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Artwork for Critical Ninja Theory

Critical Ninja Theory

Rob Tuck

Exploring Japanese history, literature, and pop culture, mostly through ninjas.

Platform
Substack
PricingOnly free issuesPublishesTwice weekly
Issues183Founded2 years agoLast Issue9 days ago
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Artwork for Critical Ninja Theory

Latest Issues

Ninja Didn't Use Shuriken

Mashiba Hisayoshi (a lightly disguised version of Toyotomi Hideyoshi), seen here moments before Ishikawa Goemon launches a shuriken throwing-knife at him. A famous scene from the 1778 play Sanmon gosan no kiri. Print by Kunisada, 1849-53. S...

9 days ago
8
8

Tobi Katō and the Presumption of Historicity

A gender-swapped Katō Danzō (a.k.a. Tobi Katō) as depicted in the Japanese video game Fate/Grand Order. The text at the bottom, describing her abilities, is “Tricks and Illusion Magic” and “Swallowing Cows.” Image source.

I’ve spent the l...

12 days ago
4
8

The Cow-Swallowing Sorcerer’s Kōka Connection

Seen at Scholastic book fair, Tempe, AZ, March 2026.

The hero of the last several posts, Tobi or ‘Flying’ Katō, is a wizard and general ne’er-do-well. He first appears in early Edo-period (1600-1867) literature, and is often cited as a re...

16 days ago
3
2

Tobi Katō: Ninja Magician (Part 2)

Tobi Katō looks in on the warlord Uesugi Kenshin before attempting to murder him. Kenshin’s snoring, however, is enough to stun Katō into inaction. Illustration from Illustrated Military Chronicles of Kai and Echigo (Ehon Kō-Etsu gunki), co...

a month ago
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7

Tobi Katō: Ninja Magician (Part 1)

Uesugi Kenshin’s vassals Naoe Kanetsugu and Onikojima Yatarō, both of whom appear in today’s version of the Tobi Katō story. Print by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1843-7; part of the sequence Eighteen Generals of Echigo Province. Source

Let’s try so...

a month ago
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2

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  • Rob Tuck

    I'm an academic specializing in Japanese literature and history from the 19th to the 21st centuries.

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