Under Ninja (アンダーニンジャ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa. It has been serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine since July 2018. An anime television series adaptation by Tezuka Productions aired from October to December 2023. A live-action film adaptation premiered in Japanese theaters in January 2025.
Plot
The ninja organization in Japan, which once flourished, was dismantled by the GHQ after the Pacific War and disappeared. However, the ninja still exist in secret, and it is said that there are 200,000 of them living in Japan today, hiding and working in the dark in the public and private sectors and in all kinds of organizations. While some of the elite ninja work behind the scenes in national level conflicts, the ninja at the end of the line are often unable to find work. One of them, Kuro Kumogakure, who is living the life of a NEET, receives a serious "ninja assignment," an order from his superiors to infiltrate a high school with the latest equipment.
Characters
- Kurō Kumogakure (雲隠 九郎)
- Katō (加藤)
- Miracle Hibi (日比 奇跡)
- Suzuki (鈴木)
- Shion Hachiya (蜂谷 紫音)
- Kawado (川戸)
- Ōno (大野)
- Eita (瑛太)
- Noguchi (野口)
- Ozu (小津)
- Saruta (猿田)
- Mitsuki Yamada (山田美月)
- Principal (主事)
- Homeroom Teacher (担任)
- Akikazu Yoshida (吉田昭和)
Media
Manga
Under Ninja, written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa, started in Kodansha's manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine on July 23, 2018.[7][8][9] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on February 6, 2019. As of March 6, 2026, 17 volumes have been released.
In North America, Denpa announced the English language release of the manga in July 2020.[10]
Volumes
Volumes
Anime
On September 6, 2021, it was announced that the series would receive an anime television series adaptation.[36] It is produced by Tezuka Productions and directed by Satoshi Kuwabara, with scripts supervised by Keiichirō Ōchi, character designs by Nobuteru Yūki, and music composed by Shōta Kowashi. The series aired from October 6 to December 22, 2023, on TBS and BS11.[37] The opening theme song is "Hyper" by Kroi.[39] Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Asia.[40]
Episodes
Episodes
Live-action film
In March 2024, it was announced that the series would receive a live-action film adaptation.[43] The film adaptation is written and directed by Yūichi Fukuda, and stars Kento Yamazaki and Minami Hamabe as Kurō Kumogakure and Ayaka Noguchi respectively. The film premiered in Japanese theaters on January 24, 2025.[44] The film's theme song is "Doppelgänger", performed by Creepy Nuts.[45]
The film was scheduled to premiere in Los Angeles on January 8, 2025;[46] however, it was cancelled due to the wildfire state of emergency.[47]
Reception
The series was nominated for the 49th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 2025.[48]
External links
References
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- Egan Loo. Under Ninja TV Anime Announces Main Cast Anime News Network, May 6, 2023, retrieved May 6, 2023^
- Anita Tai. Live-Action Under Ninja Film Casts Shōtarō Mamiya, Mai Shiraishi Anime News Network, September 23, 2024, retrieved September 24, 2024^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Under Ninja TV Anime Reveals 4 More Cast Members Anime News Network, July 13, 2023, retrieved July 13, 2023^
- Alex Mateo. Live-Action Under Ninja Film Reveals 4 More Cast Members Anime News Network, November 11, 2024, retrieved November 11, 2024^
- Alex Mateo. Live-Action Under Ninja Film Reveals 5 More Cast Members Anime News Network, October 23, 2024, retrieved October 24, 2024^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Kengo Hanazawa's New Manga's Title, July Debut Revealed Anime News Network, May 7, 2018, retrieved November 18, 2020^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/292193 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, July 23, 2018, retrieved November 18, 2020^
- https://magazine.yanmaga.jp/ym/2018/2018-34.html YanMaga Web, Kodansha, retrieved November 18, 2020^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins, Alex Mateo. Denpa Licenses Romy Oishi, meshe's Lockdown Zone: Level X, Kengo Hanazawa's Under Ninja Manga Anime News Network, July 3, 2020, retrieved July 4, 2020^
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- Alex Mateo. North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 8–14 Anime News Network, January 10, 2023, retrieved February 25, 2023^
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- https://www.kodansha.co.jp/comic/products/0000424941 Kodansha, retrieved January 29, 2026^
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- Egan Loo. Live-Action Under Ninja Film's Teaser Unveils Cast, Director, January 24 Debut Anime News Network, September 2, 2024, retrieved September 2, 2024^
- Alex Mateo. Live-Action Under Ninja Film's Trailer Reveals Theme Song by Creepy Nuts Anime News Network, November 25, 2024, retrieved November 25, 2024^
- Adriana Hazra. Live-Action Under Ninja Film Premieres on January 8 in Los Angeles Anime News Network, January 4, 2025, retrieved January 6, 2025^
- Kento Yamazaki's Under Ninja Premiere in Los Angeles Canceled Due to Wildfire State of Emergency Japan Anime News, Oricon, January 8, 2025, retrieved January 12, 2025^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. 49th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced Anime News Network, April 7, 2025, retrieved April 7, 2025^