Are there real ninja clans?

Photo: Seth W. Jinichi Kawakami, a 63-year old engineer, is probably Japan’s last true-blue ninja. He’s the head of the Ban clan, a family that traces its ninja roots back 500 years.

How many ninja clans were there?

There were 49 schools of ninja in the country. The most famous were Koka and Iga, in that time situated in different territories but closely related. The Koka clan consisted of 53 families with one head family and many subordinates.

Does ninja still exist?

Employed by samurai warlords to spy, sabotage and kill, they are relics of an ancient code that have all but died out in the modern age. All but one. As the 21st head of the Ban clan, a dynasty of secret spies that can trace its history back some 500 years, 63-year-old engineer Jinichi Kawakami is Japan’s last ninja.

Do ninjas assassinate?

The ninja were stealth soldiers and mercenaries hired mostly by daimyōs. Their primary roles were those of espionage and sabotage, although assassinations were also attributed to ninja.

Are Samurais good or bad?

They were honorable within their own culture’s conception of honor. The values of medieval Japan, including the code of bushido, might not be considered right or honorable to other cultures, but samurai were expected to strictly uphold those values. Those who did not were generally asked to commit seppuku.

Are Ninjas good guys?

Hundreds of years ago though, in feudal Japan, ninjas were very active and very real. Not always good guys, not always bad guys, they were somewhat of a mercenary group carrying out assassinations and espionage for the highest bidder.

How can I become a ninja?

How to be a ninja: a 5-step guide

1. Use information wisely. Ninjas should be able to obtain information quickly, analyse it and turn it into knowledge – in short, a ninja should be an information specialist.
2. Train both body and soul.
3. Learn the knowledge in nature.
4. Learn a variety of skills.
5. Communicate well.

Who are the Gyokku Ninja?

The Gyokku Ninja are a philosophical tradition that has been evolving for at least two thousand years. It seems to have originated in India, been propagated to China (much like Buddhist traditions), and made the jump to Japan about 900AD.

What is the origin of the ninja clan?

However, the knowledge of the Clan is far older than this, and has its origins in Tang Dynasty China, and in India. Indeed, the very name ‘Gyokku’, is actually a Chinese word meaning ‘Jade Tiger’. The Ninja are legendary as masters of stealth, combat methodology and strategy; but the Way is more than this.

Where did the Gyokku originate from?

It seems to have originated in India, been propagated to China (much like Buddhist traditions), and made the jump to Japan about 900AD. It goes without saying that the Gyokku were known by different names in the originator countries, though the word ‘Gyokku’ itself is basically Chinese in origin.

Is Kawakami Japan’s Last Ninja?

As for the 21st Century ninja, Kawakami is a trained engineer. In his suit, he looks like any other Japanese businessman. The title of “Japan’s last ninja”, however, may not be his alone. Eighty-year-old Masaaki Hatsumi says he is the leader of another surviving ninja clan – the Togakure clan.