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The Misunderstood Legacy of Ninjas

It’s been said that history is written by those in power. But what about the outlaws, outcasts and rogues? What if they had their say? Rogue History, a digital series produced by PBS Digital Studios and PBS North Carolina, shakes the dust off the history books to unravel myths, unearth narratives, and discover fresh perspectives.

The Misunderstood Legacy of Ninjas

In the Shadows Episode 5 | 10m 6s | CC

The Edo period marked the start of 250 years of peace for Japan, but it came as a death sentence for shinobi. These highly trained spies mastered the art of deception, infiltration, and some even worked as assassins. But when these talented figures started dying out, legend and mythology took their place, and eventually turned into the classic ninja characters we see in movies and tv today.

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Funding for ROGUE HISTORY is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.