Naruto Columns
03/16/2023
Ninja Descendant Gives Her Take on NARUTO! Find Out What Parts Were Accurate!
Hello, my name is Mitsuhiro Saito. Nice to meet you! Just like you, I love NARUTO. Shadow Clone Jutsu, Chidori, Rasengan... There are so many awesome ninjutsu that make the battle scenes intense and exciting!
But did this thought ever pop into your head while reading NARUTO?
But did this thought ever pop into your head while reading NARUTO?
"No way real ninja were like this."
The ninja recorded in Japanese history must have been different from the ones that appear in NARUTO, right? It's hard to believe Sharingan and the Reanimation Jutsu could exist in the real world...right? Then, what kind of ninja did exist, and what kind of jutsu could they use?
It was these questions that led us to speak with Hibari, a descendant of real-life ninja who has inherited the Iga-Omi Hattori-Ryū Ninjutsu!
The ninja recorded in Japanese history must have been different from the ones that appear in NARUTO, right? It's hard to believe Sharingan and the Reanimation Jutsu could exist in the real world...right? Then, what kind of ninja did exist, and what kind of jutsu could they use?
It was these questions that led us to speak with Hibari, a descendant of real-life ninja who has inherited the Iga-Omi Hattori-Ryū Ninjutsu!
Hibari: Inheritor of Iga-Omi Hattori-Ryū Ninjutsu. Guest on various shows, including Kinniku Banzuke (TBS). Has since been known in the media as "The World's Toughest Trans Person". Currently the Chief Representative of ninja company "Ayatachi" and instructor of "Ninja Action" at the action-acrobatic studio "Tsubasa Kichi".
What were real ninja and ninjutsu like?
How does a real-life ninja perceive NARUTO?
These are some of the questions I was eager to hear answered.
They might have come off as ridiculous, but she graciously responded to all of them!
What were real ninja and ninjutsu like?
How does a real-life ninja perceive NARUTO?
These are some of the questions I was eager to hear answered.
They might have come off as ridiculous, but she graciously responded to all of them!
What Is a Ninja?
Saito: (What an outfit!!!) Umm... I'd first like to ask... Is it true that you're a real-life ninja?
Hibari: I'm sure you know who "Hanzo Hattori" is. My ancestor is Hanzo (Masanari) Hattori and my bloodline goes all the way back to the days in Omi (currently Nagano Prefecture). I am the 25th heir to the Omi Hattori Ayatachino Subeno Tsutae, but that name is hard to understand nowadays so I have been calling it "Iga-Omi Hattori-Ryū Ninjutsu".
Saito: I see... I'm going to be frank, but I'm looking at how you're dressed and wondering if real ninja dressed like that...
Hibari: I'll explain why I dress like this later.
Saito: All right. Then I would like to start by asking general questions about ninja.
I believe all the ninja and ninjutsu that appear in NARUTO are fictional. On the other hand, I think people have this general idea of what real ninja are like. How they're cloaked in black, throw shuriken, infiltrate various locations, and take out their enemies. I wonder if that depiction is consistent with how it actually was in history. Let's start off with the basic questions. What are ninja? Did they really exist?
Hibari: Here's the bottom line: ninja have existed for a long time. But of course, the ninja shown in NARUTO, as well as the kind of "ninja" people usually imagine, are different from actual ninja.
Let me start by explaining the jobs of ninja and each of their roles. Ninja either served under a daimyō, a feudal lord, or they worked independently from them and formed a unit, hired for such things as espionage, sabotage, raids, conspiracies, and assassinations. People use the umbrella term "ninja". There are many theories, but I believe they were classified into different roles and each had their own title. The following is an example of those roles and names.
・Rappa, Ayatachi: Carries out raids and sabotage on the battlefield
・Suppa, Misukashi: Sneaks into enemy territory to engage in espionage
・Toppa, Tsukisashi: Prepares for allied forces to break in using some form of sabotage
・Kamari: Performs reconnaissance and collects intel
・Dakkō: Spreads fabricated information to benefit allies
Saito: To be honest, I had also thought a ninja could perform all of those roles. But now that I think about it, it wouldn't be very efficient if each person did all of those kinds of missions. So there was a division of labor.
