On August 4, 2022, @magazine_young on Twitter posted that Under Ninja is getting an anime adaptation. The Under Ninja release date will be in 2023.
On August 5, 2022, Japan will enjoy Under Ninja manga Volume 8.
English readers will have to wait to begin their Under Ninja adventure when Volume 1 of the English translation releases on September 13, 2022. (Just don’t let the kids read it.)
What is Under Ninja?
Under Ninja is set in a world where after WW2 ended, Japan was ordered to disband its ninja organizations. And to an extent, they did.
Clans used to running the country from the shadows have been all but forgotten, and many ninjas are forced to find alternative means of supporting themselves. Like our main character, Kuro, a 17-year-old NEET living in an apartment that connects to his neighbor’s and doesn’t have a fridge.
Naruto fans will recognize some terms used, but this is meant for adults and older teens. Kuro gets a surprise visit from a mysterious delivery person, who says Kuro has a job.
He must infiltrate a high school using the latest equipment. A hoodie that zips to his eyes, but he’ll need more than that to get into the school.
Kuro must pass a test! Time to brush up on your English, Math, and Japanese skills. But the world doesn’t revolve around Kuro.
He has interesting neighbors and a foreign enemy to contend with. This is for you if you’re looking for something with action, stealth, and adult humor.
What makes a ninja?
They say throwing a rock in Japan will hit a ninja, but you won’t know who it hit, which makes a lot of sense for this series. Anyone can be a ninja, but only a few will be great at it.
Hiding in plain sight, being observant, and being able to tell when something is wrong and act on it will make you a ninja. Of course, it’s too early to know if Kuro is a good ninja compared to his comrades, but watching his interactions with people is entertaining.
Kengo Hanazawa’s other works include Ressentiment, Boys on the Run, and I Am a Hero. Boys on the Run was adapted into a live-action film in 2010.
What are your thoughts on Under Ninja? Let us know if you plan on reading it or watching the anime in 2023.