Ninja: The (Unofficial) Secret Manual

Ancient Warrior Guide

by Stephen Turnbull

Based on historical ninja training manuals, this witty and informative volume gives you all the tools you need to enter the secret world of ninjutsu. Ninjas―Japan’s famous black-clad spies, saboteurs, and undercover fighters, equipped with superb martial arts skills and an uncanny aptitude for sneakiness―are the stuff of myth and legend. In the present day, movies, comic books, theme parks, and computer games have all been dedicated to the ninja. Folklore and entertaining tales concerning ninjas remain immensely popular as the Ninja has captured a central place in the cultural imagination, both in Japan and in the West. Ninja takes the reader to Japan in 1789, conveying the excitement, danger, and subterfuge of the period. Based on original ninjutsu training manuals, it teaches precisely what is required to become a ninja. Illustrated throughout with contemporary artifacts, documents, and prints taken from the original manuals, as well as modern reconstructions, this lighthearted but informative guide covers every aspect of what it was really like to be a ninja in Japan. 100 color illustrations

Genres: History, Japan

200 pages, Hardcover

Published May 14, 2019

About the author

Stephen Richard Turnbull is British a historian specializing in eastern military history, especially the samurai of Japan. His books are mainly on Japanese and Mongolian subjects. He attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree. He currently holds an MA in Theology, MA in Military History and a PhD from the University of Leeds where he is currently a lecturer in Far Eastern Religions. He has also written a number of books on other medieval topics. He is semi-retired but still holds the post of Visiting Professor of Japanese Studies at Akita International University in Japan.

Reviews

[Guille Jiménez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun and informative book. I think the fun bits are a bit too "on the nose", and the novelty wears out pretty fast, but then the book becomes mostly informative.

[Jean-Pierre Extra Ordinair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and based on actual historical research. The truth about ninja's is a lot more interesting then the fictional stories. There is this paradox about them being quite superstitious, religious and traditional in the feudal Japanese society and at the same time using these traditions and beliefs to their own advantage and taking care of their own business, while being loyal to their masters.

I do like the tongue and cheek tone in which it is written. It is informative and dares to poke fun at its subject.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piqué desde el principio y creo que por eso lo he disfrutado más. Su tono es muy divertido. Aunque... a mí me gusta más armonía sin h.

[Junwei Cui · Rating 5 out of 5]

读完之后热血沸腾恨不得立刻穿越过去为将军大人抽烟喝酒烫头。插图很棒。挺不错的一本小书

[Mohd Nordin Che Omar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret finally unveiled. Step by step unveiling of the Ninja from its origination, training, weapon, etiquette, costume and warfare technique etc.

[Mikel · Rating 4 out of 5]

[9/10]
Es genial si te gusta toda la cultura ninja y quieres leer un documento que se toma a sí mismo en serio y que es lo suficiente extenso como para tenerte entretenido un rato. Yo le he disfrutado como un enano, es muy recomendable.