history

Kurohabaki Group_ic3

Date Masamune's Ninja Group? The Legend of the Kurohabaki-gumi [Part 2] | Ninja Groups Used by Famous Sengoku Daimyo

Examples of famous ninja groups used by Sengoku period warlords

A legend from the mid-Edo period tells of Date Masamune organizing a secret spy group called the "Kurohabaki-gumi," and there are also legends of other powerful Sengoku warlords having ninja groups assigned to special missions

In reality, much of it is a mix of fact and fiction, and its veracity is uncertain, but it is natural to assume that spies and covert operations actually existed

Here are some well-known examples of ninjas used by Sengoku-era warlords

Since some of these groups have been definitively proven to exist, while others do not, we will mainly introduce legends that suggest the existence of such shadowy figures

Tokugawa Ieyasu: Iga clan

Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the site of Sunpu Castle (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the site of Sunpu Castle (Shizuoka Prefecture)

Along with Koga in Shiga Prefecture, Iga in Mie Prefecture is perhaps one of the most well-known ninja groups.

One of the most famous leaders of this group was Hattori Hanzo , the first of whom served Ashikaga Yoshiharu, the twelfth shogun of the Muromachi period, and Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, the grandfather of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Because of this connection, the second Hattori Hanzo served as a retainer of Ieyasu and is said to have helped him in his quest for power, both openly and behind the scenes

The descendants of the Iga ninja were later"Iga Doshin"or"Iga-gumi,"and did not actually perform ninja duties during the Edo period.

Furthermore, the Iga clan were local samurai, and the second Hattori Hanzo was also a warrior who served in the army

However, it is said that the Iga clan played a major role in guarding and guiding Ieyasu during his escape from the Kinki region, which had become a dangerous area for him after the Honnoji Incident in 1582, to his territory of Mikawa, a journey known as the "Divine Lord's Escape through Iga."

As mentioned earlier, the "Iga Group" of the Edo period were not ninjas themselves, but it is noteworthy that their name has survived for generations to come

Takeda Shingen: Three people

Statue of Takeda Shingen in front of Kofu Station (Yamanashi Prefecture)
Statue of Takeda Shingen in front of Kofu Station (Yamanashi Prefecture)

"Mitsumono" is the common name for a group of ninjas supposedly organized by Takeda Shingen, the Tiger of Kai Province

In reality, the name cannot be found in historical records from Shingen's lifetime, and it is believed that he came to be called that based on descriptions in the "Bansenshukai," a ninja manual compiled in the early Edo period, and the "Koyo Gunkan," a military treatise

According to these documents, Shingen is"inspector," "assembly officer," and "inspector,"which is how the term "three-person team" came to be established.

"Mami" refers to observing the enemy from a distance, "Mibun" refers to observing the enemy at close range, and "Metsuke" refers to infiltrating enemy territory to observe. These terms are said to describe the methods of deploying personnel involved in information warfare and espionage

While the term "Mitsumono" itself is a later invention, records show that Shingen actually used ninja to infiltrate and attack enemy castles, gather information, and cause disruption

Uesugi Kenshin: Night Bandit Group

Statue of Uesugi Kenshin at Kasugayama Castle Ruins (Niigata Prefecture)
Statue of Uesugi Kenshin at Kasugayama Castle Ruins (Niigata Prefecture)

It is said that Uesugi Kenshin, the Dragon of Echigo , also used ninja groups, and later military chronicles mention them by names such as "night bandit group," "hidden ninja," and "listener."

Of course, since it is a military chronicle, it has a strong fictional element, and it is difficult to evaluate its historical reliability. However, it is natural to assume that they were operating a unit that was responsible for intelligence gathering

Incidentally, in historical novels and other works of fiction, Kenshin's ninja group is sometimes referred to as "Nokizaru," but in reality, it is said that no such name was ever used for spies in Echigo

The term "Nokizaru" is mentioned as an alternative name for ninjas in the "Bansenshukai," a ninja manual from the early Edo period, and it is also said that ninjas employed by the Later Hojo clan of Odawara were called "Nokizaru."

