On June 14, 131 aspiring ninjas from Japan and overseas took the Koka-ryu Ninja Certification exam in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture. The test is divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
This year marked the 18th iteration of the exam. Participants came from across Japan as well as Singapore and Hong Kong. Ages ranged from 9 to 76, with 93 at beginner level, 28 at intermediate, and 10 at advanced.
Beginner candidates received extra points for wearing ninja attire and completed a shuriken-throwing test alongside the written exam. Intermediate candidates faced a deeper written test on Koka ninja history, while advanced candidates also submitted a written report.
The Koka Ninja Research Association organizes the annual test. Pass rates reached 90 percent for beginners, 70 percent for intermediate, and 55 percent for advanced. Many attendees cited a long-standing interest in ninja culture and the Koga clan heritage of the area.
