ok i read this charming story but i really just wanted to post these cute lil ninjas.
story: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...D=ansmsnnews11
also here: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/07...inquiries.htmlAspiring ninjas besiege Japanese city with job inquiries
A city in Japan has been bombarded with inquiries from aspiring ninjas, the country's famed feudal mercenaries and spies, after a news report on city tourist promotions was mistaken for a "ninjas wanted" advertisement.
Iga, a small city in central Japan, has long dubbed itself the home of one style of the black-clad, throwing-star-wielding covert agents for hire, staging ninja shows and offering "ninja experiences" for tourists.
But a program aired last week on National Public Radio in the United States about Iga's ninja-centered town promotion effort set off a frenzy of internet interest after its host said the city faced a shortage of ninja performers and even quoted potential salaries, giving the impression it might be hiring.
"That's wrong, all wrong," said Motoyoshi Shimai, an official of Iga's tourism strategy division. "There was no discussion about that, and we didn't mention money."
Still, the city received volleys of telephone and email queries from 115 ninja wannabes in 23 countries, including Japan.
"Most were questions about whether we were really hiring, but there were a few that begged us to employ them and tried to promote themselves," Shimai added. "Some had real confidence in their bodies and strength."
Iga ultimately issued a statement in several languages saying it was not hiring and warning against fake news, but said plenty of other ninja fun was on offer.
"(The city) is the Iga-style ninja birthplace. We can feel breath of ninja at every turn of downtown," it said.
City officials were surprised but not annoyed by the fuss, Shirai said.
"We were made to viscerally feel how high interest is in ninjas all around the world," he added.
Japanese city blames viral NPR report for flood of ninja job inquiries
A Japanese city is fighting off a bombardment of wannabe ninjas after a viral story set off a frenzy of Internet interest locals are saying is “all wrong.”
Iga, a small city in central Japan about 280 miles from Tokyo, has long billed itself as the home of black-clad, star-throwing, sword-wielding ninjas – even going so far as to put on shows and offering “ninja experiences” for tourists.
Last week, the city was featured in an NPR report that has since gone viral, and which appeared to claim that Iga faced a shortage of ninja performers.
The report went so far as to quote potential salaries, claiming performers can earn anywhere between $23,000 and $85,000 a year.
“That’s wrong, all wrong,” said Motoyoshi Shimai, an official of Iga’s tourism strategy division, told Reuters. “There was no discussion about that, and we didn’t mention money.”
As of Wednesday, the city has received inquiries from 115 ninja wannabes from 23 countries, including Japan.
“Most were questions about whether we were really hiring, but there were a few that begged us to employ them and tried to promote themselves,” Shimai added. “Some had real confidence in their bodies and strength.”
He told the Japan Times that neither the city nor ninja performing groups have any plans to recruit new performers. The city was forced to issued a statement on its website warning people of “fake news.”
“(The city) is the Iga-style ninja birthplace. We can feel breath of ninja at every turn of downtown,” it said.
City officials said they were surprised – and not necessarily annoyed – by all the fuss and hope the interest will bring more tourists to the town.
“We were made to viscerally feel how high interest is in ninjas all around the world,” Shimai told Reuters.
all these peeps, saw a shot at their dream job and applied to be ninjas! very cute!
me, i never really wanted to be a ninja. i wanted to be a million other things tho - teacher, zookeeper, basketball superstar, novelist, mayor, etc. etc. but alas, i am a super secretary! w00t w00t!!
what about you? what did u wanna be when u grew up? did u choose something else? are u still working towards your goal?
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