Episode 25: SARUTOBI Sasuke - The Original Ninja Hero - NINJA TRUTH | NHK WORLD-JAPAN (2025)

00:02

Long before the modern Japan we know today,

00:05

the ninja worked secretly in the shadows for hundreds of years.

00:09

Public records about the ninja are scarce.

00:15

NINJA TRUTH

00:22

What image comes to mind when you hear the word "ninja?"

00:26

Maybe a worrior of the shadows who uses super-human physical strength, the speed and agility of a monkey...

00:39

and impressive fighting skills to defeat enemies.

00:46

And come to the rescue of those in need.

00:53

This image is said to have come from one ninja in particular.

00:58

And his name is "Sarutobi Sasuke."

01:02

There are a number of manga, anime, even movie characters based on Sarutobi Sasuke.

01:09

So how did Sarutobi Sasuke become a ninja hero?

01:13

Let's discover the NINJA TRUTH!

01:21

"Sarutobi Sasuke: The Original Ninja Hero"

01:27

The earliest stories about Sarutobi Sasuke are found in the art of Kodan.

01:34

Today I'll tell you a story about Sarutobi Sasuke.

01:42

Kodan is the traditional Japanese art of dramatic storytelling,

01:46

with the storyteller tapping a fan on the lectern for emphasis.

01:53

Sarutobi Sasuke was from Torii Pass in Shinshu.

01:59

This is a place that is in the deep recesses of the mountains.

02:06

As a boy, Sasuke met an old ninja master.

02:11

Going deeper into the mountains, he began his ninja training.

02:17

After rigorous training, Sasuke mastered the ninja arts.

02:24

He, then, met the warlord, Sanada Yukimura.

02:29

He was leaping around all over the place just like a monkey.

02:36

Why don't you change your name to "Sarutobi (leaping monkey)" Sasuke?

02:44

Sasuke became Yukimura's retainer and set out on a quest to defeat evil.

02:52

However, Sarutobi Sasuke didn't really exist.

02:58

He was a fictional ninja hero created by the Kodan storyteller Tamada Gyokushusai I around 150 years ago.

03:10

The Kodan stories were made in the books, and the tales of Sarutobi Sasuke became popular with the general public.

03:21

Gyokushusai didn't invent everything.

03:25

In the story, Sarutobi Sasuke served Sanada Yukimura, who actually existed in real life.

03:35

In search of clues about Sarutobi Sasuke,

03:37

we visit the Agatsuma district of Gunma Prefecture, which was once ruled by the Sanada clan.

03:46

There, we meet Yamaguchi Michiyoshi, an expert on the history of ninja in the Agatsuma area.

03:59

However, there are two people who served as an inspiration.

04:06

Sarutobi Sasuke is a fictional character, but it's said to be based on actual ninja from the Agatsuma area.

04:17

These two records describe the battles fought by the Sanada clan during the Warring States period.

04:27

In fact, these records show the exploits of the two ninja who served as models for Sarutobi Sasuke.

04:36

The first model was Karasawa Genba, an extremely agile ninja with extraordinary jumping ability.

04:46

According to one famous story about Genba,

04:48

he once snuck into an enemy castle alone and stole some golden horse armor.

04:55

Karasawa Genba was called "O-saru" or "monkey" when he was a child.

05:01

"O-saru?"

05:02

The same kanji character as in Sarutobi's name.

05:08

The other model is the master archer Yokoya Sakon.

05:15

This is a letter of appreciation from the Sanada clan to Sakon.

05:19

He was a very skilled ninja, and a close aid to the Sanada entrusted with guarding them.

05:27

Please look at this.

05:29

What do you see?

05:31

It's a sword.

05:32

That's right.

05:33

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary sword.

05:37

But look here.

05:39

It has a monkey engraved on it.

05:44

This sword passed down through the Yokoya family for generations has monkeys depicted on their hand guard, collar and pommel.

05:53

Sakon was a highly accomplished ninja and said to be one of the models for Sarutobi Sasuke as he carried this monkey sword.

06:04

These capable ninja supported the Sanada clan from the shadows.

06:08

They were, the Sanada ninja.

06:13

The Sanada ninja were very strong.

06:16

And often caused trouble for the Tokugawa forces.

06:22

These ninja feature in a story called the Sanada Ten Braves.

06:30

The hero of this story was Sarutobi Sasuke.

06:34

It can be said that the Sanada ninja were the inspiration for Sarutobi Sasuke.

06:43

We came here seeking the origins of Sarutobi Sasuke and we found the Sanada ninja.

06:50

So what were the Sanada ninja like?

06:54

The Sanada ninja specialized in gathering information.

07:00

The important task of gathering information was carried out by Shugenja, mountainous ascetics.

07:07

In this mountainous area there were people who practiced the mountain religion of Shugendo.

07:14

They were called "Shugenja" or "Yamabushi."

07:19

The Agatsuma region is set to have around 50 Shugendo training grounds and more practitioners than any other area.

