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NHK WORLD-JAPAN 2018 - 1 season 32 eps Returning series

NINJA TRUTH

2018 - 1 season 32 eps

Season 1

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Season 1

15 min

S1 · E1 · Mar 31, 2018

Episode 1 Episode 1

The ninja had over 400 distinctive tools and weapons to fight with and defend themselves. The most familiar was one called the "kusari-gama," a chain and sickle that could do serious damage to an opponent. But it raises questions about how they used it when fighting, and how they were able to conceal it. The ninja were also ingenious at hiding themselves. We'll do an experiment to see if those hiding techniques really worked, and we'll look at a brand-new technology for hiding people.

15 min

S1 · E2 · Mar 31, 2018

Episode 2 Episode 2

The ninja used short swords when faced with imminent danger, such as in enemy territory. We'll see when these were used, and how they differed from warrior's katana swords. Also, ancient ninja literature describes a water-crossing device known as "mizugumo." We'll do an experiment, constructing "mizugumo" exactly as described, to see if it really worked. And we'll get a ninja expert's opinions about how it could be improved today, and try that too! Join us to see the results!

15 min

S1 · E3 · Dec 18, 2018

Shuriken Episode 3

The ninja employed over 400 special weapons and tools to accomplish their missions, and the shuriken is undoubtedly one of the most famous. In this episode, we'll examine not just how the shuriken was thrown, but ninja techniques for throwing it with a string attached, and using it defensively. The ninja also devised various throwing techniques such as yoko-uchi, hon-uchi and gyaku-uchi. We'll use cutting-edge science to examine their uses, and use the shuriken to draw closer to the ninja truth.

15 min

S1 · E4 · Dec 25, 2018

Ninja Yashiki Episode 4

The ninja were often given the important mission of infiltrating enemy territory and bringing back key information. Meanwhile, their own residences were cleverly rigged to thwart intruders and hide the information they'd acquired. In this episode, we'll examine the secrets of their residences, including trap doors, lookout posts, sword compartments, and hanging ladders, using action-packed reenactments. We'll also examine the psychological effect of these residences.

15 min

S1 · E5 · Jan 15, 2019

Ninja Fire Arts Episode 5

The ninja are said to have been proficient in the use of gunpowder long before guns were brought to Japan, and to have invented over 230 uses for it. In this episode, we'll introduce the toribikata, a weapon similar to a flamethrower that was used to fend off several attackers at once, and the hyakuraijyu, which created chaos by emitting a noise similar to a volley of gunshots. We'll also recreate the grenade-like hourokuhiya to determine its strength, and the daikokuhiya, a weapon frequently mentioned in the ninja training text Bansenshukai, to learn about how it was actually used.

15 min

S1 · E6 · Jan 22, 2019

Concealed Weapons and Hyorogan Episode 6

The ninja used various tools and weapons on their secret missions. To protect themselves in dangerous situations, they used concealed weapons. Portable and hidden from view, some were even disguised as ordinary items. In this episode, we'll feature concealed weapons including the amigasa, kakute, shikomi-tessen, and how they were used. We'll also join a ninja expert and recreate hyorogan, the ultimate ninja ration, to learn the secrets behind its ingredients.

15 min

S1 · E7 · Oct 1, 2019

In Search of the Kunoichi, the Female Ninja Episode 7

Before modern times, the ninja worked secretly in the shadows, and a particularly shadowy figure is the female ninja or Kunoichi. While often portrayed as female spies, we're left with only hints and speculations about them. Based on passages from the "Bansenshukai," perhaps the most famous ninja manual, we investigate the history, mode of operation, and psychological tactics of the Kunoichi. Our search takes us to Tomi, a city in Nagano Prefecture where a mysterious female group once resided.

15 min

S1 · E8 · Oct 8, 2019

Extraordinary Ninja Tools: Kunai and Ikibukuro Episode 8

The ninja employed a wide range of tools to accomplish their missions. In this episode, we introduce the kunai and examine what it was made of and how it was used. With the help of a leading ninja researcher, we also recreate and test the ikibukuro, a previously unknown tool that is said to have enabled the ninja to perform tasks underwater.

15 min

S1 · E9 · Feb 4, 2020

Shinobi Rokugu: The Six Essential Tools of the Ninja Episode 9

Like all famous movie spies, the ninja had a wide array of spy tools at their disposal, and the shinobi rokugu were six tools that were considered essential for any mission. These include the yatate, inro, uchitake, sanjakutenugui, amigasa and kaginawa. We'll examine the purpose of each tool using action-packed reenactments. We'll also scientifically analyze how to master the kaginawa.

15 min

S1 · E10 · Feb 11, 2020

Poison and Medicine: The Ninja's Double-Sided Coin Episode 10

Well-versed in astronomy, biology and other fields of natural science, the ninja used their knowledge of botany to create both poison and medicine. Poison's portability and efficacy made it an ideal weapon, and we'll use reenactments to examine how the ninja wielded it. We'll also visit a company in Koka that continues production of a medicine passed down by the ninja.

