Explainer | Why foreigners are flocking to Japan to learn how to become ninjas
- Practitioners aspire to uphold time-honoured ninja tradition even amidst gradual decline in Japan
Japanese culture has a particularly powerful international reach, exemplified by the seemingly permanent longevity of ninjas, who have captured the imagination of people across generations for centuries.
Ninjas are so famous that people worldwide undergo intense training to learn the techniques of “ninjutsu”, the martial arts that blend combat fighting with features traditionally associated with ninjas, such as espionage.
The Post dives into who these people are and what attracts them to ninjutsu.
Foreigners studying ninjutsu
In May, about 60 students attended classes run by the Bujinkan, a martial arts organisation famous for teaching the ancient skills of the ninja. The group said most of the attendees were caucasian men, according to Japan Times.
One dedicated veteran has graduated from a student to a teacher.
