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ニンジャスレイヤー (Ninja Slayer/NINJASLAYER), also known as 忍殺 (NinSatsu)
A series of online "Cyberpunk Ninja Action" novels serialized on Twitter beginning in 2010. It has been adapted into three manga series. An anime adaptation by TRIGGER started airing in April 2015.
The title is also the "ninja name" (code name) of the protagonist Fujikido Kenji.
The account used to publish the series of the "Japanese Translation Team" claims, "These novels were originally written by Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez and published by Ninja Entertainment, an American company, and we, Honda Yuu and Sugi Raika, obtained official rights to translate them into Japanese," but not so many readers believe this. They had already created a fan page in 2002, so even if it is just a joke, they have been keeping it up for more than 10 years. Either way, it is necessary to abide by their announcements regarding copyright issues. When Enterbrain decided to publish a Japanese version in print, the translation team was the point of contact.
This revenge tale has garnered many Japanese fans ~calling themselves Ninjaheads in homage to Deadheads~ due to its laughably inaccurate portrayal of Japan that would appeal to foreigners, bizarre writing-style patterned after a terrible machine translation ~probably a parody of the distinctive style used by Kuroma Hisashi in his translation of William Gibson's novels~ and surprising level of quality for a cyberpunk action novel. These fans tend to use the slang from these novels ~called "Ninsatsu-go, NinSlish"~ regardless of where they are, so they are immediately recognizable. The illustrator for the print version Warainaku is also a passionate Ninjahead.
Currently, there are three chapters serialized, but each episode is written and translated using the "cut-up technique," in which the chronology is intentionally rearranged, so each independent episode can be read and enjoyed in any order. This is retained in the print version, and the first volume begins with "the story so far."
In the stories, the ninja are people possessed by the spirits of ancient legendary killers ~called "ninja souls"~ and become able to use superhuman abilities.
Their names are frequently followed by "=san." This is because in the stories, ninja have a custom of exchanging names ~called "Aisatsu"~ before a fight, consisting of the phrase "Doomo, (opponent's name)=san, I am (speaker's name). (deep bowing)"
Characters
(There is no consistent name order rule for the characters.)
- Fujikido Kenji -Ninja Slayer-
- Dragon Yukano
- Nancy Lee
- Yamoto Koki
- Alias Dictus
- Takagi Gandou -Detective-
- Kataoki -Silver Key-
- Shoogoo Maguchi -Suicide-
- Naraku Ninja
- Yakuza Tengu
- Azure (Azur)
- Deathdrain
- Fujio Katakura (Katakura Fujio) -Dark Ninja-
- Ignite
- Purple Tako
- Raomoto Kan
See also
- English Official page: http://otakumode.com/sp/ninjaslayer
- English serialization page: http://otakumode.com/sp/ninjaslayer/novel
- Official twitter account: https://twitter.com/NJSLYR
- Datalog archive: http://twilog.org/njslyr
- Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja_Slayer
- Enterbrain's page : http://ninjaslayer.jp/
- Anime official page: http://www.ninjaslayer-animation.com/
- Comp Ace's manga adaptation (Yogo Yuuki ver.) promotional account: http://twitter.com/njslyr_ukiyoe
- Official fansite (Japanese): http://d.hatena.ne.jp/NinjaHeads/
- Fanmade wiki (Japanese): http://wikiwiki.jp/njslyr/
- Old English site: http://ninjaslayer.onlinewebshop.net/
- Mixi community: http://mixi.jp/view_community.pl?id=467346