Japanese Prefecture Hires Ninjas To Promote Tourism

Why Is This Important?

Because being a ninja was on every boy’s bucket list.

Long Story Short

Japan’s Aichi prefecture is hiring six people to be real, live ninjas. The job is more about performance art than stealthy killing, as their intent is to promote so-called “warlord tourism.”

Long Story

There was always something about ninjas (or their mythology, at least) that appealed to boys growing up. Samurai, though pretty badass, were stuffy, ceremonial and code-driven. Ninjas, on the other hand, were anti-establishment, did cool karate moves and skulked around in cool black pajamas (again, the mythology). While being an actual ninja was always impossible for anyone alive today given, y’know, the endless forward march of time, that’s changing: If you’re willing to move to Aichi prefecture, Japan, you can get a job as a bonafide ninja.

According to materials translated by the BBC, Aichi is looking to capitalize on something called “warlord tourism,” or the western cultural fascination with Japan’s feudal past. Fortunately (or unfortunately, if you’re a certain kind of weirdo), the position relies less on your ability to gut someone with a ninjatō than your capacity for performing sweet backflips on stage. The ninjas will be part of a PR team, and will be so western-focused that an understanding of the Japanese language is preferred, but not required.

https://giphy.com/gifs/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-best-fight-scene-ever-classic-movie-pC4VJ3jjVyDVS

ichi is hiring six ninjas, and applications close a week from now on March 22. If selected, you’ll be trained and ready to go by the end of April. The BBC translates the pay as $1,600 per month. That’s not a lot, but I’m assuming housing is covered, and the cost of living in rural Japan is probably manageable. Anyone 18 or over can apply, but applicants must love history and tourism, and acrobatic experience is strongly preferred. The work will largely be hospitality-related, assisting tourists with the ninja experience, making media appearances, etc.

“Our ninjas also have to be good at talking to promote tourism, although ninjas are basically required to be secretive,” said Satoshi Adachi of the prefectural government’s tourism promotion unit.
It’s not what most of us hoped for when we were 10, but it’s still totally worth it to be able to put “ninja” on your resume.

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