This time of year is often spent helping, giving or thinking of others. There are many people who misinterpret the life of a ninja as one of a solitary, dark and shadowy existence. A lone wolf sneaking in and out of other's lives to accomplish some mission. Sensei suggests to us that this is not a healthy view. He says that it is an ideal to have others depend on you. People think they are too busy to help others, but if you decide to ignore everyone else, trusting only yourself, you will soon become one of the busiest of all men. He continues, To give a helping hand to poor people and to want to save them is the humanity of Japanese, and of a warrior's heart. Hatsumi mentions the character Kogarashi Monjiro from the novel and 1970's TV series set in the Edo period, originally written by Saho Sasazawa. Acted by famous samurai actor Atsuo Nokamura. Monjiro lived the wandering life of a gambler. He had a nihilistic attitude and sought to ...
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