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Under Ninja

Under Ninja (Japanese: アンダーニンジャ, Hepburn: Andā Ninja) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa. It has been serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine since July 2018. An anime television series adaptation by Tezuka Productions aired from October to December 2023. A live-action film adaptation is set to premiere in Japanese theaters in January 2025.

Under Ninja
Cover of the first volume
アンダーニンジャ
(Andā Ninja)
GenreAction, comedy[1]
Manga
Written byKengo Hanazawa
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintYoung Magazine KC
MagazineWeekly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runJuly 23, 2018 – present
Volumes13
Anime television series
Directed bySatoshi Kuwabara
Written byKeiichirō Ōchi
Music byShōta Kowashi
StudioTezuka Productions
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTBS, BS11
Original run October 6, 2023 – December 22, 2023
Episodes12
Live-action film
Directed byYūichi Fukuda
Written byYūichi Fukuda
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2025 (2025-01-24)

Plot

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The ninja organization in Japan, which once flourished, was dismantled by the GHQ after the Pacific War and disappeared. However, the ninja still exist in secret, and it is said that there are 200,000 of them living in Japan today, hiding and working in the dark in the public and private sectors and in all kinds of organizations. While some of the elite ninja work behind the scenes in national level conflicts, the ninja at the end of the line are often unable to find work. One of them, Kuro Kumogakure, who is living the life of a NEET, receives a serious "ninja assignment," an order from his superiors to infiltrate a high school with the latest equipment.

Characters

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Kurō Kumogakure (雲隠 九郎, Kumogakure Kurō)
Voiced by: Taito Ban[2]
Portrayed by: Kento Yamazaki[3]
Katō (加藤)
Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki[2]
Portrayed by: Shotaro Mamiya[4]
Miracle Hibi (日比 奇跡, Hibi Mirakuru)
Voiced by: Tasuku Hatanaka[2]
Suzuki (鈴木)
Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki[2]
Portrayed by: Mai Shiraishi[4]
Shion Hachiya (蜂谷 紫音, Hachiya Shion)
Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita[2]
Portrayed by: Ryubi Miyase[5]
Kawado (川戸)
Voiced by: Chika Anzai[6]
Ōno (大野)
Voiced by: Chō[6]
Eita (瑛太)
Voiced by: Shūichi Uchida [ja][6]
Portrayed by: Ryо̄tarо̄ Sakaguchi [ja][5]
Noguchi (野口)
Voiced by: Sora Tokui[6]
Portrayed by: Minami Hamabe[3]
Ozu (小津)
Voiced by: Kōichi Sōma [ja][7]

Media

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Manga

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Under Ninja, written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa, started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine on July 23, 2018.[8][9][10] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on February 6, 2019.[11] As of July 5, 2024, thirteen volumes have been released.[12]

In North America, Denpa announced the English language release of the manga in July 2020.[13]

Volumes

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No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 February 6, 2019[11]978-4-06-514569-2January 10, 2023[14]978-1-63-442992-4
2 August 6, 2019[15]978-4-06-516733-5August 29, 2023[16]978-1-63-442927-6
3 February 6, 2020[17]978-4-06-518477-6November 21, 2023[18]978-1-63-442838-5
4 September 4, 2020[19]978-4-06-520682-9——
5 March 5, 2021[20]978-4-06-522595-0——
6 September 6, 2021[21]978-4-06-524754-9——
7 March 4, 2022[22]978-4-06-527060-8——
8 August 5, 2022[23]978-4-06-528810-8——
9 January 6, 2023[24]978-4-06-530398-6——
10 May 8, 2023[25]978-4-06-531894-2——
11 September 6, 2023[26]978-4-06-533003-6——
12 February 6, 2024[27]978-4-06-534600-6——
13 July 5, 2024[12]978-4-06-536272-3——

Anime

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On September 6, 2021, it was announced that the series would receive an anime television series adaptation.[28] It is produced by Tezuka Productions and directed by Satoshi Kuwabara, with scripts supervised by Keiichirō Ōchi, character designs by Nobuteru Yūki, and music composed by Shōta Kowashi. The series aired from October 6 to December 22, 2023, on TBS and BS11.[29][a] The opening theme song is "Hyper" by Kroi.[7] Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia.[31]