Hibari: Exactly. It is said that "ninjutsu" refers to the infiltration skills mastered for the purpose of these missions, and a "shinobi no mono" ("a shinobi") is one who uses such ninjutsu. As generations passed by, they would become widely known as "ninja".
Hibari: I'm sure you know who "Hanzo Hattori" is. My ancestor is Hanzo (Masanari) Hattori and my bloodline goes all the way back to the days in Omi (currently Nagano Prefecture). I am the 25th heir to the Omi Hattori Ayatachino Subeno Tsutae, but that name is hard to understand nowadays so I have been calling it "Iga-Omi Hattori-Ryū Ninjutsu".
Saito: I see... I'm going to be frank, but I'm looking at how you're dressed and wondering if real ninja dressed like that...
Hibari: I'll explain why I dress like this later.
Saito: All right. Then I would like to start by asking general questions about ninja.
I believe all the ninja and ninjutsu that appear in NARUTO are fictional. On the other hand, I think people have this general idea of what real ninja are like. How they're cloaked in black, throw shuriken, infiltrate various locations, and take out their enemies. I wonder if that depiction is consistent with how it actually was in history. Let's start off with the basic questions. What are ninja? Did they really exist?
Hibari: Here's the bottom line: ninja have existed for a long time. But of course, the ninja shown in NARUTO, as well as the kind of "ninja" people usually imagine, are different from actual ninja.
Let me start by explaining the jobs of ninja and each of their roles. Ninja either served under a daimyō, a feudal lord, or they worked independently from them and formed a unit, hired for such things as espionage, sabotage, raids, conspiracies, and assassinations. People use the umbrella term "ninja". There are many theories, but I believe they were classified into different roles and each had their own title. The following is an example of those roles and names.
・Rappa, Ayatachi: Carries out raids and sabotage on the battlefield
・Suppa, Misukashi: Sneaks into enemy territory to engage in espionage
・Toppa, Tsukisashi: Prepares for allied forces to break in using some form of sabotage
・Kamari: Performs reconnaissance and collects intel
・Dakkō: Spreads fabricated information to benefit allies
Saito: To be honest, I had also thought a ninja could perform all of those roles. But now that I think about it, it wouldn't be very efficient if each person did all of those kinds of missions. So there was a division of labor.
Hibari: Exactly. It is said that "ninjutsu" refers to the infiltration skills mastered for the purpose of these missions, and a "shinobi no mono" ("a shinobi") is one who uses such ninjutsu. As generations passed by, they would become widely known as "ninja".
Ninjutsu Is Only Acquired by Being Passed Down
Saito: How did you learn ninjutsu? In NARUTO, students went to the Ninja Academy.
Hibari: In my family, ninjutsu is handed down to one's children. There aren't dojos, much less academies. As far back as I can remember, my father would teach me ninjutsu and we would practice in the living room.
Saito: Living room?! A western-style home?! I feel like I can picture the memories of a real-life ninja... Was ninja training tough, though?
Saito: Living room?! A western-style home?! I feel like I can picture the memories of a real-life ninja... Was ninja training tough, though?
Hibari: I really hated ninja training. I mean... I just wanted to be a girl (laughs).
*Hibari is an LGBTQIA+ minority who works at the bar "Kamari'' in Shinjuku Ni-Chome. She is also known as the "The World's Toughest Trans Person".
That's why I didn't want to do anything barbaric like physically hurting people. My brother (the eldest son) was supposed to inherit the ninjutsu, but he was injured as a child so he wasn't able to train. That's when I started training in his place.
Saito: I understand. Since it's passed down within the family, a descendant has to inherit it. Sounds like a hard way of life...
Hibari: But, even though I inherited the ninjutsu, I likely won't have an heir to it. The bloodline will end with me. That's why I want to show it in the form of "ninja action" so that it can live on as a tradition.
