Working on another drawing, I keep wondering at the diverse and sometimes strange hobbies people might have – and also at the unusual feast days to celebrate these hobbies. Recently I stumbled across another such unordinary day in the calendar. It turns out that since 2003, December 5 has been marked as Ninja Day.
It was designed by the administration of Ninja Burger, a parody site, as an occasion to imagine yourself a ninja. The date was not randomly picked: on December 5 The Last Samurai premiered, and this film contains a scene of samurais and ninjas fighting. I think that in the beginning Ninja Day wore a shade of mockery, just like the founding website, until real fans of the secret marital art of Ninjutsu joined in. So among those observing Ninja Day one can find both real experts and mocking fans. They walk the streets clad as fearless shinobi warriors. They organize theme parties, educational programs, and pranks. Some even turn up at work in an iconic black dress and face mask, and a pair of chainsticks.
With this at the back of my mind, I see every passer-by as a potential ninja fan, or I picture a ninja clerk in the metro, on the way to his office, a briefcase in his hand – and I find it hilarious, building up these ideas and images. So I believe that Ninja Day is a successful design, which does what any feast day should do: raising spirits up.
