Hanzou Hattori

服部半蔵

in history Hanzou was born as the son of Hattori Yasunaga, a minor samurai in the service of the Matsudaira (later Tokugawa) clan. He would later earn the nickname Oni no Hanzou (鬼半蔵 Devil Hanzou) because of the fearless tactics he displayed in his operations; this is to distinguish him from Watanabe Hanzou (Watanabe Moritsuna), who is nicknamed Yari no Hanzou (槍半蔵 Spear Hanzou) Though Hanzou was born and raised in Mikawa Province, he often returned to Iga Province, home of the Hattori family. He fought his first battle at the age of 16 (a night-time attack on Udo castle and went on to serve…