*Hibari is an LGBTQIA+ minority who works at the bar "Kamari'' in Shinjuku Ni-Chome. She is also known as the "The World's Toughest Trans Person".
That's why I didn't want to do anything barbaric like physically hurting people. My brother (the eldest son) was supposed to inherit the ninjutsu, but he was injured as a child so he wasn't able to train. That's when I started training in his place.
Saito: I understand. Since it's passed down within the family, a descendant has to inherit it. Sounds like a hard way of life...
Hibari: But, even though I inherited the ninjutsu, I likely won't have an heir to it. The bloodline will end with me. That's why I want to show it in the form of "ninja action" so that it can live on as a tradition.
"Signs": Connecting Your Spirit to Power Borrowed from Gods
Saito: So what kinds of ninjutsu are there? For example, in NARUTO the characters create "signs" with their hands to bring forth jutsu. Do hand signs really exist?
Hibari: Of course they do. Let me show you right now.
Hibari: AH! KI! SA! TA! KA! HA! WA! YA! EH!
Saito: Quite powerful. But, you can't perform ninjutsu with these, right?
Hibari: Correct. This is a way to unify your spirit. I do this every morning when I wake up.
Saito: In NARUTO, there are 12 hand signs that correspond to the Chinese zodiac. I've also heard there are other hand sign sets like "Rin, Pyō, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" that aren't used in the story. Are the signs you use different from both of these?
Hibari: "Rin, Pyō, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" is a set of signs used in settings like Vajrayana Buddhism and Shugendō training. The sign sequence "Ah, Ki, Sa, Ta, Ka, Ha, Wa, Ya, Eh" is from an ancient text passed down within my family.
Saito: What meaning does the set of syllables "Ah, Ki, Sa, Ta, Ka, Ha, Wa, Ya, Eh" have?
Hibari: Have you heard of "kotodama"? It's the belief that when positive words like "beautiful" or "wonderful" are used, they give positive energy back to the speaker.
Saito: I kind of get it.
Hibari: "Beautiful" and "wonderful" are full words, but in my family we have long held the belief that even the sounds that compose words hold energy. And from all the syllables that exist in the Japanese language, we believe the combination "Ah, Ki, Sa, Ta, Ka, Ha, Wa, Ya, Eh" contains the most energy. Each syllable holds power from gods, and the idea is that when we form signs we receive their divine energy.
Saito: I see. So in a way it's kind of like a ritual.
Hibari: Correct. This is a way to unify your spirit. I do this every morning when I wake up.
Saito: In NARUTO, there are 12 hand signs that correspond to the Chinese zodiac. I've also heard there are other hand sign sets like "Rin, Pyō, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" that aren't used in the story. Are the signs you use different from both of these?
Hibari: "Rin, Pyō, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" is a set of signs used in settings like Vajrayana Buddhism and Shugendō training. The sign sequence "Ah, Ki, Sa, Ta, Ka, Ha, Wa, Ya, Eh" is from an ancient text passed down within my family.
Saito: What meaning does the set of syllables "Ah, Ki, Sa, Ta, Ka, Ha, Wa, Ya, Eh" have?
Hibari: Have you heard of "kotodama"? It's the belief that when positive words like "beautiful" or "wonderful" are used, they give positive energy back to the speaker.
Saito: I kind of get it.
Hibari: "Beautiful" and "wonderful" are full words, but in my family we have long held the belief that even the sounds that compose words hold energy. And from all the syllables that exist in the Japanese language, we believe the combination "Ah, Ki, Sa, Ta, Ka, Ha, Wa, Ya, Eh" contains the most energy. Each syllable holds power from gods, and the idea is that when we form signs we receive their divine energy.
Saito: I see. So in a way it's kind of like a ritual.
Shadow Clone Jutsu Existed?! The Difference Between Fictional and Real Ninjutsu
Saito: In NARUTO, Ninja can make clones by using the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Of course I don't believe this can be done in real life, but was there anything similar to this ninjutsu?
Hibari: Clone Jutsu does exist.
Saito: What? Really?!
