Ninja studies centre to be set up

Jinichi Kawakami (left), advisor of the Japan Ninja Council, martial artist and the twenty-first headmaster of the Koga School, widely known as the last ninja, Hiroshi Mizohata (centre), vice-president of the Japan Ninja Council and Prof Yamada (right) attend a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo. — AFP

A Japanese university is planning what it says will be the world's first research centre devoted to ninja -- the black clad assassins known for secrecy and stealth.

While mostly confined to history books and fiction, ninja have been enjoying something of a resurgence as Japanese authorities increasingly deploy them to promote tourism ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.