[Powerplay]

In Japanese history, a ninja (忍者, ninja?) is a warrior, trained in martial arts, and specializing in a variety of unorthodox arts of war. The methods used by ninja included assassination, espionage, stealth, camouflage, specialized weapons, and a vast array of martial arts were added after the 20th century. Arising from small farming communities, many ninja used weapons that would double as farming tools, such as the Kama. Although the written history of ninja dates back to 15th century feudal Japan, the word and idea of a shadowy assassin first began to arrive in the west following the World War II occupation of Japan. The mystique and allure of the ninja has helped the idea maintain popularity, both in eastern and western cultures, and has been used as a plot device in everything from kabuki theater to major hollywood movies.