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Author Signature & Inscription

This exceptional collector’s copy features a hand-signed, brush-ink calligraphic dedication by the author, Okuse Heishichirō, reading: 「忍術は虚実の学なり」(“Ninjutsu wa kyojitsu no gaku nari”).

This translates directly to “Ninjutsu is the study of reality and illusion” (or truth and falsehood). Rather than highlighting physical combat, this specific signed maxim represents the psychological core of genuine Iga espionage, emphasizing that perception management, informational warfare, and misdirection supersede raw force.

Book Overview

Published during the height of Japan’s rapid economic expansion in 1963, Ninjutsu Shoseihō represents a groundbreaking cultural crossover. Released as an official installment in Yomiuri Shimbunsha’s iconic Salaryman Books series, this strategy manual directly targeted Tokyo’s booming demographic of white-collar workers.

Commonly known by its popular subtitle, “Salaryman Ninpō” (Corporate Ninja Arts), the text cleverly translates classical feudal espionage principles into practical tools for modern workplace survival. Rather than physical weaponry, Okuse details how stealth, strategic silence, systematic information gathering, misdirection, and human network management can be deployed to successfully navigate competitive corporate hierarchies, office politics, and difficult interpersonal dynamics.

Rare & Unusual Facts About the Author and Book

• The Real-Life “Ninja Mayor”: The author, Okuse Heishichirō, was far more than an academic writer; he was a powerful public official who served as the official Mayor of Ueno City (the historical capital of the Iga Ninja, now Iga City) from 1969 to 1977. While in office, he single-handedly invented modern “ninja tourism” by establishing the area’s first museum and staging live historical demonstrations for travelers.
• Discovered by Literary Royalty: Okuse’s career as a public researcher began purely by chance. He showed his private family scrolls to legendary historical novelist Ryōtarō Shiba (who was then working as a newspaper cultural desk editor under his real name, Fukuda Teiichi). Shiba was so blown away by the material that he personally pressured Okuse to publish, launching his public career.
• The Master Blueprint for Global Ninja Pop-Culture: Okuse’s 1960s texts served as the exact, underlying source material used by famous playwright Tomoyoshi Murayama to write the massive novel and movie series Shinobi no Mono (忍びの者). Almost every modern trope about historical ninja in books, anime, and movies today traces back to Okuse’s research.
• A Contradictory Philosophy: While this book was sold as a lighthearted guide for corporate white-collar employees to survive office politics, Okuse populated the pages with authentic, grim tactical concepts from historical Iga manuals, making it a bizarrely complex blend of mid-century corporate satire and genuine martial arts history.