Japan's Interesting People:Hanzo Hattori

This is another edition of *Japan's Interesting People*. On this page, we will talk about another famous Samurai Master; Hanzo Hattori.

Many people (especially in the west and Modern Japan) believe that Hanzo Hattori was a "master Ninja", but he was raised and trained as a Samurai who is known to lead a legion of Ninja of around 600 and even lead armies during many battles of the Sengoku Jidai, serving his master Ieyasu Tokugawa.

But what was his life like? This is what this page will try to cover.

## Birth and Early Life

Now, very little is known about Hanzo's early life, he was born some time in the year 1542, and though he was born in the Japanese Province of Mikawa (just like Ieyasu), his family hails from the other Japanese province of Iga (where Ninjas hail from) and he would often visit his family's home when he was just a child. Like all Samurai, he would be trained in the arts of war and tactics of the Samurai.

## First Battles

At the age of 16, Hanzo had fought in his fist Samurai battle, the Seige of Udo Castle in 1557, this is where he would also use a small force of Ninjas to help him in the Seige, about 5 years later, Hanzo also rescued daughters of Ieyasu during another Siege of Kaminogo castle in 1562, and the Siege of Kakegawa Castle in 1569.

Hanzo would also aid the Tokugawas' first battles in Anegawa and the failed Mikatagahara battle. His actions would earn him many nicknames, one of which is "Demon Hanzo"

## Connection with the Tokugawa

Hanzo also had deep connections to the Tokugawa Clan as Hanzo helped the clan defeat Tokugawa's former ally; the Imagawa Clan as one of its members (Ujizane) captured Ieyasu's wife; Tsukiyami, and his eldest son; Nobuyasu in a Siege in 1561.

But, in 1579, both Tsukiyami and Nobuyasu were accused of treason against Nobunaga Oda. Tsukiyami was executed by beheading, and Nobuyasu was forced to commit Seppuku (Japanese ritual suicide), and Hanzo was Nobuyasu's second. But he refuses to take the Katana to chop off Nobuyasu's head, saying

> *"I can not turn my sowrd against my lord's own blood."*
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Instead of being upset with Hanzo, Ieyasu praises him for his refusal to slice off his son's head. Hanzo even said to his master

> *"Even a Demon sheds tears."*
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This is when both men would feel emotional pain as Ieyasu would lose his first wife and son.

## Ninja Legacy

Eventhough Hanzo wasn't a "Ninja Master", but what he did with Ninjas was lead them in battle. This is how Hanzo Hattori got his reputation as a Ninja Legend.

Shortly after the death of Nobunaga, Hanzo led an army of Ninjas through his family's province of Iga while Ieyasu would return to his province of Mikawa as he was at Osaka at the time, and Hanzo wanted to ensure his master would get a safe trip back home.

Hanzo would also help out the Tokugawas in the Battle of Komako-Nagakute and the Seige of Odawara Castle, and Ieyasu would reward him greatly, giving him around 8,000 Koku, and another 8,000 Koku when Ieyasu took Kanto after the defeat of the Hojo, as well as 30 Yoriki and 200 Public Officials serving him, and also giving him more Ninja Warriors that Hanzo would command.

Though Hanzo would eventually die on December 23, 1596, his legacy would live on, and it's even said through Japanese legend that many Ninja would assume Hanzo's name to honor him with his command of the Ninja and their battles they fought. Today, Hanzo (despite that he was a samurai) is known as a "Ninja Master."

Well, that's the end of this edition of Japan's Interesting People. Don't forget to check out my Games and Movies wikis also. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.