Silent and deadly: Japan tour teaches ninja art

By Sophie Hardach

TOKYO (Reuters Life!) - Learn to move like a shadow and hurl deadly metal stars at your enemies from a Japanese ninja master -- the latest offering for holiday thrill-seekers.

At a ninja-themed restaurant in Tokyo, a handful of tourists dressed in black suits and head-cloths knelt in a half-circle, eager for a glimpse into the world of Japan's silent assassins.

"I wanted to know a bit more about the real thing," said Michael Studte from Australia, one of the participants of the ninja lesson organized by a Japanese tour operator.

The real action, however, has to wait a little. First, the students learn how to bow, followed by foot rotation and forward stretches. Even ninjas have to warm up.

Later, 49-year old master Masayuki Waki, dressed in a lighter ninja suit, demonstrates falling techniques, starting with the forward roll: a flash of sand-colored cloth, and he is on his feet again.

The students' attempts are somewhat less graceful. They noisily tumble across the floor, all legs and arms.

"It requires some time. So don't be disappointed if you can't master it in a day," Waki says, encouraging them to practice at home.

NINJAS AND HIGH HEELS