interpreted four versions of the manual,which are different from each other, somehaving missing parts, some addingsupplementary sections, or even omitting thatwhich the transcriber thought wasunnecessary, etc.

Of the multiple transcriptions that existtoday, this English translation is based on thetext kept in the Cabinet Library in theNational Archives and the Ohara version,which are considered to be standard versions,and has straightforward and reasonableinterpretations. It clearly indicates what isunknown, so I believe it makes a greatintroduction to the Bansenshukai, and givesan objective understanding of shinobi nojutsu to foreign people of different cultures.

Like most ninjutsu manuscripts, theBansenshukai was written in the Edo period,in 1676, which was a long tranquil time

without war, leaving many ninja – includingthe Koka ninja – unemployed. As a result,some Koka ninja travelled the distance toEdo to appeal to the shogunate against theirdifficult situation in the hope of recoveringtheir status by offering them theBansenshukai manual in 1789. To theirdisappointment, however, their appeal wasnot accepted. Through this deposit in Edo,this secret information was revealed and laterused in cartoons and stories, which eventoday is supplying Japanese children withfuture dreams. The Bansenshukai is full ofvery interesting stories, as it is a compilationof skills from various schools from Iga andKoka and therefore documents the historiesof various people.

The definition of ninja, however, is not soclear. In my opinion, ninja were those whomet the following two conditions:

1. They should have knowledge of theskills and arts of the ninja

2. They should work for a clan, have a clearaim, and measures that enable them tofulfil their mutual aim successfullywithout delay and with the greatest resultpossible.

The above is exactly what Iga mono and Kokamono were, and the Bansenshukai was bornin such an environment. If the Bansenshukaicould be of any help to an individual person,it would be only thieves, robbers or bandits.That is exactly why it preaches the need for acorrect mind and at great length. The ninjahad to lead a life as in-betweens, who weresamurai and not samurai at the same time.Most lived as farmers who carried their skillsas their side business through the pre-modernera of the Edo period, as those bushi of theearly Warring States period gradually faded

into the mists of time.It is fun for us to find the traces of ninja in

the skills and tools of the shinobi. A recentmaster whose name was Fujita Seiko, whoacclaimed himself as the last Koka ninja,founded the Bujutsu Research Institute andwas involved actively as the first chairman ofthe organization, an organization to which Ionce belonged. Mr Fujita was the penultimateteacher of mine and he also taught at theNakano war school of the Japanese imperialarmy, which was a facility for the training ofspies during World War II. This teaching wason the subject of ninjutsu. My beginningsand now this link with Antony and Yoshiemake me feel that fate has brought me towrite this foreword.

Lastly, I am sincerely hoping that theBansenshukai will be read by myriad peoplefrom various fields and with interest, and

furthermore that it will give you inspirationto improve your life.

Dr Nakashima Atsumi

Chairman, the Federation of Japanese KoryuBujutsu (an organization for the traditional

schools of the martial arts in Japan)