The question of the ‘Ninja-To’…. Did it exist or not? Is it tradition, lore, or Hollywood? Healthcare in the U.S. and the Kennedy assassination have been debated less. I didn’t fully realize how much of a sticking point in the martial … Continued
UPDATED! We had some great response to this post last month, and since then another major find, so I’ve chosen to update and refine it a bit, and repost it as the start of a series of features on the … Continued
No major theme today, but I wanted to throw some notes out there before a busy weekend. I’ll start with a rather strange score from LA’s Chinatown: Found this statue/plaque/display thing at a shop in the Dynasty Market complex, which … Continued
Got a request for info on Japanese ninja wear outside the usual off-the-rack martial arts gear that’s pretty much stuck in the 80’s mail order mold. So here’s a few shops and their offerings. Should be noted that all this … Continued
Holy cats… this is POST #300 on Vintage Ninja! I seem to celebrate every milestone with a return to one of the photos that got me so jazzed on old ninja movies, I just had to start some sort of … Continued
Dig around the CG art community haven Deviant Art for a while and you come accross some serious talent! These digitally-painted sword girls are from Japanese artist GETABO Hagiwara. He’s a sword instructor as well, and it shows in the authenticity … Continued
Kaiketsu Kurozukin (The Black Hood) is one of Japan’s most enduring hooded hero properties, with cinematic origins in the silent era and a retooling about once a decade since. We did a brief overview of the property a while back here, with … Continued
The Revenge of the Ninja OST is one of the finest pieces of action movie synth released in the 80s, if not the best. Nothing will inspire your fog-shrouded weapons chest power-up montage like the soaring Asian-y keyboards of prolific … Continued
Awesome gift illo from my friend Lili Chin! She and her FWAK! Animation partner Eddie Mort did ones for me a few years back as well…
As today is my birthday… Found this print ad ran in a 1981 issue of Black Belt magazine, a neato blend of Chinese zodiac and Japanese martial arts. The artist did his or her homework, too! 1969 — that makes … Continued