Hitting the books: Japanese university plans world’s first ninja studies centre

A Japanese university is planning what it says will be the world’s first research centre devoted to ninja – the black clad assassins known for secrecy and stealth.

While mostly confined to history books and fiction, ninja have been enjoying something of a resurgence as Japanese authorities increasingly deploy them to promote tourism ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Now, Mie University in central Japan – the region considered the home of the feudal martial arts masters – has announced that a ninja research facility will be established in July.

It plans to compile a database of ninja and encourage cooperation between scholars from different disciplines who study ninja, according to Yuji Yamada, a professor of Japanese history at the university.

“We’ll conduct research on ancient documents and collaborate with science researchers to be able to apply the wisdom of ninja to modern society,” Yamada, who is setting up the centre, told AFP on Thursday. “For instance, ninja burnt Japanese incense before going out to avoid evil things.