Episodes

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No.Title [32]Directed by [b]Written by [b]Storyboarded by [b]Original air date [33]
1"Throw a Rock, Hit a Ninja"
Transliteration: "Ishi o Nagereba Ninja ni Ataru" (Japanese: 石を投げれば忍者に当たる)		Kimiharu MutouKeiichirō ŌchiSatoshi KuwabaraOctober 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)
Two small groups of ninjas from neighboring school buildings stare each other down, threatening to take action. The scene flashes back to two months earlier, where an unemployed high-school dropout named Kurō Kumogakure is given a modern ninja hoodie along with orders to infiltrate a local high school. After helping out his neighbor Kawado, and giving her some beer that he stole from another neighbor named Ōno, she agrees to pose as his mother to enroll him in the school. Meanwhile, a Russian man loudly tries to meet a ninja on his own.
2"I Want to Be a Ninja"
Transliteration: "Watashi wa Ninja ni Naritai" (Japanese: 私は忍者になりたい)		Taiji KanawashiKeiichirō ŌchiSatoshi KuwabaraOctober 13, 2023 (2023-10-13)
In the present, Kuro continues his duel with a high school girl from an opposing school. Back in July, the Russian man finds a torii scrawled on a utility pole with a message nearby warning people not to piss in public or their dicks will be cut off. The Russian's handler tells him to find and infiltrate a ninja clan in order to keep his baby daughter alive. Thinking the message is a ninja code, he begins to cut off the dicks of anyone pissing outside nearby. However, he starts to build a reputation as the Nerima Slasher, especially after a failed attempt to attack a gross man who turns out to have real ninja skills and a fake dick. Kuro is then given the assignment by Kato to find this Nerima Slasher and take him out. As a young girl manages to find the Russian hiding under a shrine, Kato and Sasama talk about the current state of ninja affairs.
3"Boobs: So Close, Yet So Far"
Transliteration: "Oppai wa Chikakute Tōi Sonzai" (Japanese: オッパイは近くて遠い存在)		Mie MatsushimaKeiichirō ŌchiSatoshi KuwabaraOctober 20, 2023 (2023-10-20)
In the present, Kuro injures his opponent's arm by slamming it into a railing, while one of his teammates attacks her gyaru allies. Back in July, Kuro set a trap for Kawado's bra thief, only to find it was a high school boy. After covering for him, Kuro deputizes the boy to help him find the Nerima Slasher, and the boy later hands the task to a little girl at his apartment block in exchange for letting him fly his drone. Some time later, the girl finds the Russian man and takes him to her apartment, then shows him to the boy to play with the drone. The boy then tells Kuro, but the message goes out to multiple ninja in the area, who all converge on the same apartment block to take out the Russian man.
4"Do You Know What the Ninja Code Says?"
Transliteration: "Shinobi no Okite wa Wakatteiruna?" (Japanese: 忍びの掟は分かっているな？)		Satoru YamashitaKeiichirō ŌchiWataru ChiharaOctober 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
In the present, the ninja successfully neutralize their rivals while Shion tries to make up with their leader in the nurse's office. Back in July, the Russian man manages to fight off two ninja opponents and steal the kei car of an abusive father, sparing him at the last minute when the little girl at the apartments cries out. However, the Russian man is knocked out by an invisible Kuro, and then escorted to a meeting with more senior ninja. Sasama takes off his suit and reveals his true form to be that of a skinnier woman. The ninja send a couple assassins to rescue the Russian's daughter and kill his handler, informing him that they have recruited him into their foreign affairs division.
5"Kumogakure Is Within the Top 10 Common Family Names in Japan (Lying)"
Transliteration: "Kumogakure wa Nippon de Oi Myōji Rankingu Ichi Zero iinai（Uso）" (Japanese: 雲隠は日本で多い名字ランキング１０位以内（嘘）)		Shintarō MatsuiKeiichirō ŌchiIgumikyia,
Satoshi Kuwabara		November 3, 2023 (2023-11-03)
Kuro takes the entrance exam to enter the high school for his mission, with Shion's sending him coded test answers using colored grains of rice stuck between the floorboards. However, his classmate Noguchi, who is there to take a make-up exam herself, notices the rice and alerts the teacher, forcing Kuro to take drastic measures to pass the test before his plan is ruined. Afterwards, Kuro invites Noguchi to his home to meet his "mother" Kawado, where they watch a bloody show from the Ninja Broadcast Company. The next day, Kuro heads to school with Eita and Noguchi. After a strange encounter with the school Director, Kuro helps Eita deal with some bullies.
6"The Lid on This Hellish Cauldron Has Come Off"
Transliteration: "Jigoku no Kama no Futa ga Ima Hiraitayo" (Japanese: 地獄の釜の蓋がいま開いたよ)		蟹久保朱眞Keiichirō ŌchiSatoshi KuwabaraNovember 10, 2023 (2023-11-10)
7"Meow Meow, Meow Meow, Meow Meow Meow Meow Meow?"
Transliteration: "Onyanya, nyannya, nyanyanyanyannya?" (Japanese: オニャニャ、ニャンニャ、ニャニャニャニャンニャ？)		Yuri UemaKeiichirō ŌchiYuri UemaNovember 17, 2023 (2023-11-17)
8"Every Last Ninja on the Surface Will Be Annihilated"
Transliteration: "Chijō no Shinobi domo wa, Subete Horobosu" (Japanese: 地上の忍びどもは、すべて滅ぼす)		Kimiharu MutouKeiichirō ŌchiArisa Konishi,
Satoshi Kuwabara		November 24, 2023 (2023-11-24)
9"I'm Gonna Go Down in Shinobi History"
Transliteration: "Ore wa Shinobi no Rekishi ni Nokoruze" (Japanese: 俺は忍びの歴史に残るぜ)		Satoru YamashitaKeiichirō ŌchiWataru Chihara,
Satoshi Kuwabara		December 1, 2023 (2023-12-01)
10"A Maiden's Chest Is a Precious Thing"
Transliteration: "Otome no Mune wa Totemo Taisetsuna Mononano" (Japanese: 乙女の胸はとても大切なものなの)		Fumio MaezonoKeiichirō ŌchiIgumikiya,
Satoshi Kuwabara		December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08)
11"Kuro Finally Took Up a Sword"
Transliteration: "Tsuini, Kurō ga Katana o Nigitta" (Japanese: ついに、九郎が刀を握った)		Mie MatsushimaKeiichirō ŌchiIgumikiya,
Satoshi Kuwabara		December 15, 2023 (2023-12-15)
12"Business as Usual, Wrapped Up Tidy"
Transliteration: "Itsumo Tōri Kushukushu Tone" (Japanese: いつも通りクシュクシュとね)		Taiji KanawashiKeiichirō ŌchiSatoshi KuwabaraDecember 22, 2023 (2023-12-22)

