I like the sidebar to the submitted article, "Western ninja-inspired nonsense." Popular culture references to Japanese ninja are not likely to be accurate descriptions of ninja technique. I first read about ninja ( 忍者 ) in the very interesting book Asian Fighting Arts
in the 1970s. I think the Western sources have always exaggerated the most glamorous aspects of traditional Japanese culture and neglected the day-by-day realities.
http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Fighting-Arts-Donn-Draeger/dp/08...
in the 1970s. I think the Western sources have always exaggerated the most glamorous aspects of traditional Japanese culture and neglected the day-by-day realities.