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Ninja: Unmasking the Myth
The ninja is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese military culture, a fighter who is widely regarded as the world s greatest exponent of secret warfare. He infiltrates castles, gathers vital intelligence and wields a deadly knife in the dark. His easily recognisable image is that of a secret agent or assassin who dresses all in black, possesses almost magical martial powers, and is capable of extraordinary feats of daring. He sells his skills on a mercenary basis and when in action his unique abilities include confusing his enemies by making mystical hand gestures or by sending sharp iron stars spinning towards them. That is the popular view, but it is much exaggerated, as this exciting new book explains. _The Ninja Unmasked_ is a revealing, fascinating and authoritative study of Japan s famous secret warriors. Unlike all previous books on the subject the author, who is an expert in the subject, does not take the ninja for granted. Instead he examines the entire phenomenon in a critical manner, ranging from accounts of undercover operations during "the age of Japan s civil wars" to the modern emergence of the superman ninja as a comic book character. The popular ninja image is shown to be the result of several influences that were combined to create the world s greatest secret warrior. Many well-known features of the ninja tradition such as the black clothes and the iron stars are shown to be complete inventions. One important feature of the book is the use of original Japanese sources, many of which have never been translated before. As well as unknown accounts of castle attacks, assassinations and espionage they include the last great ninja manual, which reveals the spiritual and religious ideals that were believed to lie behind the ninja s arts. The book concludes with a detailed investigation of the ninja in popular culture up to the present day including movies, cartoons and theme parks.
- GenresHistoryJapanNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
Published April 19, 2018
48 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Turnbull
178 books123 followersStephen Richard Turnbull is British a historian specializing in eastern military history, especially the samurai of Japan. His books are mainly on Japanese and Mongolian subjects. He attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree. He currently holds an MA in Theology, MA in Military History and a PhD from the University of Leeds where he is currently a lecturer in Far Eastern Religions. He has also written a number of books on other medieval topics. He is semi-retired but still holds the post of Visiting Professor of Japanese Studies at Akita International University in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 3, 2020
This was a very interesting book, and I particularly liked that it dove into the difference between historical evidence and commonly accepted 'truth' and the role of media and myth. There were a few places, where I felt that more historical sources could have been useful for making points, and I was not as gripped by the writing style as I was by the subject matter. However, a fascinating read especially for anyone with an interest in ninjas whether from the historical pov or because of their role in the eyes of modern society.
April 9, 2018
Excellent book giving overview of Ninja historical facts and what became accepted as truth in the 1900's when Ninja started to play role in numerous pulp fiction and (quasi)historical works.
Author gives a very clear picture of elite, highly trained warrior clans/families of Japan's turbulent past and how term Ninja - and concept that has very little to do with historical facts but much more with fantasy fiction - by which we know Ninja today - did not appear until late 19th and into 20th century.
What did irritate me a a little is slight apologetic context especially at the start of the book where Mr. Turnbull says he made mistakes in his previous works and unintentionally helped further the [historically untrue] view of the Ninja.
We are talking about something that was part of warfare in medieval Japan - of course not everything is in the historical records and of course they get distorted with times but that is why it is important to write on the subject and this is something Mr. Turnbull did at all times - investigation, exploration of available [accent on this] texts and writing books on the subject. This is area of one nations culture where everything was always kept in-house, transmitted from master to apprentice in direct form without writing everything [or in some cases anything] down in order to keep the clan/family safe and their business/trade secure in future. Same can be said of any guild where they have trade secrets of sorts - e.g. in Europe this would apply to glass and porcelain manufacturers.
If anybody has any criticism of Mr. Turnbull's work (s)he can write and publish their own work on the subject and provide detailed information. This type of counter-argument is productive. Counter-productive is when counter-argument is provided via various blogs and other sites where internet in general is prime source of information (which unfortunately is not so good idea because you can find a lot of stuff that just does not have anything to do with historical facts).
Author shows how myths are made - starting from the point where basic elements are in (those that are based in real world facts) and then use of magic and wizardry puts the myth more and more into domain of fantasy.
Highly recommended. If you are interested in Japan's military history I wholeheartedly recommend works by Stephen Turnbull and books by Karl F. Friday.
Author gives a very clear picture of elite, highly trained warrior clans/families of Japan's turbulent past and how term Ninja - and concept that has very little to do with historical facts but much more with fantasy fiction - by which we know Ninja today - did not appear until late 19th and into 20th century.
What did irritate me a a little is slight apologetic context especially at the start of the book where Mr. Turnbull says he made mistakes in his previous works and unintentionally helped further the [historically untrue] view of the Ninja.
We are talking about something that was part of warfare in medieval Japan - of course not everything is in the historical records and of course they get distorted with times but that is why it is important to write on the subject and this is something Mr. Turnbull did at all times - investigation, exploration of available [accent on this] texts and writing books on the subject. This is area of one nations culture where everything was always kept in-house, transmitted from master to apprentice in direct form without writing everything [or in some cases anything] down in order to keep the clan/family safe and their business/trade secure in future. Same can be said of any guild where they have trade secrets of sorts - e.g. in Europe this would apply to glass and porcelain manufacturers.
