Hattori Hanzo
Top 2 in Top 10 History's Greatest Swordsmen
Most people are familiar with the name "Hattori Hanzo," and not just because of the well-known Kill Bill character of the same name. For good cause, Hanzo has been portrayed as a legendary swordsman in numerous fictional works in Japan and elsewhere. He is still regarded as one of the greatest military commanders and ninja swordsmen in Japanese history.
Hanzo began training at the age of eight and by the time he was eighteen was already fighting for the Matsudaira clan (later the Tokugawa clan). According to reports, he was brutal in dealing with his foes on the battlefield, garnering him the moniker "Demon Hanzo" among opposing sides. He was not only a master swordsman, but a superb tactician as well. Hanzo played a crucial role in the military and diplomatic ascension of Tokugawa Ieyasu as shogun.
- Leader of Iga Ninja in Sengoku era
Born: c. 1542
Died: November 14, 1597 (aged 55), Edo, Musashi province
Nickname: "Demon Hanzō"