Hibari: Except it's not a magical way to duplicate yourself. It's a technique where other people dressed like you come out from various directions. It's used in battles to confuse the enemy, or as a method of escape. It can also be used when stealing something to make it hard to identify the thief.
Saito: What? Really?!
Hibari: Except it's not a magical way to duplicate yourself. It's a technique where other people dressed like you come out from various directions. It's used in battles to confuse the enemy, or as a method of escape. It can also be used when stealing something to make it hard to identify the thief.
Saito: Interesting. Seems like you would need manpower, but it would definitely confuse the enemy. Was there anything like the fire style jutsu in NARUTO, where ninja breathe out fire to fight enemies?
Hibari: Fire style jutsu also really exist. Are you aware of what "遁 (ton, 'style')" means?
Saito: That's a head scratcher. I've used it without thinking much about it, so I have no clue what it actually means.
Hibari: It means "to escape". So, fire style jutsu use fire to catch your opponent off guard, creating a chance to escape.
Saito: That makes sense, it sounds very ninja-like. So how exactly did they produce fire?
Hibari: The method involves filling cylinders with "moxa", normally used in moxibustion, after modifying it to act as a source of ignition. It is believed that you would blow into it and have fire fly out at your enemy.
Saito: I see, so then it looks like you're breathing fire.
Hibari: Correct. This was probably the initial inspiration from which the fire style jutsu used by ninja in NARUTO and other fictional works developed.
Saito: That's a head scratcher. I've used it without thinking much about it, so I have no clue what it actually means.
Hibari: It means "to escape". So, fire style jutsu use fire to catch your opponent off guard, creating a chance to escape.
Saito: That makes sense, it sounds very ninja-like. So how exactly did they produce fire?
Hibari: The method involves filling cylinders with "moxa", normally used in moxibustion, after modifying it to act as a source of ignition. It is believed that you would blow into it and have fire fly out at your enemy.
Saito: I see, so then it looks like you're breathing fire.
Hibari: Correct. This was probably the initial inspiration from which the fire style jutsu used by ninja in NARUTO and other fictional works developed.
Saito: How about water style jutsu?
In NARUTO, these jutsu create currents and fog. But when I think about water jutsu in the context of "fleeing", the famous trope of a ninja using bamboo to breathe while hiding underwater comes to mind.
Hibari: I've actually tried using bamboo to breathe while hiding underwater.
Saito: Really?! How'd that go?
Hibari: It's impossible. You would drown. It's probably purely fictional.
Saito: How disappointing...!
Hibari: Your jaw begins to hurt from holding the bamboo in your mouth, and water comes gushing in through the gaps between your mouth and the bamboo. If those gaps were sealed like they are with a snorkel, maybe it would be possible. But it's very difficult with just the bamboo.
Hibari: I've actually tried using bamboo to breathe while hiding underwater.
Saito: Really?! How'd that go?
Hibari: It's impossible. You would drown. It's probably purely fictional.
Saito: How disappointing...!
Hibari: Your jaw begins to hurt from holding the bamboo in your mouth, and water comes gushing in through the gaps between your mouth and the bamboo. If those gaps were sealed like they are with a snorkel, maybe it would be possible. But it's very difficult with just the bamboo.
Naruto Uzumaki's Outfit Is "Realistic" from a Ninja's Perspective
We moved over to the "Tsubasa Kichi" studio where Hibari teaches ninja techniques. She showed us her ninja tools and demonstrated some moves.
Saito: I see you've changed your clothes.
Hibari: This is a shinobi costume thought to have been worn by ninja... That said, it's actually the same outfit farmers normally wore back then. Ninja would just add a face covering to it to mask their identities. This way, when they needed to hide they could remove that covering and blend in with the farmers (Note: various theories exist).
Saito: So ninja were just wearing "normal" clothing... It certainly does look suited for farm work.
Hibari: Yes. Shinobi costumes are basically "normal" clothes since ninja aren't supposed to stand out. Before I was wearing very flashy clothes, right? Those are what I think of as "normal". Since I'm a ninja in the current generation, I believe that outfit would be considered a genuine shinobi costume.
