Into the World of Japanese Ninja
Monglian Ninja Lecture
Into the World of Japanese Ninja
Date: June 7th (Sat.) and 8th (Sun.), 2013
Venue: Mongolia-Japan Center (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
Summary of Report
A Japanese Language lecture titled "Into the World of Japanese Ninja", hosted by the Japan Foundation was held at the Mongolia-Japan Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on both June 7th and 8th, 2013. The titles and the names of lecturers were as follows: "About Mongolian Ninja" by D. Tumurbaatar (the Japanese culture researcher), "About Japanese Ninja" by YAMADA Yuji (Professor at the Faculty of Humanities), and "Spirit of Ninja" by the KAWAKAMI Jin-ichi (specially-appointed professor for social corporation and the honorable director of the Ninja Museum of Igaryu). Lectures were followed by question and answer session, in which some highly technical questions related to Ninja were presented, which indicated the depth of infiltration of Japanese Ninja in Mongolia. The advisor of the Ninja Museum of Igaryu, Mr. KUROI Hiromitsu, hosted the second day of the Ninja lecture, in which he demonstrated some fighting maneuver with the members of the dance troupe in Ulaanbaatar. Mongolian kids were excited to learn methods of the mental concentration and running used by Ninja, and were earnest to participate in the rubber Shuriken (throwing knife) throwing experience. Along with the exhibition of Ninja drawings by children in the lobby, the photo session in which kids get to dress in Ninja costumes and pose in front of the image of Igaueno-jo Castle was also a popular attraction that had people waiting in line at all time. Moreover, the faculty members of the Japan Center provided origami classes to make Shuriken, as well as Japanese lessons on Ninja's secret passwords and characters on both days. The two-day event gathered total of about 400 Mongolian participants and provided them with an opportunity to experience the language and culture of Japan through Ninja. The event also gained media coverage from the local newspapers and TV stations, and was very well received.