15 min

S1 · E11 · Mar 17, 2020

Innin and Yonin: The Yin and Yang of the Ninja Episode 11

The ninja had two modes of operation: Innin and Yonin. Innin covered assassinations, sabotage and other covert operations requiring stealth, while Yonin covered operations performed in the open that required cunning. We'll examine the two using reenactments and also reconstruct a "saotokikigane" to determine the truth about this obscure listening device.

15 min

S1 · E12 · Mar 17, 2020

Physical Abilities of the Ninja Episode 12

Jumping down from 15-meter heights. Running 100 kilometers in a day. These are just some of the feats that the ninja were said to be capable of. And if these are true, how did they acquire their physical strength, agility and mental fortitude? We'll meet with the last true ninja to learn about their training methods, and analyze a traditional running style that could make a comeback.

15 min

S1 · E13 · Dec 15, 2020

Ninja Mnemonics Episode 13

The ninja are said to have been capable of remembering extensive details about the estates and castles they infiltrated. To learn how they were able to recall large amounts of information without taking notes, we take a look at some of the mnemonic devices mentioned in ninja documents. In the latter half of the program, we examine torches developed by the ninja. With the help of a pyrotechnician, we recreate a mizukakyo, or water-resistant torch, using ingredients of the time. Join us to see the experiment results!

15 min

S1 · E14 · Dec 22, 2020

Ninja in Tokyo Episode 14

Although the ninja are known for working in the shadows, the early Edo period found them serving in one-hundred-man units. Join Chris Glenn and Professor Yuji Yamada as they explore Tokyo and visit sites associated with the ninja. Their tour―interspersed with reenactments―reveals the deep connection between the ninja and Edo, the old name for Tokyo.

15 min

S1 · E15 · Nov 10, 2021

Ninja Communication Episode 15

Since ninja were engaged in espionage, they had to gather information and accurately convey it without anyone knowing. Typical means of information transmission included smoke signals, a cipher using knots in a rope, and special methods of transporting secret messages. But in the second half of the episode, we'll look at their ultimate method of concealing information: invisible ink! Find out how they did this, and follow Chris as he makes his own secret message with ninja techniques.

15 min

S1 · E16 · Nov 17, 2021

The Fuma Ninja Episode 16

The Hojo clan was a warrior clan that ruled the Kanto region from the 15th to 16th century. Supporting their efforts to defeat enemies and maintain control was a mysterious group called the Fuma ninja. Their leader, Fuma Kotaro, is described in historical documents as a monster, and may have been the reason why they were so feared. We'll look at how the Fuma ninja took over castles and also guarded them for the Hojo clan.

15 min

S1 · E17 · Feb 27, 2022

Iga, Home of the Ninja Episode 17

While the ninja moved unseen throughout Japan, Iga, in present-day Mie Prefecture, has been called the birthplace of the ninja arts. Join Chris Glenn and Professor Yuji Yamada as they explore Iga and trace the Iga people's journey from armed farmers who absorbed Shugendo teachings to their emergence as ninja. In the latter half, they visit sites related to the Tensho Iga War—an event that won the Iga ninja nationwide acclaim—and explore the shadow tactics used by the ninja to strike terror into the numerically superior Oda army.

15 min

S1 · E18 · Feb 27, 2022

The Ninja Art of Escape Episode 18

The ninja art of escape, or tonsojutsu, frequently took advantage of the human psyche. We examine some ninja tactics and get a psychologist's perspective on them. In the latter half, we recreate a torinoko, a ninja tool that frequently appears in pop culture. Using the sparse information available, we experiment with varying blend ratios to smoke out the ninja truth.

15 min

S1 · E19 · Mar 27, 2022

The Bansenshukai Episode 19

The Bansenshukai is a compilation of ninja techniques from 49 Iga and Koka ninja schools. It covers everything from ninja principles to various ninja techniques and tools. However, the ninja passed it on from master to apprentice with the utmost secrecy. So how did it come to see the light of day? It turns out that it was due to an unfortunate event involving ninja during the Edo period. We examine this event and also get television's first look at scrolls said to be the oldest extant copy of the Bansenshukai.

15 min

S1 · E20 · Mar 27, 2022

Ninja Tools of Clay and Stone Episode 20

Ninja tools of clay and stone were unearthed at sixteenth-century archaeological sites. They were clay makibishi and stone tsubute. However, iron-working techniques were already well established by this time. So why did the ninja use these materials? Iwata Akihiro from Saitama Prefectural Ranzan Historical Museum believes the ninja used them as a last resort. In this episode, we explore how these ninja tools came about and recreate clay makibishi to see if they'll stand up to the test.