Saito: I see you've changed your clothes.
Hibari: This is a shinobi costume thought to have been worn by ninja... That said, it's actually the same outfit farmers normally wore back then. Ninja would just add a face covering to it to mask their identities. This way, when they needed to hide they could remove that covering and blend in with the farmers (Note: various theories exist).
Saito: So ninja were just wearing "normal" clothing... It certainly does look suited for farm work.
Hibari: Yes. Shinobi costumes are basically "normal" clothes since ninja aren't supposed to stand out. Before I was wearing very flashy clothes, right? Those are what I think of as "normal". Since I'm a ninja in the current generation, I believe that outfit would be considered a genuine shinobi costume.
Saito: I didn't realize how much thought went into the clothing...! I was wondering why a real ninja would wear such clothes.
Hibari: Naruto Uzumaki always wore his colorful orange tracksuit. I thought it was actually incredibly realistic for him to be drawn in something like that as opposed to a black costume with a face covering. Along with all the other characters, he was just using his "normal" clothes as his shinobi costume.
Hibari: Naruto Uzumaki always wore his colorful orange tracksuit. I thought it was actually incredibly realistic for him to be drawn in something like that as opposed to a black costume with a face covering. Along with all the other characters, he was just using his "normal" clothes as his shinobi costume.
Saito: I never thought about it like that! So the NARUTO characters' shinobi costumes were actually quite appropriate for the setting...
Shuriken Were Handheld, Hidden Weapons
Saito: This is a shuriken, right?
Hibari: This is called a "shihō-shuriken". Now, most people imagine shuriken as weapons thrown with a flick of the wrist, but they actually aren't meant to be throwing weapons at all.
Saito: What?! They aren't?
Hibari: Shuriken (手裏剣) is written "手の裏の剣 (teno urano ken, 'hidden sword in hand')". Just as the name implies, this is a hidden, handheld weapon.
Hibari: This is called a "shihō-shuriken". Now, most people imagine shuriken as weapons thrown with a flick of the wrist, but they actually aren't meant to be throwing weapons at all.
Saito: What?! They aren't?
Hibari: Shuriken (手裏剣) is written "手の裏の剣 (teno urano ken, 'hidden sword in hand')". Just as the name implies, this is a hidden, handheld weapon.
Hibari: You hold it like this and use the blades to injure the eyes, ears, or vital points.
Saito: That's fascinating. Could you demonstrate for me how you would actually use one?
Hibari: Sure, let me show you. Please act as the enemy and attack me with this fake dagger.
Saito: That's fascinating. Could you demonstrate for me how you would actually use one?
Hibari: Sure, let me show you. Please act as the enemy and attack me with this fake dagger.
1. The enemy wields a dagger and tries to attack the ninja's face.
2. The ninja blocks the attack with the hand not holding the shuriken, directing the strike away from their body.
2. The ninja blocks the attack with the hand not holding the shuriken, directing the strike away from their body.
3. The ninja grabs the enemy's dagger hand, and twists their wrist.
4. The enemy is forced to drop the dagger (center of the image shows dagger dropping).
5. The ninja twists the enemy's wrist in the opposite direction.
6. The ninja locks the enemy's wrist with one hand while their other lifts the enemy's elbow.
7. The ninja stabs the shuriken into the enemy's side through the gap in their armor.
8. From this position, the ninja continues by slashing the enemy's face.
9. While still holding the enemy's arm, the ninja stabs the shuriken into their brain stem.
10. The ninja throws the enemy forward.
11. While the enemy is immobilized, the ninja interrogates by asking "Who do you work for?"
12. If the enemy does not answer, the ninja slices their carotid artery.
Saito: Urgh... I'm... done for...
What was that?! You killed me instantly!
Hibari: This is how you would really use a shuriken.
Saito: I learned a lot from that demo, more than enough, actually... So ninja never threw shuriken at all?
Hibari: Actually, there were times when they did throw shuriken. For example, if the enemy was getting away, they might be thrown as a last resort. It's actually very hard to hit an enemy with a flying shuriken.
