Japan’s Aichi prefecture is looking to hire six ninjas in a bid to boost tourism. The roles are full-time and the pay is US$1,600 a month, the job ad says.

Physical fitness and acrobatic skills are a must, says Aichi prefecture, which hopes to promote “warlord tourism.”

Ninjas were 15th century Japanese mercenaries specializing in espionage, assassination, sabotage and other forms of irregular warfare.

Such trickery was considered beneath the samurai, or military nobility, who had to observe strict rules on fighting honorably.

The job specification has been somewhat changed for the advertised roles.

It involves stage performances and “PR work” for radio and television. Combat experience as a ninja is not required and a track record of killing people for money would not help your application.

Ideal candidates should “enjoy being under the spotlight even though he or she is a secretive ninja,” said Satoshi Adachi of the prefecture’s tourism promotion unit.

As the troupe will sometimes perform in English, Japanese language skills are preferred rather than essential, Adachi said, although a passion for history and tourism is a requirement.

Training is also a little quicker these days.

Winning applicants will be up to speed in the arts of wooing tourists with back flips and sword play by the end of April.

Successful applicants will be performing in Nagoya Castle and various other locations.

Aichi prefecture may be hoping to see some of the success seen by neighboring Mie prefecture’s Ninja museum in Iga city, which combines historical details with acrobatic performances inspired by tales of the ancient warriors.

While ninja was a very real historical phenomenon, much popular folklore about them is based on legend and myth.

Anyone over 18 can apply to be a ninja in Aichi, and applications closed Tuesday.

日本爱知县欲招募六名忍者以推动当地旅游业的发展。招聘广告上写道：全职，月薪1600美元。

爱知县官方称，应聘者要身体健康，且必须练过杂技。爱知县希望通过此举发展“武士游”。

忍者是15世纪日本一种特殊的兵种，专门从事间谍、暗杀、蓄意破坏等非常规战斗任务。

日本忍者地位在武士之下，武士必须严守规则，为荣誉而战。

然而在这则招聘广告中，忍者的工作内容发生了一些改变。

在这里，忍者的工作包括舞台表演以及电视和广播节目的“公关工作”。作为一名忍者所必须的格斗经验，你不一定要有，而且拿钱取命的工作经验也不会对应聘成功有任何帮助。

爱知县旅游宣传部门的安达哲说，理想的应聘者须“放下自己神秘忍者的心理包

袱，享受在聚光灯下的感觉。”

安达哲表示，剧团有时要用英语演出，所以会说日语并非必要条件，当然会的话更好。但应征者必须对日本历史和旅游充满热情。

培训时间很短：通过面试的人必须在4月末前掌握后空翻以及剑术等能够吸引游客的技能。

成功入选的申请者将在名古屋堡和其他地方表演。

三重县在爱知县的旁边。三重县伊贺市修建了忍者博物馆。受古代武士传奇故事的启发，该博物馆将历史展示与杂技表演融为一体，取得了极大的成功。爱知县希望能复制这样的成功。虽然忍者是真实存在的历史现象，但现在民间广为流传的关于忍者的传说则大多都来源于传奇和神话。

凡年满18周岁的人都可以应聘成为爱知县忍者，报名周二已截止。

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

   【间谍活动】jiàndié huódòng espionage the act or practice of spying

    【民间传说】mínjiān chuánshuō folklore the traditional beliefs, legends, customs, etc., of a people