Mori Motonari: Blind men

Statue of Mori Motonari at Koriyama Castle Ruins (Hiroshima Prefecture)
Statue of Mori Motonari at Koriyama Castle Ruins (Hiroshima Prefecture)

The war chronicle "Intoku Taiheiki," written in the mid-Edo period, depicts Mori Motonari, a feudal lord of Aki Province during the Sengoku period, as having employed a group of ninjas called the " Zatōshū ."

The term "zatō" refers to a class of blind biwa players, and they also had aspects of being itinerant entertainers

Motonari infiltrated the enemy Amago clan as a retainer, sending inblind musicians named Kakuzu, and succeeded in disrupting them from within by using their skills in entertainment to gain their favor.

Since the "Intoku Taiheiki" itself is considered a work of fiction, its veracity is uncertain, but the sophisticated tactic of spies disguised as professionals infiltrating enemy territory to conduct espionage and covert operations is certainly reminiscent of ninja activities

Techniques for infiltrating castles as seen in ancient swimming methods

When we think of ninjas, we imagine them using "ninjutsu" as a special skill, and indeed, some of these techniques have been passed down through generations

It might be easier to understand if we consider it as a general term encompassing a wide range of intelligence gathering skills, including the operation of tools and physical skills for infiltration and reconnaissance, as well as knowledge of pharmacology and methods of encrypted communication

It is believed that this included not only ninja techniques, but also the acquisition of techniques suitable for stealth from various genres of martial arts, collectively known as the eighteen general martial arts

In this article, we will introduce some techniques of what is known as "ancient swimming ," also called "water techniques ."

Swimming technique was an important skill for samurai, and it was essential for crossing fast-flowing rivers with large volumes of water, or for increasing the chances of survival if they fell overboard during a ship battle

Among these swimming styles, there is one school that teaches techniques that evoke a strong sense of ninja-like elegance

This is the "Shinto-ryu" style of swordsmanship passed down in Satsuma .

This is a traditional school of swimming that has been passed down through generations, and it includes a technique for "walking across the bottom of a castle's moat."

"sokokatsugi" (bottom covering), suggests it could also be used for infiltrating a castle.

This advanced technique involves exhaling all the air from your lungs, sinking to the bottom of the water, and crossing while leaning your body forward. It is said that performing this technique repeatedly is prohibited because it can lead to oxygen deprivation

Furthermore, many of these ancient swimming techniques include methods for swimming while wearing armor, wielding a sword while treading water, or handling bows, arrows, or guns, demonstrating their refinement as combat swimming methods

This is an example from the Date family of the Uwajima Domain, not the Date family of the Sendai Domain , but here they introduced a swimming technique called "Kobori-ryu Tōsui-jutsu," which they learned from the Kumamoto Domain

This school of martial arts is characterized by its extremely strong treading water technique, and the illustrated scrolls of its transmission documents depict practitioners wielding long spears and naginata (halberds) while in a treading water position

Ninjas likely had to survive in harsh environments during espionage and infiltration operations, and also needed to quickly eliminate enemies if they encountered them

Perhaps water magic became an important skill for them as one way to deal with such situations

summary

Statue of Date Masamune at Sendai Castle Ruins (Miyagi Prefecture)
Statue of Date Masamune at Sendai Castle Ruins (Miyagi Prefecture)

Regardless of its historical accuracy, this provides an overview of the legends surrounding the "Kurohabaki-gumi," a group of ninjas associated with Date Masamune

While the concept itself may seem largely fictional, it's reasonable to assume that ninjas did indeed exist and influenced Sengoku period history from the shadows

While the majority of their achievements may remain shrouded in historical obscurity, perhaps later historians have reflected on their pasts and poured their pens into writing

Main reference sites

Series: Date Masamune's Ninja Group? The Legend of the Kurohabaki-gumi

Please support NEFT's article creation!

NEFT gathers and publishes articles about the history, culture, and tourism information of various regions in Tohoku

If you enjoyed this article, we would be grateful if you would consider supporting our future interviews, article creation, and website management

*Clicking "Tip" will open the tip sending screen for the external service "codoc"

Other articles