Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Walking silently through shadow, a ninja's stealth and legendary fighting skills have been looked up into for ages. It's ironic how something that has embraced the shadows be put under the spotlight all these years. 

          A person who uses Ninjutsu is a Ninja. In Chinese, the word "nin" means to preserve, to conceal or to move stealthily, and "sha" means a person. Meaning that 'stealthy person' is the literal translation of the word "ninja". In Japanese, the word is pronounced shinobi no mono. Ninjas are people who execute the plans according to Ninjutsu. Ninjutsu is an independent warfare art that was developed in Japan. The technique originated from Sun Tzu's book, "The Art of War", written in the 4th or 5th century. A part of the text heavily influenced the practice of the ancient Japanese warriors, therefore leading to the ideology of the Japanese ninja. (http://iganinja.jp/en/about/ninja.html)

          In an article entitled "A Brief History of the Ninja, Japan’s First Terrorists" in the website tofugo, the author explained what ninjas are and said, "Ninja could supposedly turn invisible, control the elements, and walk on water. Basically they were like Jesus." (http://www.tofugu.com/2012/11/05/a-brief-history-of-the-japanese-ninja/)

          To execute the plans in following ninjutsu, ninja warriors use not only stealth and skill but an assortment of different weapons as well. The one most popularized by the media is the ever famous "shuriken" or throwing stars.

          The article entitled "Throwing Stars" in the website weapons-universe.com the shuriken was described as probably the most well-known weapon in the ninja's arsenal. To quote more on the topic, "At least as far as contemporary popular novels, movies, and television programs are concerned, nothing triggers thoughts of the ninja as readily as these flying blades of thin hammered steel." (http://www.weapons-universe.com/Martial_Arts/Throwing_Stars.shtml)

          Ninjas are very popular. They are part of the image of many countries, namely Japan, only next to Samurais and Geishas. The black clothed figures of mystery has graced the childhood of many children, through films, cartoons and comics alike. There was a time in the 90's when EVERYBODY was obsessed with ninjas. This was the time in where movies regarding ninjas were released in the United States, setting off a bomb for the explosion of ninjas in pop culture. 

          According to the article "Why were ninjas so popular in the 90's?" ninjas were popular because the idea was appealing to the audiences. The author described it further as "a sticky idea. It captured the imaginations of writers and comic artists because of its rich history, legacy and mystique. You don't need to make stuff up- there's hundreds of years of history to draw from."

         Pop culture has played a great part in the popularizing of ninjas. Countless movies starring Sho Kosugi and other action stars started the boom for the ninja industry in Hollwood. Some years earlier, the ever famous Naruto was first published by Shueisha in 1999 in the 43rd issue of Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Naruto is a good example of popularized commercial ninjas. Characters with almost impossible ninjutsu skills are seen everywhere, and almost everyone seems to be powerful. Another example of these overpowered ninjas could be observed in the American version of ninjas. As the ninjas got more Americanized, superhero like powers buried the real skills of ninjas and the already shady history of the original shinobu warriors were buried under the facade of shining Hollywood movie billboards. 

         To support the statement is a quote from Martha Barksdale, author of the answer to curiosity.discovery.com's question "How have ninjas influenced modern pop culture?, discussing the point that ninjas were popular because they had a good appeal to children and adults alike."

            "The cultural representation of the ninja broadened in appeal. Ninja characters served not only as the stealthy and frightening assassins of adult films, but as standard fodder for popular children's cartoons and all-ages movies." (http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-ninja-influenced-pop-culture)

          In the modern world, people now see ninjas as black clothed, shuriken throwing, superhero powered individuals who go into missions and flauntingly attack their opponents in the most extravagant way possible. That is not the case. What the masses now see is an illusion to what the ninja use to be. Or to be clearer, what the real ninja is. The researcher has noticed that people seem to get the wrong idea about ninjas and their history. 

          This research paper aims to educate people on what the masses' opinion on ninjas are. How the public views the ancient shinobu warrior as parallel to a 10 year old prodigy with spiky blonde hair and blue eyes and amazing doppelganger tricks. This study also aims to dissect the history and the truth about ninjas and to present the information in a detailed yet organized way.

          The paper will discuss how different the original ninjas are from the commercialized ninjas we see today. The differences will be pointed out and the correct information will overrule the popular, but false ones. 

B. Statement of the Problem  

This study aims to answer the question.

1. What is the truth behind the history of the ninja?

C. Significance of the Study

Students who are interested in learning the truth about ninjas. More specifically, students who are still ignorant about ninjas and has been heavily influenced by modern media.

Film producers and directors. For a better understanding and a more realistic projection in future films.

Anime enthusiasts. Given more value to the richness of the ninja culture. And the original idea about ninjas will be shattered and replaced with the truth

Future researchers. The future researchers may use the paper as a reference for any study that they may do in the future. 

D. Scope and Limitations

This paper will be focusing on the difference of the "modern" ninja to the original and authentic old day ninja. Comparisons over different aspects in the now and then shinobus will be made throughout the paper.  

E. Materials and Methods

This paper will be relying on internet sources such as blogs, features, news slips, stores (for information regarding weapons) and researches. Blogs related to old day ninjas and ninja reports will be used as proof to provide more information about the old day ninja. News slips will be used as concrete evidence that yes, ninjas did/do exist. Blog entries regarding the behaviour, attitude and complexities surrounding the two different sides of the ninja will be used for explanation purposes. 

F. Definition of Terms

1. Anime - Japanese movie and television animation, often having a science fiction theme and sometimes including violent or explicitly sexual material.

2. Doppelganger - an apparition or double of a living person.

3. Geisha - a Japanese hostess trained to entertain men with conversation, dance, and song.

4. Ninjutsu - the traditional Japanese art of stealth, camouflage, and sabotage, developed in feudal times for espionage and now practiced as a martial art.

5. Samurai - a member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, esp. a member of the class of military retainers of the daimyos.

6. Shuriken - a weapon in the form of a star with projecting blades or points, used as a missile in some martial arts.