Live-action film

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In March 2024, it was announced that the series would receive a live-action film adaptation.[34] The film adaptation is written and directed by Yūichi Fukuda, and stars Kento Yamazaki and Minami Hamabe as Kurō Kumogakure and Ayaka Noguchi respectively. The film is set to premiere in Japanese theaters on January 24, 2025.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ TBS lists the series premiere on October 5 at 25:43, which is effectively October 6 at 1:43 a.m. JST.[30]
  2. ^ a b c Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.

References

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  1. ^ Luster, Joseph (May 8, 2023). "Under Ninja Anime Reveals Five More Voice Actors". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Loo, Egan (May 6, 2023). "Under Ninja TV Anime Announces Main Cast". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Loo, Egan (September 2, 2024). "Live-Action Under Ninja Film's Teaser Unveils Cast, Director, January 24 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Tai, Anita (September 23, 2024). "Live-Action Under Ninja Film Casts Shōtarō Mamiya, Mai Shiraishi". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Mateo, Alex (October 23, 2024). "Live-Action Under Ninja Film Reveals 5 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 13, 2023). "Under Ninja TV Anime Reveals 4 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 18, 2023). "Under Ninja Anime Reveals Promo Video, More Cast, October 5 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 7, 2018). "Kengo Hanazawa's New Manga's Title, July Debut Revealed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  9. ^ 花沢健吾の新連載「アンダーニンジャ」ヤンマガで始動、現代を生きるニート忍者描く. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  10. ^ 週刊 ヤングマガジン 2018 #34. YanMaga Web (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  11. ^ a b アンダーニンジャ（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  12. ^ a b アンダーニンジャ（１３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn; Mateo, Alex (July 3, 2020). "Denpa Licenses Romy Oishi, meshe's Lockdown Zone: Level X, Kengo Hanazawa's Under Ninja Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Mateo, Alex (January 10, 2023). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 8–14". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  15. ^ アンダーニンジャ（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  16. ^ Under Ninja Volume 2. Denpa. August 29, 2023. ISBN 978-1-63-442927-6.
  17. ^ アンダーニンジャ（３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  18. ^ Under Ninja Volume 3. Denpa. November 21, 2023. ISBN 978-1-63-442838-5.
  19. ^ アンダーニンジャ（４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  20. ^ アンダーニンジャ（５） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  21. ^ アンダーニンジャ（６） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  22. ^ アンダーニンジャ（７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  23. ^ アンダーニンジャ（８） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  24. ^ アンダーニンジャ（９） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  25. ^ アンダーニンジャ（１０） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  26. ^ アンダーニンジャ（１１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  27. ^ アンダーニンジャ（１２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  28. ^ Hazra, Adriana (September 5, 2021). "Kengo Hanazawa's Under Ninja Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  29. ^ TVアニメ「アンダーニンジャ」今秋放送開始、2月22日の“忍者の日”に新ビジュ公開. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 22, 2023. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  30. ^ 『アンダーニンジャ』新キービジュアル＆PV公開！ OPテーマはKroiの「Hyper」に決定. Animate Times (in Japanese). August 18, 2023. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Mateo, Alex (September 20, 2023). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Fall 2023 Anime Season". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  32. ^ "Sutōrī｜"Andā Ninja" Terebi Anime Kōshiki Saito" 『アンダーニンジャ』TVアニメ公式サイト [Story｜"Under Ninja" TV Anime Official Website]. under-ninja.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  33. ^ ""Andā Ninja" Terebi Anime Kōshiki Saito" 『アンダーニンジャ』TVアニメ公式サイト ["Under Ninja" TV Anime Official Website]. under-ninja.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  34. ^ Tai, Anita (March 31, 2024). "Kengo Hanazawa's Under Ninja Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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