For centuries, the ninja has occupied an alluring position in the public imagination. The covert warrior of feudal Japan, a favorite subject of movies and manga, has long been depicted as an agent of stealth — cloaked in all-black attire and packing an arsenal of precision weapons while carrying out clandestine missions.
But new research is showing the shadowy character in a very different light, and helping to redraw the stereotype.
NHK World's Yamamoto Saori spoke with two experts to get a clearer understanding of the Japanese icon.
