Adventures

Would-be ninjas nurture their inner warrior in Akame, Japan

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Euronews, March 5, 2018
Filmed in Akame, Japan
Camera and sound: Paul Thouvenin
Edited by Christophe Pitiot
Production coordinator: Charlotte Lanier
Directed, written and presented by Denis Loctier
Cinema Mode

Our Japanese Adventures begin on the Honshu island where the pristine forest in Iga Province is known as the birthplace of ninja.

Ninja is the stuff of legends and many action films. Now, anybody can let out their inner ninja in Akame, the land of waterfalls.

Stealthy infiltration and dashing escape used to be top secret knowledge. Now techniques like wall climbing or silent walking can be tried with a coach. It’s not simply a physical exercise, but also a chance to learn more of ninja’s true history.

Akame is the place where the mountain priests of Shugendo religion were conducting their spiritual training around 14-15th centuries.

The skills honed by Shugendo priests became essential for the covert agents in feudal Japan – and, nowadays, a revived passion of ninja fans around the world.

About the author

A Euronews journalist since 2001, Denis Loctier has produced short TV documentaries on more than 200 international research projects and covered a variety of other topics, from economy and tourism to international politics and military conflicts.

From 2019 to 2025, as the anchor and producer of “Ocean”, Euronews’ monthly show specialised in the blue economy and marine life, Denis travelled around the world exploring the effects of climate change and human activities on ocean health, talking directly with fishers, business owners, port authorities and policy-makers. “Ocean” has taken Denis and his team to places such as Greenland, the Caribbean Sea, Seychelles, Svalbard, Cabo Verde, Thailand and the Marshall Islands.

Denis holds a PhD in Information and Communication Sciences and is certified to operate in hostile environments. He can also fly paragliders, pilot drones, navigate vessels, and dive to depths of 60 meters.

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