Secrets of the Ninja: Their Training, Tools, and Techniques

Rating:
Summary: First-rate, historically accurate, "user friendly" reference
Review: Collaboratively compiled and edited by Jennifer Cahill and Michie Itoh, Secrets Of The Ninja: Their Training, Tools, And Techniques is a fascinating compendium of ancient training methods, rituals, martial arts, survival strategies, and much, much more used by those ancient Japanese spies, saboteurs, assassins and warriors once known as "ninja". Enhanced with an informative introduction by Hiromitsu Kuroi (Director of the Iga Sect Ninja Association, Jurondo), the descriptive text combined with exquisitely detailed, full color photography, bring the "real world" of Ninja training, tools, costumes, codes, diets, lifestyles, techniques, and philosophy vividly to life in a first-rate, historically accurate, "user friendly" reference which is very highly recommended for martial arts students, Japanese history buffs, fantasy and historical fiction writers employing ninja characters, as well as the non-specialist general reader who is genuinely curious about what it once meant to be a ninja.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant -- Nothing Like it in the Ninja World of Books
Review: I was surprised! I thought I'd seen all there was to see about Ninja in print. But this book, published in Tokyo, has got to be the best! Page after page of color photos of nasty Ninjas doing their stuff, and between loads of fascinating info that I, as a Ninja buff, never even knew. Like what do Ninja eat? How do they tell the time from a cat's eye? What's the real colors of their costumes? (The answers: Tofu; by the dilation of the pupil; blue, but also other colors, such as grey, brown, etc depending on light). If there was one complaint, that is that I want more! If you're into history, martial arts, Japan, or just get off on super cool Ninja coolness, get this book!