Japan needs ninjas!

[pendell]

I have found a new career path

The Japanese city of Iga is suffering from a ninja shortage.

The city, which is about 280 miles from Tokyo in central Japan, claims to be the birthplace of the ninja.

The mayor is hoping to bolster tourism by drawing on the city's ninja heritage.

There's just one problem: There aren't enough ninjas.

85K/year? That's not too bad. I wonder if "saw episodes of Naruto" works on a resume ...

Tongue-in-cheek,

Brian P.

[Jormengand]

It would be better-optimised if they hired swordsages instead.

[Ninja_Prawn]

It would be better-optimised if they hired swordsages instead.

I lol'd.

But I think Iga is missing a trick here though. They should do guided tours where they tell the tourists "sometimes, you can see ninjas in this part of the city, but they're extremely stealthy so you have to be lucky to catch even the merest glimpse..." just like those dolphin-watching boats in the Canary islands!

[Brother Oni]

I lol'd.

But I think Iga is missing a trick here though. They should do guided tours where they tell the tourists "sometimes, you can see ninjas in this part of the city, but they're extremely stealthy so you have to be lucky to catch even the merest glimpse..." just like those dolphin-watching boats in the Canary islands!

I've been to Iga many years ago. There's a very nice ninja museum there with all sorts of supposed ninja equipment. There's also a small mock up village, with a 'cut away' house where a guide demonstrates all the typical hidden doors/panels and other fun things you'd expect in a ninja house.

Unfortunately the whole inclusive tourist angle means they have to promote ninja to the whole family...

Spoiler: There's more than one of these in the city...

Show

On a more serious note, the 'ninja performers' do a stage show which is very acrobatic, with choreographed fighting with blunt steel weapons. This means you have to be fairly fit, agile and athletic while wearing a full body suit in an non-air conditioned theatre in 35+C degree weather (95 Fahrenheit for you Americans) in 80+% relative humidity in the summer and Iga weather can get to below freezing in winter. They do this show multiple times a day, seven days a week, so it's not surprising that young folk either don't have the skills or the desire to do the job.

Another problem is that Iga has become a bit of a tourist trap and a place where young people (who would make ideal acrobats) wouldn't like to live and work - the article points out that in the previous year, only 43 young people came to Iga, while losing over 1,000 residents.

[Scarlet Knight]

Wait, there must be plenty of ninjas if you can't see any...right?

[Some Android]

Sounds like a better film idea than Mars needs Moms.

[pendell]

Sounds like a better film idea than Mars needs Moms.

Wait wait wait, does the reverse ninja law apply? As the numbers get fewer, do the remainder get more and more badass?

Tongue-and-cheek,

Brian P.

[Lvl 2 Expert]

Do they need any boss opponents who are supposed to be badass just because they're large and white? Martial arts movies usually have a pair of those right?

[Red Fel]

I would, but I tend to affiliate closely with Nobunaga's philosophy of tenka fubu, and I think Iga still holds a grudge.

[Some Android]

Relevant:

[enderlord99]

I would, but I tend to affiliate closely with Nobunaga's philosophy of tenka fubu, and I think Iga still holds a grudge.

All I got out of that sentence is that you like conquering things. Shouldn't it be in purple?

[Red Fel]

All I got out of that sentence is that you like conquering things. Shouldn't it be in purple?

Historically, in his efforts to unify all of feudal Japan under the sword, Nobunaga conquered a vast swathe of the country with his armies. One particular region he crushed was Iga. My point was that, given which side I obviously took in that conflict, I don't imagine they'd be keen for me to become an Iga ninja.

To be fair, I do like conquering things...

[Jera]

I've been to Iga many years ago. There's a very nice ninja museum there with all sorts of supposed ninja equipment.

There are over 400 ninja tools on display, including shuriken actually used in the time of the ninja.

I love how they specify 'used in the time of ninja,' since there's exactly zero historical evidence or writings that even suggest that ninja ever used shuriken.

Don't get me wrong, I love the ninja mythos, I was a total Weeb when I was younger and would love to visit this Ninja themed Renassaince Faire/Medieval Times, but for a town trying to play up the 'historically accurate' aspect, everything form Mayor Sakae Okamoto's Naruto inspired outfits to the inclusion of what seems to be every pop culture ninja reference I can think of, screams "we don't care about historical accuracy, if it's popular we'll include it!" That's the level of authenticity I expect from people like Ashida Kim.

[Brother Oni]

I love how they specify 'used in the time of ninja,' since there's exactly zero historical evidence or writings that even suggest that ninja ever used shuriken.

Don't get me wrong, I love the ninja mythos, I was a total Weeb when I was younger and would love to visit this Ninja themed Renassaince Faire/Medieval Times, but for a town trying to play up the 'historically accurate' aspect, everything form Mayor Sakae Okamoto's Naruto inspired outfits to the inclusion of what seems to be every pop culture ninja reference I can think of, screams "we don't care about historical accuracy, if it's popular we'll include it!" That's the level of authenticity I expect from people like Ashida Kim.

Outside the museum and the mock up town, it's very much a 'Medieval Land Fun-Time World', but the museum itself does (or did when I went there) aim for proper context with Sengoku/Edo era historical artefacts, hypotheses and myths - for example, a rumoured secret ninja gunpowder recipe involved dirt from under the tori gate from a particular temple. The dirt was found to have a high content of saltpetre, a key component of black powder.

The town is more an educational piece for all ages, so some relaxation of the historical realism criteria is to be expected.

I don't blame the Mayor for dressing up to promote his city - between the all pervasive kawaii aesthetic of Japan, young peoples' apathy and overwhelming popularity of Naruto, dressing up as a character seems an easy way to get publicity.

[Elanasaurus]

Check this.

[pendell]

Check this.

Fake news? Aw man....

Tongue-in-cheek,

Brian P.

[137beth]

They are actually hiring ninjas, but the ninja job listings are all really stealthy and not plainly visible online.

[Mercenary Pen]

of course, as we all know, the real problem with being a ninja in this day and age is their tech support

[Lvl 2 Expert]

of course, as we all know, the real problem with being a ninja in this day and age is their tech support

They just need more qualified personnel.

[dehro]

compulsory earworm rickroll