Saito: I'm used to seeing them in movies so I hadn't considered that, but now that you point it out, it does sound difficult...
Hibari: Since it's so hard to do, ninja have to train a lot to make sure they won't miss. I think that might be how the perception of shuriken as throwing weapons came about.
What was that?! You killed me instantly!
Hibari: This is how you would really use a shuriken.
Saito: I learned a lot from that demo, more than enough, actually... So ninja never threw shuriken at all?
Hibari: Actually, there were times when they did throw shuriken. For example, if the enemy was getting away, they might be thrown as a last resort. It's actually very hard to hit an enemy with a flying shuriken.
Saito: I'm used to seeing them in movies so I hadn't considered that, but now that you point it out, it does sound difficult...
Hibari: Since it's so hard to do, ninja have to train a lot to make sure they won't miss. I think that might be how the perception of shuriken as throwing weapons came about.
Everyday Items Were Used As Ninja Tools
Saito: Now then. We learned how to use shihō-shuriken, but I see there are other kinds of ninja tools.
Hibari: The three stick-like tools at the top are called bō-shuriken. These bō-shuriken are designed for making "direct strikes" (Note: Correct verb choice is "strike" not "throw" for shuriken), and a material such as animal skin is used to weight the tip to prevent rotation when thrown.
The ones here have tape wrapped around them.
Saito: The ones on the bottom-right are kunai, right?
Hibari: Correct. Kunai are a type of double-edged knife. They were more commonly used as everyday tools than as weapons.
Hibari: The three stick-like tools at the top are called bō-shuriken. These bō-shuriken are designed for making "direct strikes" (Note: Correct verb choice is "strike" not "throw" for shuriken), and a material such as animal skin is used to weight the tip to prevent rotation when thrown.
The ones here have tape wrapped around them.
Saito: The ones on the bottom-right are kunai, right?
Hibari: Correct. Kunai are a type of double-edged knife. They were more commonly used as everyday tools than as weapons.
Saito: The kunai on the left has a rope attached to it. How is that one used?
Hibari: Kunai have a hole in the handle for rope to be tied. You would spin the rope tied to the kunai around to harvest persimmons or chestnuts from the tops of trees. They were made to make life easier, that's why they're called kunai (苦無, "painless") (Note: There are various other theories, one of which explains 苦無 as "a painless way to die").
Saito: How convenient! They really do seem like "everyday tools".
Hibari: That's right. To add to that, it's best to assume there are no weapons that were specifically made for ninja. I might be repeating myself, but ninja aren't supposed to stand out, so they would carry tools that most commoners would have in their possession and use them as weapons.
Saito: Does that apply to the shuriken from earlier as well?
Hibari: Kunai have a hole in the handle for rope to be tied. You would spin the rope tied to the kunai around to harvest persimmons or chestnuts from the tops of trees. They were made to make life easier, that's why they're called kunai (苦無, "painless") (Note: There are various other theories, one of which explains 苦無 as "a painless way to die").
Saito: How convenient! They really do seem like "everyday tools".
Hibari: That's right. To add to that, it's best to assume there are no weapons that were specifically made for ninja. I might be repeating myself, but ninja aren't supposed to stand out, so they would carry tools that most commoners would have in their possession and use them as weapons.
Saito: Does that apply to the shuriken from earlier as well?
Hibari: Shuriken had prototypes, some of which looked like the objects above. The gold, cross-shaped one is a katsuma and the yellow, stick-shaped one is a dokko. They're both items used in Buddhism, so walking around with them wouldn't have been considered strange.
Saito: I see. So even if you were caught with them, no one would suspect you were a ninja.
Hibari: Exactly. By the way, the dokko doesn't have a blade but, just like a regular shuriken, you hold it in your hand and use it to attack your enemy.
Saito: Like brass knuckles! That would be painful!
Saito: I see. So even if you were caught with them, no one would suspect you were a ninja.
