Ninja Truth

The ninja had over 400 distinctive tools and weapons to fight with and defend themselves. The most familiar was one called the "kusari-gama," a chain and sickle that could do serious damage to an opponent. But it raises questions about how they used it when fighting, and how they were able to conceal it. The ninja were also ingenious at hiding themselves. We'll do an experiment to see if those hiding techniques really worked, and we'll look at a brand-new technology for hiding people.

Since ninja were engaged in espionage, they had to gather information and accurately convey it without anyone knowing. Typical means of information transmission included smoke signals, a cipher using knots in a rope, and special methods of transporting secret messages. But in the second half of the episode, we'll look at their ultimate method of concealing information: invisible ink! Find out how they did this, and follow Chris as he makes his own secret message with ninja techniques.

The Hojo clan was a warrior clan that ruled the Kanto region from the 15th to 16th century. Supporting their efforts to defeat enemies and maintain control was a mysterious group called the Fuma ninja. Their leader, Fuma Kotaro, is described in historical documents as a monster, and may have been the reason why they were so feared. We'll look at how the Fuma ninja took over castles and also guarded them for the Hojo clan.

While the ninja moved unseen throughout Japan, Iga, in present-day Mie Prefecture, has been called the birthplace of the ninja arts. Join Chris Glenn and Professor Yuji Yamada as they explore Iga and trace the Iga people's journey from armed farmers who absorbed Shugendo teachings to their emergence as ninja. In the latter half, they visit sites related to the Tensho Iga War—an event that won the Iga ninja nationwide acclaim—and explore the shadow tactics used by the ninja to strike terror into the numerically superior Oda army.

The ninja art of escape, or tonsojutsu, frequently took advantage of the human psyche. We examine some ninja tactics and get a psychologist's perspective on them. In the latter half, we recreate a torinoko, a ninja tool that frequently appears in pop culture. Using the sparse information available, we experiment with varying blend ratios to smoke out the ninja truth.

The Bansenshukai is a compilation of ninja techniques from 49 Iga and Koka ninja schools. It covers everything from ninja principles to various ninja techniques and tools. However, the ninja passed it on from master to apprentice with the utmost secrecy. So how did it come to see the light of day? It turns out that it was due to an unfortunate event involving ninja during the Edo period. We examine this event and also get television's first look at scrolls said to be the oldest extant copy of the Bansenshukai.

Ninja tools of clay and stone were unearthed at sixteenth-century archaeological sites. They were clay makibishi and stone tsubute. However, iron-working techniques were already well established by this time. So why did the ninja use these materials? Iwata Akihiro from Saitama Prefectural Ranzan Historical Museum believes the ninja used them as a last resort. In this episode, we explore how these ninja tools came about and recreate clay makibishi to see if they'll stand up to the test.

Along with Iga, the Koka region is synonymous with ninja. The Koka Ninja are often depicted in anime and movies as the arch rivals of the Iga Ninja or as villains. But what were they really like? In this episode, we explore the Koka region with Professor Yuji Yamada of Mie University, learning about the turbulent history of the Koka Ninja, from their stunning success at the battle of "Magari-no-Jin" to the disaster that culminated in the "Koka Yure." Their democratic practices and deep bonds to each other as well as their homeland reveal a rather different side, and bring us ever closer to the ninja truth.

Ninja have often been depicted flying on large kites in manga and anime. Was such a feat really possible? With the help of an expert in fluid dynamics as well as a traditional Japanese kite maker, we'll put this legend to the test scientifically using a miniature kite. We'll also delve into the mystery of the ninja's little-known technique of using kites to carry firebombs that could set the enemy's buildings ablaze.

Two men have been called "the last ninja." The first is Fujita Seiko, who lived over a hundred years ago. Introducing himself as the last ninja, he held demonstrations throughout Japan and researched ninja arts. Going over footage of Fujita, we discuss the principles he taught. The second is Kawakami Jinichi, who is still alive today. We introduce the training he's continued for over sixty years and scientifically analyze a ninja breathing technique called "okinaga" to determine its effect.

We meet with two specialists at the forefront of ninja research. In 2021, Fukushima Takamasa found the Kanrinseiyo. Known to exist but never seen before, it's said to be the source material for the famous ninja manual, the Bansenshukai. It reveals previously unknown information about the ninja, including group tactics, night infiltration methods and a new ninja tool. We also learn about the ancient manuscripts Professor Yuji Yamada discovered at the Library of Congress in the US.

The modern image of the ninja—an agile shadow warrior with impressive techniques—is derived from a fictional ninja named Sarutobi Sasuke. Yet he, in turn, was inspired by the real-life Sanada ninja.

Join us as we uncover the secrets of the ninjas who helped the Tokugawa shoguns to maintain order by collecting intelligence and investigating cases of unrest among the populace.

The ninja tried to prepare for all emergencies. We'll examine how their survival mindset and techniques can be applied today and recent discoveries on their actions following a natural disaster.

The ninja observed animal behavior and applied them to their techniques. Meeting with experts, we'll examine some inspired by cat movements and a weapon said to be made with a venomous creature.