From Ninja Gaiden(old) to Ninja Gaiden II(new) video games have taught us a lot about ninjas. In fact, they're probably the best ambassadors of ninja culture since Soupy Sales' short-lived sitcom That's My Ninja! stole the nation's heart in the late 70s. But Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword producer Yosuke Hayashi wants you to know that there's a lot more to ninjas than flipping out and killing people. In fact, he recently told MTV, "I would say out of the entire image that you have of a ninja, we only have grabbed 10% of that. So we have this whole other 90% to go."
Personally, we'd love to see some other aspects of ninja life, like when they slice cantalopes open at the grocery store to check their freshness, learn that love is the only real power or, as seen above, get rapped about by Vanilla Ice. What ninja facet do you want to see explored?
April O'Neil: Where's Splinter? Leonardo: He's been on the roof ever since he saw your report. April O'Neil: Doing what? (Appears in window) Splinter: Coming.
10%? If them wearing black and using a sword is 10%, they got it.
I'd like them to get into the whole "ninja don't charge into battle head on" routine. Like Tenchu, but not crappy Tenchu like the last few games have been. I want to see them poison guys from the ceiling panels. I wanna see shuriken that don't kill. I wanna see cheap swords that break easily and guys who get their rears destroyed when they're dumb enough to come out into view in front of an actual samurai. I don't wanna see them dodge bullets anymore.
I'm sorry, but this guy is wrong. I have it on good authorith that the sole pupose in life for ninjas is to flip out and kill people. For proof, please see this website: http://www.realultimatepower.net/ninja/ninja2.htm
Oh my.... I haven't heard that song in so many years. It instantly brought back memories of seeing TMNT 2 for the first time. Nowhere near as good as the first TMNT. That movie shines above all.
Was Vanilla Ice really that bad? Watching him now is like watching someone swallow a live grenade....
Other aspects of the ninja experience? I'd love to know how ninjas deal with turning 30. what do ninjas do to save for retirement? do ninjas even PLAN on retirement, or do they automatically assume they will die in battle? What do ninjas do when their kids won't listen to them? Do ninjas even have kids? Do they have sex? Do they use protection, or does that go along with not planning for retirement? Do they consider their partner's feelings?
Well anyone who is interested in learning the truth about Shinobido would do well to read Masaaki Hatsumi's "Ninjutsu History And Tradition". He is the worlds most qualified person to lecture on such things, being the head of the Togakure Ryu. I was a student of the Bunjinkan ryu for a while as a teenager. Unfortunately i never did get to learn how to summon giant toads, or walk on water. Much of the fiction about the Ninja was based on folklore, as Ninja would exploit the superstitious nature of the people of the times.
{ Mar 31st 2008 at 3:30PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Figman @ Mar 31st 2008 3:35PM
go ninja go ninja go!
riggs @ Mar 31st 2008 3:40PM
i am so ninja, you do not see me right now.
tmacairjordan87 @ Mar 31st 2008 3:44PM
That video brings back horrible nightmares.
Worst Review Ever @ Mar 31st 2008 3:44PM
Why do ninjas hate pirates? Why don't they just team up and take over the world?
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 31st 2008 3:46PM
Pirates don't trust hidden ninja faces.
Conversely, Ninjas don't trust people with eye patches.
Matt B @ Mar 31st 2008 4:04PM
Obviously, you've never hung out with people with a wooden leg.... they are a cranky bunch. I think that is the source of the rift.
kinshadow @ Mar 31st 2008 4:15PM
ninjas are homophobic
hvnlysoldr @ Mar 31st 2008 5:15PM
Ninjas think pirates are pathetic. Ninjas have natural night vision without the aid of "eye patches."
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 31st 2008 3:45PM
I'd like to see the stuff where they summon giant toads or get possessed by multi-tailed demons.
Anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Zertoss @ Mar 31st 2008 4:02PM
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Chilly Willy @ Mar 31st 2008 4:05PM
...or when they can put ('chidori') lightning into a sword. Know what I'm talking about? [hint: you have to import the episodes to know that :P ]
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 31st 2008 4:12PM
spoiler comment is a spoiler.
Chilly Willy @ Mar 31st 2008 4:23PM
That's not really a spoiler though. To mention character X dies ...or turns traitor ...or etc. That's a spoiler. What I said, not a spoiler.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 31st 2008 4:31PM
I've seen up to like 2 episodes before what is considered "current" in japan.
So I can guess what happens. A bit.
Lonecow @ Mar 31st 2008 3:46PM
My favorite part of TMNT 2:
April O'Neil: Where's Splinter?
Leonardo: He's been on the roof ever since he saw your report.
April O'Neil: Doing what?
(Appears in window)
Splinter: Coming.
Shagittarius @ Mar 31st 2008 3:46PM
I'd like to learn more about the American Ninja.