Hibari: Exactly. By the way, the dokko doesn't have a blade but, just like a regular shuriken, you hold it in your hand and use it to attack your enemy.
Saito: Like brass knuckles! That would be painful!
A Real Ninja's Thoughts on NARUTO
Saito: I now realize how different real ninja are from those depicted in NARUTO, and from what most people picture when they think of a ninja.
Hibari: As a ninja living in the current age, I want to correct people's misconceptions about ninja. I'm happy to hear you've learned so much.
Saito: But during the interview I got the feeling that you didn't really have a negative impression of how ninja are depicted in the fictional story of NARUTO. Could you explain your thoughts?
Hibari: When reading NARUTO, you learn that they live in a world where the Five Great Nations exist, and each nation has their own hidden village. It's not a story that takes place in our reality at all.
Saito: That's true. It's a different world.
Hibari: Therefore, it seems natural for the ninja of that world to be like those we see depicted in NARUTO. Of course, if there were ninja like that in a story set in Japan, I would very much question it.
Hibari: As a ninja living in the current age, I want to correct people's misconceptions about ninja. I'm happy to hear you've learned so much.
Saito: But during the interview I got the feeling that you didn't really have a negative impression of how ninja are depicted in the fictional story of NARUTO. Could you explain your thoughts?
Hibari: When reading NARUTO, you learn that they live in a world where the Five Great Nations exist, and each nation has their own hidden village. It's not a story that takes place in our reality at all.
Saito: That's true. It's a different world.
Hibari: Therefore, it seems natural for the ninja of that world to be like those we see depicted in NARUTO. Of course, if there were ninja like that in a story set in Japan, I would very much question it.
Saito: That makes sense. It's similar to what you were saying earlier about how Naruto Uzumaki's shinobi costume was realistic.
Hibari: Also, you know how in NARUTO, Genin can work their way up to becoming Jonin?
Saito: Yes, Naruto Uzumaki starts as a Genin but dreams of becoming Hokage.
Hibari: It is believed that the Genin/Jonin concept existed for ninja in our world as well. But in reality, Jonin were in management positions, and tended to be samurai dispatched by daimyō or the shogunate. They didn't take on missions as ninja themselves. In addition, due to the class system in place back then, it wasn't really possible for ninja born as Genin to work their way up to Jonin. Although, the concept of "might makes right" also existed to some extent in that period, so there may have been some exceptions for extremely talented Genin.
Saito: In any case, it was a tough world to live in...
Hibari: But I love how shōnen manga conveys the message of "If you work hard enough you'll be rewarded" to children. That's something I really like about NARUTO.
Saito: I feel like our readers will be able to enjoy NARUTO even more thanks to your insights as a real-life ninja. Thank you very much for your time today.
Hibari: Also, you know how in NARUTO, Genin can work their way up to becoming Jonin?
Saito: Yes, Naruto Uzumaki starts as a Genin but dreams of becoming Hokage.
Hibari: It is believed that the Genin/Jonin concept existed for ninja in our world as well. But in reality, Jonin were in management positions, and tended to be samurai dispatched by daimyō or the shogunate. They didn't take on missions as ninja themselves. In addition, due to the class system in place back then, it wasn't really possible for ninja born as Genin to work their way up to Jonin. Although, the concept of "might makes right" also existed to some extent in that period, so there may have been some exceptions for extremely talented Genin.
Saito: In any case, it was a tough world to live in...
Hibari: But I love how shōnen manga conveys the message of "If you work hard enough you'll be rewarded" to children. That's something I really like about NARUTO.
Saito: I feel like our readers will be able to enjoy NARUTO even more thanks to your insights as a real-life ninja. Thank you very much for your time today.
Cooperation: Tsubasa Kichi
Address: 2-10-7 Mukaihara, Itabashi City, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6789-0015
Interview/Compilation: Mitsuhiro Saito
Photography: Nanako Ono
Address: 2-10-7 Mukaihara, Itabashi City, Tokyo
TEL: 03-6789-0015
Interview/Compilation: Mitsuhiro Saito
Photography: Nanako Ono
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