Prologue
JPLast time and the time before last, I talked about ninjutsu used by ninjas.
お菊The actual ninjutsu was different from the image in many ways.
JPIn this final episode of the ninja series, we will introduce ninjas that are famous in Japan, whether they are real or fictional.
お菊I wonder what kind of ninjas will appear?
JPLet’s talk about them.
The top-notch ninjas who hid in the shadows – Ninjas famous in Japan
In this final episode of the ninja series, we will introduce famous ninjas who are real or fictional.
Table of Contents
Hattori Hanzo
| Existence | Real person |
| Affiliation | Tokugawa clan |
| A person who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hanzo was a hereditary name for generations. The real name of the most famous Hanzo was Hattori Masanari. Hattori Masanari was one of the Tokugawa Sixteen Divine Generals. Originally, the Hattori family was one of the Iga Zyounin families, but they left Iga and served the Matsudaira clan of Mikawa in the grandfather’s generation of Masanari. Therefore, his grandfather was a ninja, but Masanari himself served Ieyasu as a samurai. However, he became in charge of the Iga ninjas after an incident called “The Lord of God’s Crossing of Iga”, and disappeared from the public eye. In modern terms, he became like the FBI director. | |
Fuma Kotaro
| Existence | Real person |
| Affiliation | Hojo clan |
| The leader of the Fuma clan. Fuma Kotaro A hereditary name passed down through generations. The description that has been preserved was 218cm tall, with slit eyes and mouth, and four fangs sticking out, which was inhuman. This could have been because the legends had exaggerated over time, or because he intentionally spread this information to intimidate the Fuma. He is documented as having led his men to raid the enemy’s camp at night. | |
Kato Danzo
| Existence | Real person? Is there a person who became a model? |
| Affiliation | Uesugi clan -> Takeda clan |
| He had another name, “Tobi Kato”. His name appears in books from the 1600s (100 years after he was active). He first served Uesugi Kenshin. He was skilled at infiltrating castles by leaping over walls and moats. When Kenshin asked him to steal a sword from a castle as a test, he not only took the sword but also abducted a child. Seeing this, Kenshin secretly ordered his assassination, but he managed to escape successfully. He then tries to serve Shingen Takeda, Kenshin’s rival. However, he was killed by Shingen, who saw Danzo as a threat. | |
Karasawa Genba
| Existence | Real person |
| Affiliation | Takeda clan -> Sanada clan |
| He was known as “Ninjutsu Master” and “Flying Six Laws” for his skills. He was good at jumping and pyrotechnics, and burned down enemy castles. He first served the Takeda clan, and after the Takeda’s downfall, he served the Sanada clan. Anecdote When he infiltrated a castle, he stole a golden horse armor that the lord had received from a great person. He later gained fame by wearing the horse armor in battle, which caught the eye of his lord, but he also stood out too much from the enemy and was targeted by them. | |
Momochi Tanba
| Existence | Real person |
| Affiliation | Iga |
| A person of the Momochi family, one of the Iga Ueno families. A leader of the Iga-shu (Iga ninjas) who fought in the Tensho Iga War. He achieved a great victory over the Oda army in the first battle, but surrendered in the second invasion. He became the inspiration for Momochi Tanba in the story-telling. Momochi Tanba appears as the master of Ishikawa Goemon in thestory-telling. | |
Ishikawa Goemon
| Existence | Real person |
| Affiliation | None |
| The leader of a band of thieves. Ishikawa Goemon His existence was uncertain for a long time, but a document from that time suggests that he was real. He became a popular character in story-telling since the 17th century. Lupin III’s Ishikawa Goemon is said to be the 13th descendant of this Ishikawa Goemon. From now on, I will talk about Ishikawa Goemon in story-telling. Ishikawa Goemon, who learned ninjutsu from Momochi Tanba, was a noble thief who defied the authorities, robbing castles and mansions, and even stealing the golden shachi (the decoration on top of the castle). In the end, he attempted to assassinate Hideyoshi, but was foiled by the “Chidori incense burner” that was placed in his bedroom. He was condemned to death and boiled alive in a pot. | |
Sarutobi Sasuke
| Existence | Fictional character |
| Affiliation | Sanada clan |
| A member of the Sanada Ten Braves, a group of ninjas who served under Sanada Yukimura. He is the leader of the Ten Braves and one of the most famous among them. He is the original source of many characters named “Sasuke” in works featuring ninjas. | |
Kirigakure Saizo
| Existence | Fictional character |
| Affiliation | Sanada clan |
| Another one of the Sanada Ten Braves and Sasuke’s rival. He is an Iga ninja and a disciple of Momochi Sandayu, like Ishikawa Goemon. | |
Jiraiya
| Existence | Fictional character |
| Affiliation | None |
| A character from a 19th century story, “The Tale of Jiraiya”. He uses toad magic. He appears in many stories after “The Tale of Jiraiya”, and in later works he has a wife who uses slug magic, Tsunade, and a rival who was born from a snake, Orochimaru. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru are also the models for the Three Ninja in NARUTO. | |
Epilogue
JPThis is the end of the ninja series.
I hope you enjoyed learning about various ninjas that are transmitted in Japan.
お菊In this series, I learned a lot about ninja tools, ninjutsu, and real ninjas.
What kind of series will we have next time?
JPNext time, I’m thinking of doing a series where I tell a few short stories and then focus on one person.
お菊That’s exciting.
JPI hope you are looking forward to it too.
お菊See you again next time.