If anybody has any criticism of Mr. Turnbull's work (s)he can write and publish their own work on the subject and provide detailed information. This type of counter-argument is productive. Counter-productive is when counter-argument is provided via various blogs and other sites where internet in general is prime source of information (which unfortunately is not so good idea because you can find a lot of stuff that just does not have anything to do with historical facts).
Author shows how myths are made - starting from the point where basic elements are in (those that are based in real world facts) and then use of magic and wizardry puts the myth more and more into domain of fantasy.
Highly recommended. If you are interested in Japan's military history I wholeheartedly recommend works by Stephen Turnbull and books by Karl F. Friday.
March 20, 2022
It is certainly not the last word on ninja, and I for one would love a companion volume delving more deeply into the growth of the mythologies and what they have to say about the cultures and eras they came out of. What did the Fantomas-like supernatural super-criminal say that was so attractive to Edo-era audiences of the kabuki, for instance? What is the modern use of the ninja as a fitness mascot in more than one culture?
In any case, this charts a narrow but successful course between what can be historically defended and how it has tended to be interpreted, seen through the lens of one man's journey. It is perhaps a little too dogged about what Stephen considers (probably rightly) a too-broad interpretation of the terms that appear in historical documents, and the rather shaky history of the term kunoichi.
On the historical side, I would love to see a book focused more on the official bodyguards, investigators, and sometimes secret police of the Tokugawa.
In any case, I found this a very useful primer and a nice bit of anodyne to some of the excesses of the mythology.
In any case, this charts a narrow but successful course between what can be historically defended and how it has tended to be interpreted, seen through the lens of one man's journey. It is perhaps a little too dogged about what Stephen considers (probably rightly) a too-broad interpretation of the terms that appear in historical documents, and the rather shaky history of the term kunoichi.
On the historical side, I would love to see a book focused more on the official bodyguards, investigators, and sometimes secret police of the Tokugawa.
In any case, I found this a very useful primer and a nice bit of anodyne to some of the excesses of the mythology.
March 27, 2023
The author did an extensive research on this one. I love how comprehensive it is.
October 23, 2024
A disappointing read. The historical origins of the real ninjas, and their significance really only amounts to about half of the book at the most. The rest is just a long list of references of pulp fiction, movies, academics, propagandists and others that invoked the name ninja, or ninjitsu or shinobi. Then he takes the time to knock them down as un-serious or historically inaccurate. Fun.
Turnbull is probably an accomplished academic and perhaps a good teacher, but a good writer he is not. There is no narrative flow to this book. It feels like a regurgitation of anyone who wrote or spoke of ninjas in the past five centuries. Paragraphs are weighed down by a multitude of proper nouns, throwing in references to daimyo, generals, castles, and towns over and over.
This usually happens for two reasons (1) writing with the conceit that the audience is already familiar with the subject-matter and therefore he doesn't have to describe anything in detail or; (2) he feels constant need to show off his research skills.
This book must have been well-researched and from my limited reading into the subject, Turnbull is an authority, but so much of this is just him talking about others talking about ninjas. Sadly, so much of what I know about ninjas is invented, which was disappointing to learn. Turnbull doesn't really try to do anything about the inevitable disappointment all readers will feel in reading about the origins of these enigmatic and mysterious warriors. It just hangs over you as you read each page.
In the hands of a better writer and without a publisher likely requiring a minimum page length, I think a brief book on ninjas could have been interesting. Again, Turnbull sounds like a highly accomplished academic but this book is not a scholarly work. It is a commercial work. In that capacity, it will disappoint.
I am sure there are better books for the broader audience on ninjas. Turnbull's work is better suited to those taking an academic approach to ninjas, which I was not. I mean... he never talked about or explained how ninjas are able to walk through walls... Come on!
Turnbull is probably an accomplished academic and perhaps a good teacher, but a good writer he is not. There is no narrative flow to this book. It feels like a regurgitation of anyone who wrote or spoke of ninjas in the past five centuries. Paragraphs are weighed down by a multitude of proper nouns, throwing in references to daimyo, generals, castles, and towns over and over.
This usually happens for two reasons (1) writing with the conceit that the audience is already familiar with the subject-matter and therefore he doesn't have to describe anything in detail or; (2) he feels constant need to show off his research skills.
This book must have been well-researched and from my limited reading into the subject, Turnbull is an authority, but so much of this is just him talking about others talking about ninjas. Sadly, so much of what I know about ninjas is invented, which was disappointing to learn. Turnbull doesn't really try to do anything about the inevitable disappointment all readers will feel in reading about the origins of these enigmatic and mysterious warriors. It just hangs over you as you read each page.
In the hands of a better writer and without a publisher likely requiring a minimum page length, I think a brief book on ninjas could have been interesting. Again, Turnbull sounds like a highly accomplished academic but this book is not a scholarly work. It is a commercial work. In that capacity, it will disappoint.
I am sure there are better books for the broader audience on ninjas. Turnbull's work is better suited to those taking an academic approach to ninjas, which I was not. I mean... he never talked about or explained how ninjas are able to walk through walls... Come on!