15 min

S1 · E21 · Jul 20, 2022

The Koka Ninja - Their Light and Shadow Episode 21

Along with Iga, the Koka region is synonymous with ninja. The Koka Ninja are often depicted in anime and movies as the arch rivals of the Iga Ninja or as villains. But what were they really like? In this episode, we explore the Koka region with Professor Yuji Yamada of Mie University, learning about the turbulent history of the Koka Ninja, from their stunning success at the battle of "Magari-no-Jin" to the disaster that culminated in the "Koka Yure." Their democratic practices and deep bonds to each other as well as their homeland reveal a rather different side, and bring us ever closer to the ninja truth.

15 min

S1 · E22 · Jul 27, 2022

Flying Ninja Episode 22

Ninja have often been depicted flying on large kites in manga and anime. Was such a feat really possible? With the help of an expert in fluid dynamics as well as a traditional Japanese kite maker, we'll put this legend to the test scientifically using a miniature kite. We'll also delve into the mystery of the ninja's little-known technique of using kites to carry firebombs that could set the enemy's buildings ablaze.

15 min

S1 · E23 · Jan 25, 2023

THE LAST NINJA Episode 23

Two men have been called "the last ninja." The first is Fujita Seiko, who lived over a hundred years ago. Introducing himself as the last ninja, he held demonstrations throughout Japan and researched ninja arts. Going over footage of Fujita, we discuss the principles he taught. The second is Kawakami Jinichi, who is still alive today. We introduce the training he's continued for over sixty years and scientifically analyze a ninja breathing technique called "okinaga" to determine its effect.

15 min

S1 · E24 · Feb 1, 2023

The Forefront of Ninja Research Episode 24

We meet with two specialists at the forefront of ninja research. In 2021, Fukushima Takamasa found the Kanrinseiyo. Known to exist but never seen before, it's said to be the source material for the famous ninja manual, the Bansenshukai. It reveals previously unknown information about the ninja, including group tactics, night infiltration methods and a new ninja tool. We also learn about the ancient manuscripts Professor Yuji Yamada discovered at the Library of Congress in the US.

15 min

S1 · E25 · Aug 14, 2024

SARUTOBI Sasuke - The Original Ninja Hero Episode 25

The modern image of the ninja—an agile shadow warrior with impressive techniques—is derived from a fictional ninja named Sarutobi Sasuke. Yet he, in turn, was inspired by the real-life Sanada ninja.

15 min

S1 · E26 · Aug 21, 2024

Ninja to Keep the Peace Episode 26

Join us as we uncover the secrets of the ninjas who helped the Tokugawa shoguns to maintain order by collecting intelligence and investigating cases of unrest among the populace.

15 min

S1 · E27 · Mar 22, 2025

The Ninja and Disaster Preparedness Episode 27

The ninja tried to prepare for all emergencies. We'll examine how their survival mindset and techniques can be applied today and recent discoveries on their actions following a natural disaster.

15 min

S1 · E28 · Mar 29, 2025

Ninja Arts Inspired by the Animal Kingdom Episode 28

The ninja observed animal behavior and applied them to their techniques. Meeting with experts, we'll examine some inspired by cat movements and a weapon said to be made with a venomous creature.

15 min

S1 · E29 · Jul 20, 2025

The Hayamichi-no-mono of the North Episode 29

A ninja group known as the Hayamichi-no-mono operated in the northern Hirosaki Domain for about two hundred years. We examine the role they played and the unique martial arts they practiced.

15 min

S1 · E30 · Aug 17, 2025

The Ninja and Guns Episode 30

The arrival of guns in Japan changed the face of warfare. We examine the ninja's use of firearms, particularly in one famous assassination attempt, and the concealed guns they're said to have used.

15 min

S1 · E31 · Aug 22, 2026

The Ninja and the Weather Episode 31

The ninja developed weather forecasting techniques to help them survive and accomplish dangerous missions. With the help of a meteorologist, we examine several techniques found in the Bansenshukai.

15 min

S1 · E32 · Aug 29, 2026

The Latest in Ninja Research Episode 32

A collection of documents known as the Masugikaidake-monjo was discovered in Koka. Covering everything from family feuds to mission details and expenses, it provides new insight into the Koka ninja.

32 episodes in Season 1

Some details come from TheTVDB.

Ninja are now seen in popular media around the world. But as their profile rises, their reality gets muddied amid legends and fantasies. The truth about authentic ninja lies unknown, shrouded in mystery. This program carefully examines the fighting skills and tools used by actual ninja, and conducts experiments to determine the "Ninja Truth".

Documentary History Martial Arts

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Cast

1 person

Chris Glenn

Self - Presenter

Total runtime 8h 0m · Episode length 15 min · Type Documentary

Show info

Premiered

March 31, 2018

Latest episode

August 29, 2026

Status

Returning series

Network

NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Country

Japan

Type

Documentary

Episode length

15 min

Total runtime

8h 0m

Original language

English

Production

N

NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Production

Languages

Spoken on screen

English · Japanese

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Some details come from TheTVDB.

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