A Japanese security firm is eyeing to deploy modern ninjas as security officers for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
For over a year now, SCC Co. has found tremendous success in having its guards dressed as ninjas, according to Japan Times. The security firm is reportedly based in Koka, a city in Shiga Prefecture known as the birthplace of a prominent ninja school.
In 2016, the company began providing guards dressed as the medieval warriors and assassins to take advantage of the city’s then emerging trend of “ninja tourism.” In their initial assignments, the modern ninjas were tasked to provide traffic control services for the opening of a coffee franchise. Soon enough, the ninja security force branched out to other services as well.
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SCC Co. head Maya Miyoshi is hoping to land massive contracts for her modern ninjas: the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo.
“We want to contribute to the Tokyo Olympics. If we draw attention, it will energize the industry as well,” the 36-year-old executive was quoted as saying. “Ninjas are world-class icons and we want people to feel familiar with security at sports facilities.”
Miyoshi, who took over the security unit of her husband’s company SSC in 2011, immediately took the security industry by surprise with her unorthodox ideas.
Inspired by her previous experience in studying design, she began dressing the security guards in yellow uniforms. Such ideas have been popular with the public, especially foreign tourists who often take photos with the security guards.
“I’ve always liked to do something different. I want to make a change in the security industry, which appears to be old-fashioned and sober,” said Miyoshi.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which is scheduled to kick off on July 24 through Aug. 9, 2020, already has an impressive line up of brand ambassadors headed by “Dragonball Z’s” Son Goku, “One Piece’s” Luffy, the girls from “Sailor Moon,” and “Naruto” who is also a ninja.
