alive, help ageing countryside villages economy. but remember it is a lethal art.

all foreigners are interested in japan and ninja.

Dream on. A vague basis in history, mainly just folklore and legend. An invented tradition, Japan's Robin Hood.

“I do not believe that the Iga-Kōka ninja myth or the modern cult that developed from it represent a total fabrication. All invented traditions have a basis in fact, no matter how tenuously the links may be made between the developed tradition and recorded history.

As the Iga and Kōka ninja tradition is older than the 47 Rōnin and even predates bushidō it should not be dismissed but celebrated as Japan’s oldest martial invention and, through its modern cult-like manifestation, as Japan’s greatest martial fantasy.”

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/ninjas-ultimate-guide-chris-oneill-myth-reality

in japan, martial arts as a fighting art is illegal.

No. To use them in a fight is illegal, but then so is fighting in general. And that's everywhere.

the loophole is to brand it as a sport.

Not at all. Koryu, 古流martial arts are not branded as a sport at all. Yet they are also practiced in many places.

ninjitsu doesn't have many students.

Oh yes it does. Check out the Bujinkan, Genbukan, and Jinenkan if you don't believe me.

but all foreigners are interested in japan and ninja.

Not all. But many are.

i think it is a good idea to keep the knowledge alive, help ageing countryside villages economy.

We agree

but remember it is a lethal art.

Very true. I train in it and have an instructor's license.

@aly. good for you for passing on your knowledge.. my master told me that he is not allowed to teach killing techniques due to law. interesting you say there are many dojos. the only ones i have seen are more geared for foreigners.

@aly. good for you for passing on your knowledge..

Thanks brother.

my master told me that he is not allowed to teach killing techniques due to law.

Interesting he should say that. What constitutes a killing technique? How do you determine that by law? In Japan, the technique that ends up in most fatalities is present in Aikido as well as many other martial arts. Its is a simple technique, but should the student fail to ukemi properly the result could be severe head trauma leading to death. Plus if that was true, no one would be able to practice Kenjutsu or ANY weapon art like kama, kusarifundo, naginata or shuriken, as these arts all possess techniques that can kill. So the person who gave this info to your master must be mistaken.

interesting you say there are many dojos. the only ones i have seen are more geared for foreigners.

Not at all my friend. There are many koryu schools that teach the martial arts that predate the Edo period and they do advertise for students. Let me know if you are interested, and I'll provide you with some links.

Alfie-

Dream on. A vague basis in history, mainly just folklore and legend.

Actually it isn't. I have personally traveled to Iga, met with descendents of these people, and spoken to them. Their descendants still live there, in the homes of their stealthy ancestors.

You might want to do some research on Sawamura Jinzaburo, a ninja who was ordered to go and spy on the Black ships of Commodore Perry.  And lets not forget the most famous ninja of all- Hattori Hanzo.  

An invented tradition, Japan's Robin Hood.

Japan already has its own Robin Hood- Nasu No Yoichi. Not to mention that Robin Hood was not all legend and may have been based on a real person or persons.

By the way, I have Turnbull's book in my ibooks and have been reading it for a few weeks. Its ok, but take everything with a hint of skepticsm.