Full-time ninjas wanted as Japan seeks to boost tourism

Enjoy donning black and capable of back flips? Then you may want to consider moving to Japan for the chance to become a real life ninja.

The Aichi region is seeking to hire six full-time ninjas to boost "warlord tourism".

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

The job pays 180,000 yen a month (£1,100) and requires a high level of physical fitness, acrobatic skills and a passion for history and tourism.

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Speaking Japanese is only a preferred skill, rather than essential, and no combat experience as a ninja is required – in fact admitting you have killed people for money may put your application in jeopardy.

Satoshi Adachi, from the Aichi prefecture tourism board, said candidates should "enjoy being under the spotlight even though he or she is a secretive ninja".

Japan is attempting to increase tourism in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and tapping into their historical ties has worked previously. Tourists can "experience life as a ninja" in popular classes put on in the country's capital.

Anyone over 18 can apply to be a ninja in Aichi, and applications close on March 22.