June 19, 2025
In my youth, I was fascinated by the concept of the ninja—the history, the martial arts, and the way this mysterious shadow warrior was portrayed in various films; as confident and seemingly invincible. But was the ninja really what we’re presented about it today? Not according to Stephen Turnbull, who has studied the history of these shinobies, as they are also known. Turnbull challenges many of the myths surrounding these warriors, from the black outfits to the iconic shuriken stars they are often assumed to have used.
What disappointed me maybe the most was that the author completely shattered the image I had of the ninja—though, to be fair, he did so with solid historical backing. Still, I’m an adult and take it with a grain of salt; I might have reacted more strongly in my younger days.
Another point is that the book is quite dense and detailed in several areas. Keeping track of the countless Japanese names, terms, places, and cities from both medieval and modern times—mixed with Japanese characters—is a challenge in itself. That said, names like Iga and Kōka stand out as key centers of ninja activity. The book also describes several ninja museums and how the concept of the ninja is presented in these, which can become a bit tedious over time.
Amid all this, however, the book offers valuable historical insight into who the ninja really were and what they have become today—a highly commercialized figure, according to Turnbull. The book also touches on the ninja’s role in film history and the influence of the movie industry, though it doesn’t cover any titles I was particularly familiar with—most of the films discussed are from before 1970.
All in all, it’s a decent book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
What disappointed me maybe the most was that the author completely shattered the image I had of the ninja—though, to be fair, he did so with solid historical backing. Still, I’m an adult and take it with a grain of salt; I might have reacted more strongly in my younger days.
Another point is that the book is quite dense and detailed in several areas. Keeping track of the countless Japanese names, terms, places, and cities from both medieval and modern times—mixed with Japanese characters—is a challenge in itself. That said, names like Iga and Kōka stand out as key centers of ninja activity. The book also describes several ninja museums and how the concept of the ninja is presented in these, which can become a bit tedious over time.
Amid all this, however, the book offers valuable historical insight into who the ninja really were and what they have become today—a highly commercialized figure, according to Turnbull. The book also touches on the ninja’s role in film history and the influence of the movie industry, though it doesn’t cover any titles I was particularly familiar with—most of the films discussed are from before 1970.
All in all, it’s a decent book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
September 3, 2024
I practiced ninjutsu almost 30 years ago. Although next to useless as self defense method, it was fantastic physical exercise. Even without magic, I'll add... I'll also be heading to Iga on this year's trip procent to Japan, so I had pretty high hopes for this book.
It's evident that Turnbull is very well read and knows what he's writing about, as well as having a healthy dose of self insight and humility, but that doesn't necessarily translate into engaging reading. A few chapters in it felt a bit like a student trying to up the word count in his paper.
Although a quite short book it was in large part a slog to read.
It's evident that Turnbull is very well read and knows what he's writing about, as well as having a healthy dose of self insight and humility, but that doesn't necessarily translate into engaging reading. A few chapters in it felt a bit like a student trying to up the word count in his paper.
Although a quite short book it was in large part a slog to read.
December 26, 2022
Finally, a book about ninja written by an actual historian! A book that you could actually recommend.
Turnbull's approach is to treat the mythology as a valid cultural phenonenon and then talk about the real history that it is woven from.
Turnbull's approach is to treat the mythology as a valid cultural phenonenon and then talk about the real history that it is woven from.
November 14, 2020
Ninja: Unmasking the Myth was a fascinating read from start to finish. I enjoyed the way the book covered both the known facts and the way the myth of the ninja has developed in popular culture. The work was clearly well researched and full of interesting information; however, a couple of the chapters felt a little 'dry', which is why it gets four stars from me, rather than five, as I did have to persevere through those before things picked up again. As someone currently learning Japanese, I appreciated the inclusion of kanji for some of the terms mentioned, with explanations of their meaning and origin, as that added an extra layer to the book. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to those interested in the idea of the ninja or anyone keen to learn more about Japanese history and culture.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2019
I found it an interesting read, but as mentioned above, he managed to completely ignore any and all private family documents and went over almost exclusively public chronicles. For that it's decent, but honestly he reminds me of Antony Cummins where there is a conclusion decided and then work is done to prove it.
Thus the conclusions are jumped to, not discovered.
Turnbull also wrote a paper about a year or so ago that discussed the main point of this dissertation and that was that the ninja were a social construct. This conclusion can only be come to by those who dont care to dig into it or those that only deal with the public history.
Interestingly, Kacem Zoughari's publication on the subject is an almost exact anti-thesis to this one. Where he deals with extensive private history and comes to the opposite conclusion.
Thus the conclusions are jumped to, not discovered.
Turnbull also wrote a paper about a year or so ago that discussed the main point of this dissertation and that was that the ninja were a social construct. This conclusion can only be come to by those who dont care to dig into it or those that only deal with the public history.
Interestingly, Kacem Zoughari's publication on the subject is an almost exact anti-thesis to this one. Where he deals with extensive private history and comes to the opposite conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews