The Ninjas In Modern Pop Culture

The idea of the ninja, a masked figure dressed in black, an assassin cloaked by night, as stealthy as a tiger, has existed throughout history. This idea has fascinated and captivated us to the point where ninjas exist in modern pop culture. Movies depict easily recognizable martial arts heroes such as Bruce Lee. However, not everything we think we know about these shadow warriors is true. Most people today have no idea where or why the ninjas originated and many confuse misconceptions with fact. Historians have been able to pin down where ninjas came from. They have identified the motives and reasons ninjas had for doing what they did. Finally, the secrets of the elusive ninja will be revealed. One topic that has been disputed for quite some time is which country the ninja originated from. Some say the ninja hails from ancient Japan, but they would only be partially correct. The first fully fledged ninjas were documented and accounted for in Japan, and even ninja culture in the West came to …show more content…
Naturally, many of the first writings of ninjas appeared in ancient Japan. In fact, early Japanese folklore described the ninja as a half-man, half-bird demon. Obviously historians have found that to be an unfounded accusation. Kallie Szczepanski, an Asian history expert with a masters degree in History at Boston University says, “The earliest Japanese writings about ninjas depict them as the opposite of the noble samurai.” (“Why Americans Became Obsessed With Ninjas” np) In the 12th century during early, feudal Japan, a higher class of Japanese people began to gain power. These people were samurai. This is when ninjas were most active as they were fighting samurai oppression. Ninjas remained a prominent part of life until the beginning of the Edo Period in Japan. This period began around 1603 and ended in 1868. (“Kids Web Japan” np) In short, both China and Japan play huge roles in the history of the