07:31

Shugenja practitioners could pass through checkpoints and challenged and could travel freely to other domains.

07:38

This allow them to obtain information about various areas without having to sneak about like a ninja.

07:49

They also used a Buddhist shakujo staff to measure distances and the sizes of building size

07:55

by the number of times their staff struck the ground.

08:01

The Sanada ninja excelled at taking advantage of the rugged mountainous terrain.

08:22

If an enemy swung their sword as normal, it might get caught in the branches.

08:32

The Sanada ninja gained an advantage by using their short swords effectively.

08:41

Because they lived in mountainous regions from an early age,

08:44

they learn to move and maintain their balance as if they were on flat land.

08:53

The Sanada ninja took advantage of information received from the Shugenja,

08:58

and they hung their combat skills in the mountainous terrain.

09:02

The Sanada clan use these ninja to achieve victory in numerous battles.

09:10

The Sanada ninja were active around about 400 years ago.

09:13

In fact, some of their descendants still live here in the Agatsuma area, and we're going to meet them.

09:23

We visit Warita Kiichiro, a descendant of the Sanada ninja.

09:30

His ancestor was Warita Shimousa, described as "the most skillful ninja that ever lived."

09:42

What kind of things did he get up to?

09:44

We have one story he sneaked into the "Shiroi Castle" by himself and took the enemy's famous horse.

09:53

Warita's ancestors were active as ninja working undercovers as traveling entertainers until about 150 years ago.

10:02

He still has some of the ninja equipment used at that time.

10:09

- That's a kiseru tobacco pipe, right?
- Yes.

10:13

When asking for a light, you can quickly pull the end off and stab the enemy.

10:17

- That's quite scary.
- Yes, it is.

10:21

Warita was taught ninja skills such as strengthening his fists and fingers

10:26

and standing on his tiptoes by his grandfather from an early age.

10:34

There are many things that I can do, but I often use the breathing technique.

10:40

When I breathe in, I tuck my stomach in.

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When I exhale, I expand my stomach.

10:47

If you practice this repeatedly, you can hold your breath for a long time.

10:53

That's amazing.

10:55

Even now, I can hold it for about two minutes.

11:00

Warita said he often felt that his grandfather was a real ninja.

11:07

He always carried a stick that was about 6 feet long.

11:11

When jumping down from a high place, he would quickly stick it in the ground to land safely.

11:19

Wow, really?

11:20

He attached a weight to the end of a thin rope, hung it on a tree, and then used it to swing.

11:28

Your grandfather sounds like a hero from a Sarutobi Sasuke movie!

11:32

Yes, he was very agile.

11:35

He sounds amazing.

11:40

Some of the Sanada ninja descendants are working to pass on their teachings to future generations.

11:46

One is martial artist, Iyoku Matsukaze.

11:52

Who was your ancestor?

11:55

I'm the 14th generation descendant of Iyoku Uneme.

11:59

Iyoku Uneme served as an "uma mawari," one of the lord's elite mounted guards.

12:07

Iyoku says that without realizing it his grandmother taught him many of the Sanada ninja martial arts disguising it as play.

12:17

For example, they played a game where he had to dodge his grandmother's stick when napping.

12:25

I would be taking a nap, and start to feel wary.

12:31

I would raise my body and kick up off the floor.

12:36

This is a technique passed down by the Sanada ninja.

12:46

The technique is called "Taiten" and teaches one to dodge the surprise attack, and turn it into a counter attack.

12:57

Iyoku also played a game, balancing a teacup on his head practicing to prevent it from falling.

13:05

At first, he practiced balancing while walking, but later running and even climbing trees.

13:13

Okay, I'll fill the cup.

13:16

Now let's try it.

13:18

It's quite full.

13:20

Is that ok?

13:21

That's fine.

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It makes no difference.

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Even with movements like this.

13:36

This training strengthened their sense of balance,

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so that even in the mountains where footing is poor, they could move as easily as if they were on flat ground.

13:46

I learned about the line in the center of the body, which was very useful for martial arts and sports.

13:55

How will Iyoku pass on his grandmother's teachings to the next generation?

14:02

I want to be a storyteller who preserves Japan's ancient techniques, lifestyle, and way of thinking.

14:14

I was taught different things and I want to pass on what I have learned to future generations.

14:22

Oh, that's a good idea.

14:28

While searching for the truth about Sarutobi Sasuke, who inspired the image of a ninja hero,

14:33

we've encountered the Sanada ninja who lived in the rugged mountains area of Agatsuma.

14:39

The truth of the Sanada ninja will continue to be passed down to future generations,

14:44

along with the stories of Sarutobi Sasuke.

14:48

And with that, we find ourselves another step closer to... the NINJA TRUTH.

Episode 25: SARUTOBI Sasuke - The Original Ninja Hero - NINJA TRUTH | NHK WORLD-JAPAN (2025)
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