1917… A Good Year For Ninja?
If you lived through the 1980s ninja craze, an un-welcomed bi-product of all that wicked awesomeness was the negative media attention it often attracted, including critical malcontents from within. How many times did you read or hear some sentiment along … Continued
A Japanese Take on America’s Ninja Boom
Around 15 years ago I scored some souvenir movie programs and marketing flyers from Japan, mostly to get ahold of a Ninja III: The Domination piece. While it didn’t present any sort of new imagery or info, I was fascinated … Continued
Ninja in NEWSWEEK
Here’s an obscure little ditty from a 1964 issue of Newsweek magazine — a mini-spotlight on Japan’s ninja boom as part of the international round-up section of the issue. Presented here in it’s entirety for your reading pleasure: Note the … Continued
Psychedelic Sasuke in English for the first time
Sarutobi Sasuke is a character that emerged from the mists of ancient lore and historical inspiration to Kodan narrative storytelling and since adapted into every popular medium that followed — kamishibai, kabuki, manga, silent film, anime, TV, video games and … Continued
Life is better on THE PLANET OF THE OWLS
I was honored to do a guest spot on the HEROES THREE Podcast this week. These seven year vets covering all things martial arts cinema and Hong Kong action took a step out of their usual comfort zone this summer … Continued
And even MORE ‘Kosugi Kicks’
Since this site started I’ve collected every instance of knock-offs and rip-offs of the iconic Sho Kosugi jump kick from the Enter the Ninja marketing I can find. Been a while since I’ve dumped them on here though, so here’s … Continued
Let’s Get Physical!
I boot up the old Roku last weekend, and HEY! Look at all this new ninja stuff streaming! Ninja Kamui is currently on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block, and Netflix’s House of Ninjas has dropped. And while I really don’t … Continued
Sit your ass down and watch this, or you are excommunicated from the Vintage Ninja Empire
I’ve been a fan of Rob Hill’s exhaustive yet easily digestible film analysis on YouTube for a while now, but he recently hit it out of the park with this humbling hour-long master-class on the ninja movie boom. Watch now … Continued
The only reason any of us are even here is REVENGE…
The Moment Forty years ago… a time when a pay-cable service like HBO would have half-hour monthly trailer shows previewing the new batch of arriving movies. I’m a highly impressionable 14-year old watching a guy catch arrows in his teeth … Continued
Sho live and in person, new videos, comics, and more…
Sho Kosugi will be doing a rare in-person appearance in Pasadena, CA at the Republic of Lucha / Republic of Ninja boutique, Saturday August 19th. A $50 advanced ticket will get you a photo op and autograph, and later that … Continued