Hattori Hanzō

Hattori Hanzō was a legendary samurai of Japan's Sengoku era.

He served as a general for the Tokugawa clan. His leadership helped Tokugawa Ieyasu become the ruler of a united Japan. Hanzō was a master of sword fighting and a brilliant tactician. Because of his skill, he was named one of the sixteen divine generals of the Tokugawa.

To distinguish him from another general named Watanabe Hanzō, people called him the "Second Hanzō." He was born in Mikawa Province to a minor samurai named Hattori Masanari. Although he was born in Mikawa, he often visited Iga Province, which was the home of the Hattori clan.

Hanzō's military career began at a very young age. In 1557, he participated in his first battle during a nighttime attack at Uto castle. By 1561, he was serving Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was then known as Matsudaira Motoyasu. Hanzō played a major role in Ieyasu's rise to power by helping to defeat the Imagawa clan. In 1562, he performed a vital mission by rescuing Ieyasu's wife and son. They had been held as hostages at Kaminogo castle. Hanzō's success in this rescue proved his value to the future shogun.

In 1563, Hanzō demonstrated intense loyalty during a major rebellion. Many of the Tokugawa clan's vassals joined the Ikkō-ikki followers to fight against Ieyasu. Even though Hanzō himself was a follower of the Ikkō sect, he chose to stay loyal to the Tokugawa clan. He fought alongside Ieyasu against the rebels. Later, between 1570 and 1573, he fought in the battles of Anegawa and Mikatagahara. During the Battle of Mikatagahara, he commanded an Iga unit of 150 men. He even captured a Takeda spy named Chikuan.

Hanzō earned a fearsome nickname during these conflicts. At the Tenryū River, he led only 30 warriors in a counterattack against Takeda troops. He and Watanabe Moritsuna both showed exceptional skill with their spears. While Moritsuna was called "Spear Hanzō," the legendary Hattori Hanzō was called "Oni no Hanzō," or "Hanzō the Demon." This nickname reflected his fierce reputation on the battlefield. In 1575, he married the daughter of a fellow commander named Nagasaka Nobumasa. They had a son about a year later.

One of Hanzō's most famous moments occurred in June 1582. Tokugawa Ieyasu had to escape from Sakai to avoid being captured by Akechi Mitsuhide. Ieyasu traveled with only 34 companions, including Hanzō. The group faced dangerous "samurai hunting" gangs known as ochimusha-gari. They chose a risky route through Iga Province to reach Mikawa Province quickly. Some historians debate the exact path they took. However, most agree the journey ended at Kada pass.

During this trek, the group suffered about 200 casualties from bandit raids. Hanzō and other high-ranking vassals helped protect Ieyasu throughout the march.

Hanzō continued to lead important military campaigns for many years. In 1582, he participated in the Tenshō-Jingo war. He deployed forces in the Kofu basin and led Iga warriors to capture several castles. He successfully launched a night attack on Egusuku castle during heavy rain. In 1584, he served at the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. He led 100 Iga and Kōka ninja warriors to reinforce Matsugashima Castle. In 1590, he led 50 Negoro-shū mercenaries during the Odawara campaign. For his many services, Ieyasu awarded Hanzō a domain in Totomi Province worth 8,000 koku.

Hattori Hanzō died on January 2, 1597, from an unspecified illness.

His remains are buried at the Sainen-ji temple in Tokyo. The temple also preserves his favorite spear, which was a gift from Ieyasu. This yari, or Japanese spear, was originally 14 shaku, or about 424 centimeters, long. It weighed 7.5 kilograms and featured a black-lacquered wooden handle. Though the spear was damaged during the 1945 bombing of Tokyo, it remains a significant historical object. Hanzō's life is remembered as a story of extreme loyalty and military skill.