Last Ninja becomes university professor

By Tenkaijapan - Last updated: 木曜日, 2月 2, 2012 - Save & Share - One Comment

A man known as the “last ninja” has become a specially appointed professor at Mie University in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, to study how to apply information-gathering and other ninja techniques in the field of business.

Jinichi Kawakami, 62, the 21st head of the Koga ninja clan, assumed the post to teach ninja know-how at the university’s Community-University Cooperation Center as of Dec. 1.

Kawakami has promoted ninja culture at home and abroad through his studies.

He was 18 when he became head of the clan, one of Japan’s two major ninja clans dating back some 500 years. He began learning the use of ”shuriken” weapons and other skills from the age of 6 under his predecessor.

Kawakami is also the honorary director of Iga-ryu Ninja Museum where you can learn about Ninja and experience Ninjutsu ( martial arts practiced by Ninja).

View Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in a larger map
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum 117-13-1 Ueno Marunouchi, Iga-shi, Mie-ken
Entrance Fee: Adults: 700 yen (600 yen) Children: 400 yen (300 yen)
* Fees contained in ( ) are rates for groups of 30 or more
* Other Fees: Ninja Show 200 yen/person (Closed some days; please confirm beforehand) Shuriken Throwing Experience 200 yen/person, 5 throws
Hours of Operation
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
* Entry is closed at 4:30 p.m.
Days Closed Dec. 29 – Jan. 1
Web Site: http://iganinja.jp/en/index.html