ChooChooCharlie (Brawl: 1504-5357-9285) @ Mar 31st 2008 4:58PM
Not that exciting really. Just like an Asian ninja.
You know, except for the over-sized ego, money-filled pockets, and crippling obesity.
mundox @ Mar 31st 2008 3:46PM
The Sims: Ninja Lifestyle
I would buy it XD
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 1st 2008 2:01AM
Burglar alarms would be useless.
DangerMouse @ Mar 31st 2008 3:48PM
Starring Michael Dudikoff
PojoMofo @ Mar 31st 2008 3:59PM
90% of Ninjas time is spent doing research by watching "Walker Texas Ranger"
The other 10% of the time is trying to be as cool as Chuck
TendoMan @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:32PM
Watching that Video gave me chills.. I have goosebumps all over my arms. Its just that horrendous.
Vanilla Ice was such a tool.
Mr Khan @ Mar 31st 2008 4:17PM
On a more serious note, it would be interesting if they did an ultra-realistic portrayal of what Ninja life was really like
In the meantime, we'll have our blood-spurting, our mutant turtles, and our summoning jutsu
farfisa @ Mar 31st 2008 4:22PM
Raped by Vanilla Ice?
Bluebreaker @ Mar 31st 2008 4:24PM
A lot hasn't been said about a Ninja other 90% of their life compared to that other beloved, historical warrior type.
No, not pirates...talking about the Samurai.
snarfoogle @ Mar 31st 2008 4:30PM
"Personally, we'd love to see some other aspects of ninja life, like when they slice cantalopes open at the grocery store to check their freshness"
Ninjas cut them so cleanly that they can push the two halves together again and the cells will reconnect, making it so as if they never cut it at all.
The more you know.
LaughingTarget @ Mar 31st 2008 4:44PM
10%? If them wearing black and using a sword is 10%, they got it.
I'd like them to get into the whole "ninja don't charge into battle head on" routine. Like Tenchu, but not crappy Tenchu like the last few games have been. I want to see them poison guys from the ceiling panels. I wanna see shuriken that don't kill. I wanna see cheap swords that break easily and guys who get their rears destroyed when they're dumb enough to come out into view in front of an actual samurai. I don't wanna see them dodge bullets anymore.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 31st 2008 5:19PM
sounds like someone has ninja envy.
Psaakyrn @ Apr 1st 2008 7:16PM
Real ninjas usually don't wear black. It's horrible at social camoflauge.
LemonJoose @ Mar 31st 2008 5:25PM
I'm sorry, but this guy is wrong. I have it on good authorith that the sole pupose in life for ninjas is to flip out and kill people. For proof, please see this website:
http://www.realultimatepower.net/ninja/ninja2.htm
brandon_r87 : Brawl : 4897-5857-5091 @ Mar 31st 2008 5:28PM
Someone needs to make a game of the Tongan Ninja movie. Seriously, awesome low-budget movie, especially for fans of Flight of the Conchords.
Kevin @ Mar 31st 2008 5:32PM
Oh my.... I haven't heard that song in so many years. It instantly brought back memories of seeing TMNT 2 for the first time. Nowhere near as good as the first TMNT. That movie shines above all.
Was Vanilla Ice really that bad? Watching him now is like watching someone swallow a live grenade....
Doc @ Mar 31st 2008 6:08PM
What about ninja fashion or the under appreciated segment of ninja artisan's out there.. there are probably some ninja Picasso's out there!
Lewis @ Mar 31st 2008 6:37PM
They forgot about Ninja Turtles in that 90%
Mal F4cti0n @ Mar 31st 2008 7:22PM
no comment
ApolloIV @ Mar 31st 2008 7:53PM
Careful where you play this, Ninja can be easily confused with other terms...
dslsd64 @ Mar 31st 2008 10:16PM
REAL....ULTIMATE....POWER!
doug @ Apr 1st 2008 12:02AM
Other aspects of the ninja experience? I'd love to know how ninjas deal with turning 30. what do ninjas do to save for retirement? do ninjas even PLAN on retirement, or do they automatically assume they will die in battle? What do ninjas do when their kids won't listen to them? Do ninjas even have kids? Do they have sex? Do they use protection, or does that go along with not planning for retirement? Do they consider their partner's feelings?
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 1st 2008 2:02AM
Why are we comparing ninjas to icebergs again?
Manji Ninja @ Apr 1st 2008 7:15PM
Well anyone who is interested in learning the truth about Shinobido would do well to read Masaaki Hatsumi's "Ninjutsu History And Tradition". He is the worlds most qualified person to lecture on such things, being the head of the Togakure Ryu. I was a student of the Bunjinkan ryu for a while as a teenager. Unfortunately i never did get to learn how to summon giant toads, or walk on water. Much of the fiction about the Ninja was based on folklore, as Ninja would exploit the superstitious nature of the people of the times.