Almost everyone knows the name "Hattori Hanzo." It’s a name that has surfaced throughout pop culture, from the Japanese master swordsmith in Kill Bill to the ninja character in Samurai Games. But before this figure was a character in your favorite movie or video game, Hattori Hanzō was a famous samurai in the Sengoku era, praised for his unwavering loyalty and his masterful skill in espionage and assassination. Hanzo's role in the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate cannot be understated, a clan that would shape Japan for over two centuries.
But who was the famous ninja Hattori Hanzo? Was he, in fact, a ninja himself, or did he just lead them? What was his role in the landscape of Japanese politics and warfare, and how did he become one of Japan’s most legendary samurai generals?
Setting the Scene: The Death of Oda Nobunaga
Born in 1542 in the Mikawa Province, Japan (now known as the Iga Province) Hattori Hanzo was actually born as Masanari. He was raised by his father, Hattori Hanzo Yasunaga, a minor samurai to the Matsudaira clan. It was between the 17th and 19th centuries that this clan would go on to rule over Japan, becoming known as the famous Tokugawa clan.
16th century Japan was rife with wars, political strife, and uncertainty. A daimyo (a high-ranking lord), called Oda Nobunaga was working hard to unify Japan. However, he was also betrayed by one of his vassals, which led him to commit seppuku (a ritualistic suicide that denied the enemy the satisfaction of having the kill.)
With the death of Oda Nobunaga, who had worked so hard to unify the country, Japan fell back into chaos and commotion. However, out of his shadow rose two retainers, one of which was Tokugawa Ieyasu - a man who would later become the first Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, one of the most powerful figures in history.
Hanzo's Rise Through the Ranks
This is where Hattori Hanzo comes into the story. Much of Hanzo's life and work remains a mystery, but what we do know for certain is he faithfully served as a vassal to the future Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. This meant he received protection for his loyalty and service.
There are sources that claim Hanzo used this strategic brilliance to rescue Ieyasu after the assignation of Oda Nobunaga. After Nobunaga's death, Japan descended into chaos, which left Ieyasu stuck surrounded by enemies, as a huge target for kidnap and assassination. It was Hattori Hanzo who led Tokugawa Ieyasu to safety in Mikawa Province across Iga territory, relying on ties with some of the ninja clans there.
Because of his loyalty to Ieyasu, Hanzo quickly became one of his most trusted and faithful advisers. He performed a range of duties for Ieyasu and the Tokugawa clan, which included escort, espionage, and assassination. He organized a network of ninja spies to provide Ieyasu with critical information about enemy movements, helping him outmaneuver rivals and get him to safety.
He famously used guerrilla warfare to attack his enemies. This type of tactic involved a small group sneaking up on opponents, infiltrating enemy camps, and using surprise attacks to their advantage rather than full-scale military operations. Ieyasu was so impressed with Hanzo that he employed more ninjas and promoted him as their leader.
Due to his fearlessness in combat and his use of his strategic brilliance, Hanzo earned the nickname "Oni no Hanzo,” which translates to “Hanzo the Demon." Some people even believed him to have supernatural abilities in psychokinesis and telekinesis, which is what gave him the power and skill in battle.
More likely, Hanzo was using the secret teachings of ninjitsu, a martial art form that likely led him to develop the skills of espionage, camouflage, stealth, and more, and explain why so many warriors of the time deemed him supernatural. Although we don't know the full extent of his ninja skills, one thing was clear: Hattori Hanzo was an incredibly skilled warrior. His expertise in guerrilla warfare and assassination made him indispensable.
The Guardian of Edo Castle
After arriving home to the province of Mikawa, Tokugawa Ieyasu gave his support to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga’s other retainer. They worked together to uphold the legacy of Nobunaga, restoring balance to Japan.
In 1590, Tokugawa traveled to Edo, entrusting his defense to the ninjas who were fully under Hanzo's stewardship. They took up barracks near the west gate of Edo Castle. Afterward, Hanzo's loyalty was rewarded when Tokugawa Ieyasu gave him enough money to live a comfortable life of wealth.
Even after Hanzo’s death in 1596, his army of ninjas was said to have died with him, their training disintegrating under new management and without the discipline that Hanzo provided. However, Hattori Hanzo's legacy endured, with his remains being laid to rest at the Temple Cemetery in Tokyo, surrounded by his favorite spear and ceremonial battle helmet.
Furthermore, the Hanzo-mon Gate in modern-day Tokyo was named after Hattori Hanzo, an enduring symbol of his role in securing the Tokugawa rule and his undying loyalty right up until his death.
The name Hanzo was also passed down through the Hattori family, which meant his father and son were both called Hanzō.
His bloodline, however, seemed to descend into chaos after his death, with his sons lacking the discipline this ninja warrior had taught himself. One of his sons, Masanari, became captain of the castle guard, only for his own guard to rebel against him. Another one of his sons, Hattori Masashige, served Tokugawa and led a group of ninjas, but he was not as successful as his father.
Hattori Hanzo's Legacy Today
One of the most interesting things about Hattori Hanzo is how little we know about him, up until this very day. Although we know that he shaped the Tokugawa Shogunate and helped bring peace to Japan through his tactical genius, loyalty, and innovation in warfare, the details of his missions are shrouded in secrecy. We don't know what tasks Ieyasu set him or even how he carried them out. His skills in espionage and assassination could far exceed what we know to be true, and there is probably much more to his story than the records display.
However, it's undoubted that Hanzo’s story continues to captivate audiences all over the world. His name, so entwined with the ninja archetype, has appeared in countless popular films, novels, anime, and video games, from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill to games such as Samurai Warriors, Nioh, and Total War: Shogun 2.
Although we may never know the truth of this historic figure, we know that Hattori Hanzo was so much more than just a samurai - he was a master strategist, a formidable leader of warriors, and a famous figure in Japanese history. These qualities and the mysteries that surround him make him one of the most fascinating warriors in Japan’s history.
Samurai Replicas For Fans of Hattori Hanzo
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