Ninjas Were Real. How We Portray Them is Not.

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The Edo period marked the start of 250 years of peace for Japan, but it came as a death sentence for shinobi. These highly trained spies mastered the art of deception and infiltration, and some even worked as assassins. But when these talented figures started dying out, legend and mythology took their place, and eventually turned into the classic ninja characters we see in movies and TV today.

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Rogue History
It’s been said that history is written by those in power. But what about the outlaws, outcasts, and rogues? What if they had their say? Rogue History, a digital series produced by PBS Digital Studios and PBS North Carolina, shakes the dust off the history books to unravel myths, unearth narratives, and discover fresh perspectives.

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Chapters
00:01 Ninjas in Western Cinema
00:33 First Records of Ninjas in 10th Century
01:38 Real Ninja Disguises and Tools
03:27 Public vs Hidden Shinobi
05:42 Skills in Ninjutsu
06:45 Origins of Black-Clad Ninja
07:59 Why Real Shinobi Disappeared