Ninja Slayer
A cyberpunk ninja saga of disputed authorship.
Ninja Slayer is a novel series presented as a translation of a work by American authors Bradley Bond and Philip 'Ninj@' Morzez, but widely regarded by reporters as a Japanese creation. The series, set in the cyberpunk metropolis of Neo-Saitama, follows salaryman Kenji Fujikido, who becomes the titular ninja-killing entity after his family is killed in a ninja turf war. It has spawned multiple manga adaptations and an ONA produced by Trigger.
- field
- Novel series, manga, anime
- nationality
- Japanese (disputed authorship)
- known_for
- Cyberpunk ninja revenge story, alleged American origin
- first_publication
- September 2012 (Japanese version)
- creator_attribution
- Bradley Bond and Philip 'Ninj@' Morzez (disputed)
Lore & Background
The Ninja Slayer series was originally posted piece by piece on Twitter by Japanese 'translators' Honda Yu and Sugi Leika, who claimed to be adapting a story by American authors Bradley Bond and Philip 'Ninj@' Morzez. After gaining popularity, Enterbrain published the first Japanese-translated volume, Ninja Slayer: Neo-Saitama in Flames, in September 2012. However, no evidence of an original English copy exists, and the purported American authors appear to be fictional, created to produce an elaborate backstory.
The plot centers on Kenji Fujikido, a salaryman whose wife and child are killed by the Soukai Syndicate. He becomes possessed by the Naraku Ninja soul, merging his revenge with Naraku's craving for massacring evil ninjas to create Ninja Slayer. Key characters include Darkninja, the ninja responsible for the murders; journalist Nancy Lee; teenage ninja Yamoto Koki; and Dragon Yukano, an experienced kunoichi. The series has three manga adaptations and an ONA adaptation by Trigger, directed by Akira Amemiya, which aired from April to October 2015.
Reader's Guide
Ninja Slayer's significance lies in its unique presentation as a 'translated' work from fictional American authors, a conceit that reporters consider a Japanese work pretending to be a translation. This meta-narrative has contributed to its cult status, alongside its cyberpunk aesthetic and over-the-top ninja action. The series expanded from Twitter posts to print novels, manga, and an anime, demonstrating the power of viral online storytelling. Its legacy includes influencing discussions about authorship and authenticity in media, as the original creators have no verifiable bio. The anime adaptation by Trigger, known for its distinctive animation style, brought the series to a wider international audience through Funimation's licensing. Despite the disputed origins, Ninja Slayer remains a notable example of transmedia storytelling in the 2010s.
Did You Know?
- The series was originally posted piece by piece on Twitter by Japanese 'translators' Honda Yu and Sugi Leika.
- No evidence of an original English copy of Ninja Slayer exists, and the purported American authors appear to be fictional.
- The ONA adaptation was produced by Trigger and directed by Akira Amemiya, airing from April to October 2015.
- The main theme for the anime is 'Back In Black' performed by electronic band Boom Boom Satellites.
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