Hello all,
Bought a custom made 1/6
Ninja over ebay. The ebay seller was a middleman for the custom maker. The custom maker is based in Singapore. So, is the middleman. I believe, the person goes by the nick 'hunterpig'. I never communicated with the maker, only through the middleman who was helping sell the
ninja through ebay. Most Ninjas out there aren't really historically accurate per se. Leather jacket, straight pants, a pull over balaclava. Mostly the image from 'American
Ninja kind of movies.' Even, the Triad
Ninja set and Ignite
Ninja aren't really close to historically accurate.
So, when I was Ebay window shopping and saw this
ninja I was really suprised. The clothing was more or less what historically a
Ninja on covert mission would dress like. This
ninja cost US$199 without shipping. Anyway it arrived today and thought of doing up a review
First and formost, Ninjutsu till this day are kindda of viewed skeptically among the Koryu bujustsu community in Japan. I believe the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai to this date has not admitted any
Ninja based schools to their association. (Then again there are a number of legit Ryu-ha who don't join this association).The Nihon Kobudo Kyokai is an association for traditional Japanese martials arts. (Kobudo is not Aikido, Iaido, Judo so and and so forth. They are very small sized school with lineages dating back to 1600's. They still exist but they are slowly dying out because most people in Japan aren't interested in them) and it takes years to learn them. Most of then don't use the 'dan' system. They just give out certification generally called 'Menkyo' or 'Mokuroku' (depending on the style). Some of them practice armored-swordsmanship (Shojitsu Kenri Kataichi Ryu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu, Katori Shinto Ryu.) or Horseback archery (Ogasawara Ryu, Takeda Ryu), others teach grabbling in full armor (Yagyu Shingan Ryu), and of course the famous Musashi school (Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, still exist).
For Ninjas I believe currently, there are two main 'Ninja schools' the Bujinkan and Genbukan. They are schools which teach fighting arts which the Ninjas used, as well as
Ninja based techiniques. I think these 2 schools are very popular overseas. I don't know anything more about them. Anyway, onto the pics!
Here you can see the head-wrap is done the traditional way. That's how Ninjas wrap their head. (Not some balaclava). I wonder, how the custom maker figured out how to tie the head wrap. I think he must have some accurate source (maybe a good book). So 1 point on that ! If you notice, the
Ninja is wearing something known as Hakama. It's not black pants. (thats what most
ninja action figures are made to wear which is not historically accurate) It's pleated culuotees. Its what those samurai wear. But the
Ninja when geared up like that figure, tie up the Hakama that way. That way of tying the Hakama is known as Momodachi style. Kudos to the custom-maker, in getting this right. 2 points! The Hakama appears to be hand sewn, there's even the 6 pleats on them. It's a factual design not fantasy. Next if you notice the custom maker chose to use a braided cord for the himo (strings), instead of some black ribbon. It makes the whole think proportionate. he did a very stylish wrap-around of the himo around the body. Plus point 3. I have no idea, if that's how its done historically.
Close up on the tabi. The custom-maker did a good choice in not trying to re-create waraji (straw sandals). Most 1/6 Waraji don't make it look good. (c.f. Date Masamune, Ii Naomasa, Takeda Shingan). The custom maker basically sewed strings onto black cloth socks to simulate Tabi. Pretty fine work on the himo tying.
It seems, the custom maker hand created the Ninja-to. Ninja-to are akin to a crude-machete, unlike katanas. I'm not entirely sure how accurate Ninja-to are really. You can't find Ninja-tos in Sword museums in Japan and there are no preserved Ninja-to around. Anyhows,the custom-maker seem to have hand-made the saya (scabbard) and he/she 'battle-worn it'. The Ninja-to was made with metal. It did not have a Hamon (That wave-like pattern at the edge of the blade). All in all I commend his/her work. It's not as nice as the Mononofu 1/6 series swords but given its custom made he/she did a very great job.
The figure also came with hand made shurikens stringed up on the himo. I think they are 5 of them. Good think he didn't put 4. 4 is consider an unlucky number it sounds like 'dead' in Japanese. So most feudal warriors won't carry stuff in 'fours'. Here you can see the musubi (knots) on the himo (strings). Very nicely done. The Uwagi (Shirt), while I'm not sure if its 100% accurate, looks very believable to being historical accurate.
Close up of the head wrap. I wonder how the custom maker figure out how to do the 'traditional' head wrap. Very well done.
Ninja doing Nukitsuki (quick draw of sword from scabbard).Some poses with a Mononofu 1/6 sword. The sword is metal and has a hamon (wave pattern on the edge). Here the
Ninja is doing a Nukitsuki !
KAI ! - On-no-ma-ku-san-man-da-ba-sa-ra-dan-kan !
Ninja preforming Kuji (9 letters, Kai is the 5th letter). A kind of spell to place the combatant into a state of extinguishing the self (muga). Apparently it takes extraordinarily arduous training to enter this state at will, so they tend to invoke the Kuji. (Those
Ninja finger signs, each sign has an associated chant). LOL too fun ! The
Ninja can be posed to sit in Seiza as seen in the pic. OMG the whole scene is turning white ! he's entering the state of Muga ! hehehe
Ninja doing a position known as Iai-goshi. Where the left knee is on the ground and the right knee is slightly raised. It's a recon position, for example when hiding in tall grass. It allows quick movement from a low position during outside terrain, unlike seiza (sitting on your knees).
Ninja throws a flash bomb (that's why its all bright white!) and jumps in the air and does a fast draw!
Here's the box that came with the custom
ninja. Pretty nice box, The top cover is not printed. It came secure with plastic coated wires. The seller even packed some postcard of Singapore for me ! I believe that's the custom maker website.
About the nude. I'm not sure what nude was used but the arms click when rotated. (Like those revoltech figure). The thigh joints are not super duper tight but its ok. You can do wide stance poses fine and it will hold. But if you accidentally smack you hand on the figure and cause the figure to fall the 'thigh' positions will move. It's not tight like .. er.. Hot Toys Nude.
Well, that's my review. A very very solid historically believable
Ninja. Very good work on the custom maker Hunterpig. Since it seems (not entierly sure) everything is handmade except the nude, I guess the US199 price is justified. I'm guessing the custom maker must have spent quite a bit initially trying to sew a right hakama and stuff.
Hope ya all enjoy the review
), and I have seen the production process. Trust me, it is pretty hard work! 
