For English audiance (With the agreement of professor Yoshimaru, Thank to David Mills for his corrections) Professor Yoshimaru is a specialist in Literature and taking part in research of Mie university about ninjutsu tradition research. - Good Morning Professor Yoshimaru - Good morning. - Professor, whats your speciality ? - My specialty is Japanese literature, particulary from the modern period. To explain more in depth, its design works are written in the Edo period (17century), 250 years period of Japan. My research is about gesaku : popular fictional novels set in the second part of the 1700s. Those works were very popular and people read them for pleasure, distraction, fear, etc. I study this in depth. - What are the sources you are using to do your research ? - Literature from the Edo period is more abundant than preceding periods. So often, we can use original documents. For example «Zokukinshiseidan» is a calligraphic hand book, an historic novel. We say «historic», but in fact, this kind of work contain some part of fiction. Maybe you know the name of «Ishikawa Goemon» ? His name is on the top of this page. On the same page, at the bottom of the page, is written «Momochi Sandayu». I think ninja fans know those two names and this book mentions them. And this is the «Akogimonogatari» ; We can see unpei, a mountain burglar, a bad character. On this illustration, we can see him practicing a seal with his hands. It’s not a calligraphic hand book, but a printed work, by technique of direct paper pression with engraved wooden plates. So with these kind of documents we can do research. And it’s really wonderful to realize research with those original works. Usually, I study literature material, but theater is an important object of research and teaching. I would show a print (ukiyoe). This print represents the «igagoedôchûsugoroku» piece. On the right, the actor attacks with his weapon and the actor on the left, intercepts the weapon with his hands. So, not just only the books, but a holistic canvas of literature, theater, prints which constitute my material research. - Those are wonderful documents! But would you tell us your vision of ninja before you start research about it ? - I am Japanese and I can say in Japan, all young boys like ninja. In my case, when I was a young boy too, I read «Iga no kagemaru» manga, buy the famous Mitsuteru Yokoyama author. I had a very great passion about this manga. During university, I read «Kôga ninpô chô» novels from Fûtaro Yamada. This edition is recent, but I read a more older print. In these manga and novels, ninja are the heroes and are presented in a very good way. Help or save people in deep trouble and preserve justice. But the Edo period show the ninja as a thief, a « buglar », who try to steal treasure or betray his masters for selfish goals. It’s the singular vision of Edo period. - What kind of influences did the Edo period have on the ninja image ? - After Edo, this period of Japanese history presents a radically different image of ninja from Edo period. During Taishô period, was publish the adventures of Sarutobi Sasuke, presented as a hero and it was very popular. Kirigakure Saizô is an another fictional ninja, who help Yukimura Sanada (an historical person). So ninja have heroical activities. But the things that do not change from Edo period are ; the consideration of ninja as a person who have a physical and mind level that are stronger and a more simple person, presented with the same condition than as an olympic champion. And ninjutsu is considered as magic too. That’s the 2 great aspects what Edo period draw. - Ninjutsu is very popular outside japan, but we know only by manga and fictional representation, have you a message for everyone who has an interest in the ninja? - Yes, as I’m studying fictional works, I particularly appreciate the ninja image from those works. But I understand it cannot be enough for people who have interest for authentic ninja history. So I study in collaboration with the professor Yamada, and historical research progress continually. I think the diffusion of those studies in other languages contribute to create interest and infatuation for those doing research. As I said, I appreciate the fictional ninja image and I think it’s very popular outside Japan, too. This interest for this ninja image with super powers, like Naruto, let me think this infatuation is a thing we are all sharing.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 06:54:10 +0000
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