1541-1596
Also known as Masashige. The son of a certain Hattori
Yasunaga, Hanzo, who would earn the nickname 'Devil Hanzo', served Tokugawa Ieyasu loyally
and usefully. His nickname - Devil Hanzo - was not only to pay homage to his
skills but also to distinguish him from another Tokugawa 'ninja', Watanabe
Hanzo.
Hattori, who fought his first battle at the age of 16, went
on to serve at Anegawa (1570) and Mikatagahara (1572), but
his most valuable contribution came in 1582, following Oda Nobunaga's death. At
that time Tokugawa and his retainers had been staying near Ôsaka and learned of
the assassination only just in time to avoid being detained by Akechi Mitsuhide's troops.
But they were by no means out of the woods.
Mikawa was still a long way away, and Akechi men would be
combing the roads for them. At this point, Hanzo suggested that they take a
route through Iga province, as he had ties with the samurai there. In
addition, Ieyasu had sheltered survivors from Nobunaga's bloody invasion of
that province in 1580 and those who knew of this would certainly be well
disposed to offer assistance. Honda Tadakatsu sent
Hanzo on ahead, and, as hoped, the Iga men agreed not only to guide them along
back roads, but also to provide them with an escort.
At length, Tokugawa and his band returned to Mikawa safely.
The same could not be said for Anayama Beisetsu, a
recent Tokugawa addition who had insisted on taking a different route.
Hanzo was succeded by his son, Masanari, who would be
given the title Iwami-no-Kami and whose men would act as the guards of Edo
Castle. Hanzo's reputation as a ninja leader who commanded a 200-man strong
unit of Iga men has grown to legendary proportions.
