Hatsumi had a teaching approach that lead Black Belt magazine to call him "wild, funny, unpredictable, and a cross between Charlie Chaplin and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"[10] Hatsumi focused on teaching taijutsu to his students, as the other ninja arts have no need to be practiced in modern times other than for "historical study.
He also appeared in and was stunt coordinator for the Japanese tokusatsu television series Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya, playing the titular hero's mentor and father figure, Tetsuzan Yamaji.
[13] Hatsumi claims that ninjutsu was developed by Japanese mountain clans, using "esoteric skills and philosophies" brought to Japan by Tang dynasty exiles.
[9] According to Donn Draeger "The late Fujita Seiko was the last of the living ninja, having served in assignments for the Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras.