Ninja is one of the words which most represent Japanese culture. Thanks to academic research on the profession, what Ninja were actually like historically has been well identified. However, the word Ninja and its image has also developed its own interpretation. Ninja are quite often represented in a simplified way, as heroes with superhuman skill and physical beauty.

In this talk, Prof. YAMADA Yuji, Mie University, who is the leading figure in Ninja research, will talk about the commonly accepted image of Ninja in the world, particularly in the US, by taking some cinematic examples such as Enter the Ninja. He will also refer to the understanding of the Ninja image in Japan as a comparison to illustrate how Ninja images have been transformed in contrast to real historical Ninja.

Professor YAMADA Yuji

Prof. YAMADA Yuji is a specialist in medieval Japanese cultural history and serves at the Faculty of Humanities, Mie University, Japan. He earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Tsukuba. His research focuses on the history of 'vengeful spirits', strange phenomena, the Ise shrine, and Ninja studies. He is known as a leading authority on Ninja research in Japan, giving lectures on Ninja and ninjutsu (martial art strategy and tactics practised by the Ninja). He is active in a wide variety of activities, including writings and lecturing. His recent publications include The Spirit of Ninja (2019). Born in Shizuoka.