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A bit of etymology to start: Ninja is for nin+ja, nin meaning "bear" as in "to bear pain", and ja meaning "person" to denote "person bearing whatever behind the scene". That is to say, ninjas are broadly supposed to be persons behind the curtain carrying on the basics.



That said, a unique body has just started to bring ninjas out in front to lead a grand campaign. The Japan Ninja Council is the body in question membered by local municipalities associated with ninja culture. Stories of ninjas are known nationwide and groups of ninjas are often capped with names of local provinces - Iga Ninja, ninjas from the Province of Iga, now an area in Mie Prefecture.



The council comprises Mie, Shiga, Nagano, Kanazawa and Saga prefectures and its inauguration ceremony was attended by their governors all clad in dark ninja costumes. Governor Suzuki of Mie Prefecture who chairs the council said in his opening speech:



"We have favorable winds blowing for us next year - Ise-Shima Summit and a growing number of tourists visiting Japan. It's a good chance for us to uphold our traditional ninja culture and initiate an All Japan Drive to promote the culture worldwide".



Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa was present at the council's inauguration ceremony and said in his greeting:



"Ninjas and samurais are known worldwide. Sharing as I do part of Japan's traditional culture, I do wish the council will initiate events and publications to draw the attention of more people from abroad to ninja culture".



The council will aim at winning more friends of Japan and its traditional culture through disseminating information on Ninja culture, publishing books and booklets on ninja and organizing ninja-related events.



The City of Ueda, home of the Sanada family, proposes to play up its role in the Age of Provincial Wars. "The city will promote the Sanada family and its relations with Ninjas - notably Sasuke Sarutobi (a fictious character in popular Ninja stories)", comments Mayor Motai.

