Editing Ninja (section)

===Contemporary===
[[File:Kanrinseiyo_Middle_Volume_Ninja_Manual_1748.png|thumb|upright=1.5|A copy of the legendary 40-page book called ''Kanrinseiyo'' made in 1748]]

Between 1960 and 2010 artifacts dating to the [[Siege of Odawara (1590)]] were uncovered which experts say are ninja weapons.<ref name="livescience"/> Ninja were spies and saboteurs and likely participated in the siege.<ref name="livescience"/> The [[Hojo clan]] failed to save the castle from [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] forces.<ref name="livescience"/> The uncovered flat throwing stones are likely predecessors of the [[shuriken]].<ref name="livescience"/> The clay caltrops preceded [[makibishi]] caltrops.<ref name="livescience">{{cite web |title=430-year-old ninja weapons possibly identified |date=February 14, 2022 |author=Owen Jarus |website=Live Science |url=https://www.livescience.com/ancient-ninja-weapons-discovered |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311011334/https://www.livescience.com/ancient-ninja-weapons-discovered |archive-date=March 11, 2022}}</ref> Archeologist Iwata Akihiro of [[Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore]] said the flat throwing stones "were used to stop the movement of the enemy who was going to attack [a soldier] at any moment, and while the enemy freezed the soldier escaped,".<ref name="livescience"/> The clay caltrops could "stop the movement of the enemy who invaded the castle," These weapons were hastily constructed yet effective and used by a "battle group which can move into action as ninjas".<ref name="livescience"/>

[[Mie University]] founded the world's first research centre devoted to the ninja in 2017. A graduate master course opened in 2018. It is located in [[Iga, Mie|Iga]] (now [[Mie Prefecture]]). There are approximately 3 student enrollments per year. Students must pass an admission test about Japanese history and be able to read historical ninja documents.<ref name="Mie-University-Ninja">{{Cite web |date=2020-06-26 |title=Japan university awards first-ever ninja studies degree |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200626-japan-university-awards-first-ever-ninja-studies-degree |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=France 24}}</ref> Scientific researchers and scholars of different disciplines study ancient documents and how it can be used in the modern world.<ref name="Telangana">{{cite web |title=Japan university to set up ninja research facilities |url=https://telanganatoday.com/japan-university-ninja-research-facilities |access-date=26 June 2020|date=11 May 2017 |publisher= Telangana Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626191748/https://telanganatoday.com/japan-university-ninja-research-facilities |archive-date=26 June 2020|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On June 19, 2022, [[Kōka, Shiga|Kōka]] city in [[Shiga Prefecture]] announced that a written copy of "Kanrinseiyo", which is the original source of a famous book on the art of ninja called "Bansenshukai" (1676) from the Edo period was discovered in a warehouse of Kazuraki Shrine.<ref name="kanrinseiyo"/> The handwritten reproduction was produced in 1748.<ref name="sora1">{{cite web |title=First copy of centuries-old ninja training manual discovered, doesn't understand dogs |website=Soranews 24 |author=Casey Baseel |url=https://soranews24.com/2022/06/26/first-copy-of-centuries-old-ninja-training-manual-discovered-doesnt-understand-dogs%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/ |date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628203338/https://soranews24.com/2022/06/26/first-copy-of-centuries-old-ninja-training-manual-discovered-doesnt-understand-dogs%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/ |archive-date=June 28, 2022}}</ref> The book describes 48 types of ninjutsu.<ref name="kanrinseiyo"/> It has information about specific methods such as attaching layers of cotton to the bottom of straw sandals to prevent noise when sneaking around, attacking to the right when surrounded by a large number of enemies, throwing charred owl and turtle powder when trying to hide, and casting spells.<ref name="kanrinseiyo"/> It also clarified methods and how to manufacture and use ninjutsu tools, such as cane swords and "makibishi" (Japanese caltrop).<ref name="kanrinseiyo">{{cite news |newspaper=Mainichi Daily News |date=June 21, 2022 |title=Copy of legendary book on art of ninja found at shrine in west Japan city |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220621/p2a/00m/0na/025000c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621091201/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220621/p2a/00m/0na/025000c | archive-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref>