Ninja Hattori-kun
A manga about a ninja helping a lazy schoolboy.
**Ninja Hattori-kun** is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko Fujio A (originally credited as Fujiko Fujio) and published from 1964 to 1971, with occasional later releases. The story has been adapted into a television drama (1966–1968 on NET/TV Asahi), an anime series by Shin-Ei Animation (1981–1987 on TV Asahi), a Hudson Soft video game, four anime films, and a live-action film. A remake of the 1981 anime, co-produced by Shin-Ei with Indian studios Reliance MediaWorks and later Green Gold Animations, aired on TV Asahi and Animax from 2013 to 2015.
The plot follows 10-year-old Kenichi Mitsuba, an elementary school student who is lazy, stubborn, and poor at both academics and sports. He often seeks easy solutions, annoying his parents, teachers, and his ninja friend. That friend is Kanzo Hattori, an 11-year-old ninja from Iga who moves into the Mitsuba home along with his younger brother Shinzo and his ninja dog Shishimaru. Hattori helps Kenichi navigate daily problems, though Kenichi sometimes tricks him into assisting. Kenichi has a crush on his classmate Yumeko Kawai, a pianist who dislikes bell peppers and sees the Hattori brothers as family.
The main antagonist is Kemuzou Kemumaki, an 11-year-old Koga ninja who attends the same school as a normal student. He lives alone with his ninja cat Kagechiyo and constantly schemes against Kenichi and Hattori, often inventing new devices. Despite being a rival, Kemumaki is a lonely but decent boy who follows his clan’s rule against using ninjutsu for crime. Kagechiyo, a talking cat, frequently fails in his assigned tasks due to lack of training. Other occasional helpers include Jippou, Togejirou, and Tsubame. Recurring storylines involve Kenichi asking Hattori for revenge after Kemumaki’s mischief, and misunderstandings between the friends caused by Kemumaki. The series is set in five main locations: Tokyo City, Shinto Temple, Iga Province, Iga Mountains, and Kōga Valley.
- Field
- Manga, anime, video games
- Nationality
- Japanese
- Known for
- Manga series Ninja Hattori-kun and its multimedia adaptations
- Creator
- Fujiko Fujio A
Lore & Background
The story follows 10-year-old Kenichi Mitsuba, an elementary school student who is lazy and stubborn, often frustrating his parents and teachers. He becomes best friends with Kanzo Hattori, an 11-year-old ninja from Iga who, along with his younger brother Shinzo and ninja dog Shishimaru, moves into the Mitsuba household. Hattori helps Kenichi with his problems, though Kenichi sometimes tricks him into assisting. The main antagonist is Kemuzou Kemumaki, a Koga ninja who attends the same school and creates trouble with his ninja cat Kagechiyo, though he is not evil and follows his clan's rules.
Reader's Guide
Ninja Hattori-kun is significant as a long-running manga and multimedia franchise that blends ninja lore with modern Japanese daily life. The series was created by Fujiko Fujio A, one half of the famous duo Fujiko Fujio, and ran for 24 years in serialization. Its adaptations include a 1966–1968 television drama, a 1981–1987 anime by Shin-Ei Animation, four anime films, a live-action film, and a video game by Hudson Soft. A remake of the 1981 anime aired from 2013 to 2015, co-produced by Shin-Ei and Indian animation firms Reliance MediaWorks and Green Gold Animations. The series is known for its recurring plot of Kenichi asking Hattori to take revenge on Kemumaki, and for Hattori's fear of frogs. It remains a nostalgic property in Japan and gained international exposure through the Indian co-produced remake.
Did You Know?
- Hattori is named after the historical ninja Hattori Hanzō.
- Hattori's main weakness is a fear of frogs (ranidaphobia).
- Kemumaki's ninja cat Kagechiyo can talk and uses static electricity as an attack.
More in Japanese film series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced