savaster

Kagerou Land

Added 2021-06-08 15:17:42 +0000 UTC

So while we are at it...I (Aster) happened to visit the city of Iga Ueno a few weeks ago, the "mecca" for Iga-style Ninja martial arts. The province of Iga is a small patch of mountaintops fairly close to the old capital of Kyoto...and that's where our Ninja warrior Rokumon is set to be from.

Folklore goes, The Iga school of Ninja were yeomen in this country of very rough terrain living off small pieces of farmland. And those who couldn't afford to keep themselves fed became soldiers-for-hire, to work for the neighboring feudal chiefdoms that were fighting off one another (just like the Swiss mercenaries in the late medieval times). In contrast to their rival Ninja clan of Koga, located to the north and along the big Lake Biwa, the Iga warriors tended to be individualistic and more or less to be in for the money, meaning that they sometimes found themselves be pitted against their coaches, disciples, and even siblings depending on whoever their employers were, occasionally needing to fight to death because both of the parties knew the same tricks. Additionally, Iga Ninjas leveraged more on their physical aptitude and martial arts rather than the regular intelligence and espionage business. So, it's no surprise that our Rokumon is a badass assassin with great stamina and an excellent body -:)

...And how real are all the Ninja stories that are out there? Well, their authenticities vary -e.g. they're not mutant, don't have shells on their backs, and certainly don't gorge on pizzas. But be reminded that there is a city proudly displaying its Ninja derived heritage, with a Ninja castle and museum (and Ninja trains, if that matters at all).