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Shintaro in color
24 Feb 2020

Shintaro in color

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 4 - Collectibles | 0

The Samurai was Japan’s first major ninja export to the English-speaking world, bringing the adventures of invincible sword-slinging detective Shintaro and his shinobi-sidekick Tonbei the Mist to millions of fervent fans in Australia in the mid-1960s and generations of followers … Continued

menko, menko cards, Shintaro, The Samurai, Tonbei
Some 1985 Ninja Apparel
28 Jan 2020

Some 1985 Ninja Apparel

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 5 - Art and Advertising, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Some of the most concise and enduring memories of those of us who lived through the 1980s ninja craze are mail order ads. By the middle of the decade, mail order ninja suits, weapons, posters and books nearly crowded the … Continued

Happy Holidays, and plans for the new year…
23 Dec 2019

Happy Holidays, and plans for the new year…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 7 - Ninja Miscelany | 0

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Look for more from VN in one way or another in 2020. I’ve been absent on the new post front for a few months with real life in the way, but … Continued

The Earliest Hatsumi
28 Jul 2019

The Earliest Hatsumi

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Few realize multi-media ambassador and curator of modern ninjutsu Masaaki Hatsumi’s first exposure in the Western world came in a 1961 issue of a pulp fiction rag…

Argosy, Bujinkan, Masaaki Hatsumi, ninjutsu
The VN Timeline: HOW NINJA CONQUERED THE WORLD
7 Jun 2019

The VN Timeline: HOW NINJA CONQUERED THE WORLD

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 7 - Ninja Miscelany, 8 - News & Notes | 0

An exhaustive timeline of the 1980s ninja craze, from its prehistory in the 60s-70s to its premature fizzle by the 90s.

ninja history, ninja pop culture
Early Western ninja in JUDO MASTER
4 May 2019

Early Western ninja in JUDO MASTER

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 0

Comic books never get enough credit for being the vanguards of entertainment movements, and their contributions are almost always overlooked in comparison to the big, break-through movie or TV show. But comics do two huge things that really lay the … Continued

Charlton Comics, Frank McLaughlin, Joe Gill, Judo Master, Judomaster
Zukins, zukins, zukins…
6 Apr 2019

Zukins, zukins, zukins…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 4 - Collectibles, 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

Check out this awesomeness! This 3×8-inch sheet of kids’ temporary tattoo image transfers has somehow survived the decades, and is aging in delightfully weird ways. No manufacturer or year, and I won’t even guess, but it’s FAR from new… Sword-slingin’ … Continued

kurozukin
So, about that infamous ninja football battle…
29 Jan 2019

So, about that infamous ninja football battle…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

Kage no Gundan (aka Shadow Warriors) is one of the most famous, and prolific, properties in ninja media history. The Sonny Chiba TV show was the shinobi Magnum PI — a smash hit that lasted several seasons and defined TV … Continued

Eiichi Kudo, Kage No Gundan, KAGE NO GUNDAN: HATTORI HANZO, Shadow Warriors
Why did it take me so long to write about THE GREAT KABUKI?
8 Nov 2018

Why did it take me so long to write about THE GREAT KABUKI?

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Akihisa Mera is a name unknown to most ninja-maniacs — he never starred in a martial arts film, was never featured in the pages of Black Belt, never consulted at a Bujinkan seminar. Yet he is one of the most … Continued

Gary Hart, Great Kabuki, Great Muta, pro wrestling
We need to talk about the horror that is the 1966 live-action NINJA HATTORI-KUN
4 Oct 2018

We need to talk about the horror that is the 1966 live-action NINJA HATTORI-KUN

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 3 - Toys and Merch | 0

The anime version of this decades old property is ubiquitous, the big-budget movie was a hit in 2004, but we’re no longer able to protect you all from the horrors of the largely forgotten late 60s live action kids TV series. You’ve been warned…

Ninja Hattori-Kun

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Welcome to VINTAGE NINJA — dedicated to old ninja movies from Japan’s 60s boom to the 80s American exploitation craze and beyond, with a ton of vintage toys, comics, and sharp pointy stuff thrown in for good measure.

Read the Definitive History:

50+ Japanese ninja movies reviewed

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  • 2 – Books and Manga
  • 3 – Toys and Merch
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  • 6 – History and Martial Arts
  • 7 – Ninja Miscelany
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