The Most Dangerous Three Days / 生涯最大の危機：死の逃避行
In June 1582, following the Honno-ji Incident where Oda Nobunaga was killed, Tokugawa Ieyasu found himself in a desperate situation in Sakai. To return to his home province, he had to cross the wild mountains of Iga, which were crawling with bandits and enemy remnants. This journey, known as “Shinkun Iga-goe,” is considered the greatest crisis in Ieyasu’s life. It was here that his fate became intertwined with the warriors of the shadows.
1582年6月、本能寺の変で織田信長が討たれた直後、徳川家康は堺で絶体絶命の危機にありました。自国へ帰還するためには、落武者狩りや野盗が潜む伊賀の険しい山々を越えなければなりませんでした。「神君伊賀越え」として知られるこの旅は、家康の生涯で最大の危機とされています。ここで、彼の運命は影の戦士たちと交錯することになったのです。
The Guardians of the Road / 忍びの先導：服部半蔵と甲賀・伊賀衆
Leading the defense was Hattori Hanzo, a samurai of Iga descent. Under his coordination, local Iga and Koga shinobi acted as guides and guards, using their intimate knowledge of the mountain paths to bypass dangers. Legends say that Ieyasu was guided by the sound of a mysterious bell through the darkness. This support was not merely out of kindness; it was a strategic choice by the shinobi to back a rising leader, a move that would define their future for the next 250 years.
警護の陣頭指揮を執ったのは、伊賀にルーツを持つ武士・服部半蔵でした。彼の調整のもと、地元の伊賀・甲賀の忍びたちがガイドや護衛を務め、山道の知見を駆使して危険を回避しました。伝承によれば、家康は暗闇の中で不思議な鈴の音に導かれたといいます。この支援は単なる親切心ではなく、昇り龍であるリーダーを支えるという忍びたちの戦略的選択であり、その後の250年の彼らの運命を決定づけるものとなりました。
From Mercenaries to Elite Guards / 傭兵から「御庭番・伊賀者」へ
After Ieyasu established the Edo Shogunate, he did not forget his debt. He brought many of the Iga and Koga shinobi to Edo, granting them residences near the castle’s western gate—now known as “Hanzo-mon.” These men became the official ‘Igamono,’ responsible for guarding the inner sanctum of the palace and gathering intelligence across Japan. The relationship transformed from a one-time contract into a deep bond of loyalty that protected the peace of the Edo period.
家康が江戸幕府を開いた後、彼はこの恩を忘れませんでした。多くの伊賀・甲賀者を江戸へ呼び寄せ、城の西門（現在の半蔵門）の近くに屋敷地を与えました。彼らは正式に「伊賀者」となり、大奥の警護や全国の諜報活動を担うようになりました。かつての傭兵契約は、江戸の平和を守るための深い忠誠の絆へと進化を遂げたのです。